Director Billy Wilder""s original choice for the role of Sugar was Mitzi Gaynor, not Marilyn Monroe, and after Tony Curtis was signed on, Danny Kaye and Frank Sinatra were considered for the second male lead role before Lemmon was signed.It leaves the audience with a distinctly down-beat conclusion and bitter taste.The low-budget film reflects the remarkable directorial debut of John Huston (previously a screenwriter) who efficiently and skillfully composed and filmed this American classic for Warner Bros.Earnest do-gooder George Bailey (James Stewart) recognizes his life as wonderful and ruly rich, even in its humdrum and bleak nature, only after suffering many hardships, mishaps and fateful trials (including compromised dreams of youth to leave the town and seek fame and fortune, other sacrifices, dismay, losses and the threat of financial ruin, and suicide).Boot""s cautious clothing style (but still very calculating).He tore off an incoming teletype message and returned to his NEWS EDITOR desk (he was no longer positioned by the door).