Amazon Prime fans left in arms after streaming service cut crucial scene from beloved Christmas classic, It’s a Wonderful Life.
An abridged version of the 1946 film was added to the platform in time for the holiday season, but it was edited to leave out a scene that many would consider the most important part of the film. Hollywood classic.
The black-and-white favorite follows businessman George Bailey’s character as he struggles to take his own life.
The scene in question, known as the “Pottersville scene”, sees George wishing he had never been born before his guardian angel reminds him that he must earn “his angel wings”.
In the original film, George tells the angel that he believes he is worth more dead than alive. The angel then informs George that he doesn’t know everything he has done in his life, before showing him a version of a dark world in which he never existed.
It’s at this point that George realizes that he has a wonderful life and has had a positive impact on those close to him, who he desperately needs to return to at the end of the film.
But in Prime’s shortened version, the moment where the angel tells George he must earn his wings abruptly cuts to George happily running through the streets after coming to terms with his life – not including what brought him to change your mind.
It didn’t take long before fans of the film flocked to social media, furious at the updated version of the film, arguing that it left out the entire plot of the film.
Speaking to POTTERSVILLE SCENE where George sees life if he is not born. That’s all that’s abbreviated. The best and most crucial part of the film. Just. Wow.”
Another fumed: “Prepare yourself for the ‘abridged’ version of It’s a Wonderful Life, which deletes ENTIRE Pottersville/what it would be like if he was never born, and skips straight to him being all new again. done well, without any obviousness. reason. This exists and is on Prime.
A third echoed: “I can’t believe how Amazon butchered It’s a Wonderful Life in its abridged edition! They literally went from George asking Clarence if he had $8,000, to George running down the street to his house, celebrating.
Meanwhile, another added: “If you haven’t memorized the movie this would leave no room for any other interpretation other than Clarence handing George $8,000 to solve the problem! »
Amazon Prime has since clarified that the full version of the beloved film still remains on its platform. It also appears that the film version was released following a copyright dispute over the important scene, which was based on a short story.
However, that wasn’t enough for many fans of the film, who claimed that the abridged version was the easiest to locate on the platform.
One disappointed viewer wrote: “Why do you need an “abridged” version of this? The original is good. It’s streaming. You can pause, fast forward, or stop watching if you get bored. Who does this exist? Another echoed: “OK, let’s make the Polar Express but without the train parts.” And Die Hard but without Hans Gruber.
Daily Express has contacted an Amazon spokesperson for comment.