Released 77 years ago, it is one of the greatest films in American cinema, but its failure at the box office devastated its producers.

A cinematic totem of Christmas for decades, broadcast almost every year in the United States, Frank Capra’s Life is Beautiful is undoubtedly the work that most embodies and celebrates this Christmas spirit, to the point that it is among America’s favorite films.

Admiring in every way, a deeply moving work that begins with the suicide attempt of its main character. A person who also sacrifices his life for the benefit of others. The one who sacrifices his studies, his desire to travel the world, all his dreams of becoming an explorer… to end up being an explorer of his city.

But he is the builder of the city, – his own – with his cheap housing for the needy and the poor. He who dreamed of being a guest of the world is actually a world builder who does not know himself. An absolutely sublime, extraordinary metaphor whose power of purpose is intact and even more relevant than ever, 77 years after its publication.

A disaster at the box office

It seems hard to believe, but the movie wasn’t always so highly acclaimed; Far away. Life is Beautiful, distributed by RKO, was Liberty Films’ first film; The legendary Frank Capra, David Tannenbaum, William Wyler, Samuel J. A company founded by Briskin in 1945 that paid $2.3 million. A very large amount for that time, especially if we adjust it for current inflation: it corresponds to more than 36 million dollars.

Originally scheduled for a January 1947 release, the film’s release was pushed back to December 1946 so it could compete at the 19th Academy Awards the following year. Very warmly received by critics, it was weighed down by his theatrical career, grossing only $3.3 million, ranking 26th in releases.

He even lost RCO 525,000 dollars. A real disaster for the founding quartet of Liberty Films, who were going to produce fifteen films. The four partners were looking to sell the studio to Liberty Films to get rid of the company. Paramount bought the company in May 1947. They received a total of $3,450,000, and Capra, Wyler and Briskin were offered five-picture contracts at Paramount.

Liberty Films was officially dissolved in April 1951. Nevertheless, it was a sad ending to an adventure that still promised to be the best work of its kind. Even five Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director, could do nothing to prevent this company’s disastrous fate.