The film It’s a Wonderful Life takes place in the fictional small town of Bedford Falls, New York.

Setting in the story

  • Bedford Falls is portrayed as a close-knit American small town in upstate New York where George Bailey lives and works at the Bailey Brothers Building and Loan.
  • In the alternate reality shown by Clarence, the same town becomes a darker place renamed Pottersville , reflecting what would have happened without George’s influence.

Not the real filming location

  • Although the story is set in Bedford Falls, New York, the town was actually created as a large set on the RKO movie ranch in Encino, California for filming.

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