Amazon Prime blasted for cutting ‘important scene’ from festive film | Movie | Entertainment

Amazon Prime fans were up in arms after the streaming service cut a crucial scene from the beloved Christmas classic, It’s a Wonderful Life.

A shortened version of the 1946 film was added to the platform in time for the festive season, but it had been edited to omit a scene that many would consider the most important part of the Hollywood classic.

The black and white favorite follows the character of businessman George Bailey 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 to 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 does not know everything he has done in his life before showing him a version of a bleak world where he never existed.

It is then that George realizes that he has a wonderful life and has had a positive impact on his loved ones that he is desperate to return to when the film ends.

However, in the shortened version of Prime, the moment when the angel tells George that he has to earn his wings cuts to George happily running through the streets after coming to terms with his life – not including what that led him to change his attitude.

It didn’t take long for fans of the film to flock to social media and rave about the updated version of the film, claiming that it leaves out the entire plot of the film.

On X – formerly known as Twitter – one user argued: “If you want to know what’s wrong with the world, Prime Video has a ‘shortened’ version of It’s a Wonderful Life that removes the ENTIRE POTTERSVILLE SCENE where George sees life , if he wasn’t born. That’s the best, most crucial part of the movie. Wow.”

Another gushed: “Get ready for the ‘abridged’ version of It’s a Wonderful Life which does away with ALL of Pottersville/what it would be like if he was never born bit and cuts straight to him being totally ok again for no apparent reason. This exists and is on Prime.”

A third chimed in: “I can’t believe how badly Amazon butchered It’s a Wonderful Life in their abridged version! They literally cut from George asking Clarence if he had $8,000 to George running down the street at home for to celebrate it.”

Meanwhile, another added: “If you don’t have the movie by heart, this wouldn’t leave room for interpretations other than Clarence giving George $8,000 to solve the problem!”

Amazon Prime has since clarified that the full version of the beloved film is still on their platform. It also appears that the film version was released after a copyright dispute regarding the important scene, which was based on a short story.

However, this was not enough for many of the film’s fans, who claimed that the shortened version was the easiest to find on the platform.

One disappointed viewer wrote: “Why do you need a ‘shortened’ version of this? The original is fine. It’s streaming. You can pause or fast forward or stop watching if you’re bored. Who’s in this? ” Another echoed: “OK, let’s make Polar Express but without the train parts. And Die Hard but without Hans Gruber.”

The Daily Express has contacted an Amazon spokesperson for comment.