Where is "It's a Wonderful Life" supposed to take place?

[Lavender Brown]

I read somewhere on the net that it is supposed to be inspired by a small New York town, and elsewhere that it's Connecticut. But since it's location is not mentioned in the movie, I always thought Bedford Falls could be any American town (in a place where it snows in the winter, obviously :) ) Where is it?

[dr.strangelove]

1. I always thought it was Midwest

I pictured in in Illinois or Indiana. I don't think a state was mentioned.

[CO Liberal]

I Always Thought Bedford Falls Was in New England

Either Connecticut or Massachusetts...

[legally blonde]

2. I was always under the impression

that it took place in New York. I'm not sure why. :shrug: Great movie, regardless--one of my favorites.

[rogerashton]

3. There is a Bedford County in PA

n/t

[WI_DEM]

4. I've always assumed in upstate New York

[Cocoa]

5. me too

I don't know why...

[Lavender Brown]

8. It was my impression because they say

that they're "going down to the city" which I always thought (geo-centrically, since I'm a New Yorker) was NYC.

[baldguy]

12. Upsate New York

Remember, the bank examiner wants to spend Christmas with his family in Elmira, and Sam Wainwright has a plastics factory in Buffalo.

[Burma Jones]

6. I used to live in Bedford NY

Up in NOrthern Westchester - and it looks a hell of a lot like the town in It's a Wonderful Life.

[pagerbear]

9. Katonah looks even more like Bedford Falls!

Just up the road from Bedford.

(I used to live in South Salem myself.)

[Burma Jones]

27. Indeed...........n/t

[calico1]

7. I thought it was the Midwest somewhere.

I don't think they mention a State in the movie.

[CO Liberal]

10. I Just Did a Google Search on "Bedford Falls" And Found This

Bedford Falls

Setting for 1946 classic movie, "It's a Wonderful Life"

Although the movie was filmed in California, many people speculate that Seneca Falls, NY, was the inspiration for George Bailey's hometown. People in Seneca Falls hold an annual It's a Wonderful Life Celebration.

http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=61175

[Lavender Brown]

17. Cool

You wonder what Capra's connection to the town was, if that it is the case.

[AlinPA]

11. In Indiana, PA (Jimmy's hometown), they outline the downtown

buildings with lights and decorate the streetlights to "look like Bedford Falls" at Christmas. Its nice.

[Shakespeare]

13. Is it just me, or is Cheney not Mr. Potter?

:scary:

Separated at birth, at the very least.

[Lavender Brown]

14. It's not just you

It's eerie.

[Quinto]

28. You're right

It is uncanny

[zauberflote]

15. Seneca Falls, NY

The people of Seneca Falls, N.Y., on the west side of Lake Cayuga in the Finger Lakes region will tell you without question their town is the inspiration. Numerous other towns from the region are mentioned in the movie, such as Elmira, Syracuse and Rochester. There's a bridge there that is considered the inspiration for the bridge George Bailey jumped off of, and if you check this website, you'll see a main street that certainly bears a resemblance to the one in the movie.
http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=1642
They even hold an It's a Wonderful Life festival in December.
I have family there so I'm quite partial to the theory.

[Lavender Brown]

19. Farther west than I thought it would be

I'm partial to it being NY too. :)

[DelawareValleyDem]

16. My guess is the Hudson Valley area

of New York State. In this region, there is Bedford, a Wappingers Falls and a Highland Falls

[onebigbadwulf]

18. It could pass as Colorado but probably New England

bah

[SarahB]

20. I'm pretty sure it's New York State.

Here's why:
When the bank inspector comes to check out the books on Christmas Eve, he says, "I want to get back to Elmira to spend Christmas with my family." Elmira is a town in upstate New York- viola, it's New York.

[Bunny]

24. It is upstate New York.

The references to Elmira and Buffalo are in there.

[Gothic Sponge]

21. Bedford Falls? You must be thinking of Pottersville.

Oh no! George Bailey was never born! ;)

[zauberflote]

22. Don't laugh, in New Jersey

Believe it or not there's a Pottersville in New Jersey smack dab in the middle of horse country that's as idylic and beautiful as any little village anywhere in the country. It could never be confused with the Pottersville in the movie
And yes, I did say it's in New Jersey.

[Lavender Brown]

25. Some parts of New Jersey belie its reputation

as "the armpit of America." :D There are some really nice places to see.

[CO Liberal]

26. I Grew Up Outside Morristown

When I was in high school (1968 to 71), we used to go swimming in the river outside Pottersville, before they fenced it in.

When people were going there, we used to say "Have pot in Funnersville!" :-)

[leftofthedial]

23. upstate New York

according to the definitive source, the book _Suspects_.

[TlalocW]

29. Hawaii

Man! What were those guys thinking?

TlalocW