FAMILY favourite film classic It's A Wonderful Life' will get its annual screening at Skipton's Plaza Cinema on Christmas Eve, Sunday December 24.

The uplifting Christmas film, starring James Stewart, Donna Reed and Lionel Barrymore, was released in 1946, but it continues to find a new as well as a repeat audience each year says Charles Morris, proprietor of both The Plaza, and the Picture House, Keighley.

Produced and directed by Frank Capra, the film stars Stewart as George Bailey, a man who has given up his personal dreams, in order to help others in his community, and whose thoughts of suicide on Christmas Eve bring about the intervention of his guardian angel, Clarence Odbody, played by Henry Travers.

Charles said: “The film really gets you in the mood for Christmas. After everyone has been rushing round all week doing their last-minute shopping, this is the time to wind down and start enjoying the festive season.

"There’s nothing like seeing this film in the company of a lot of other happy filmgoers, and we need something to make us happy just now. We will be serving mince pies too. To me, it’s an essential part of Christmas along with Christmas carols, mistletoe and turkey."

It's a Wonderful Life will be screened at 11am at The Plaza and at The Picture House at 5pm.