When Tamarie Cooper told the Houston Chronicle that her favorite movie of all time is It's a Wonderful Life, it was only natural that she'd be invited to present the film at the museum to launch the holiday season. She's in good company: Both the film's director, Frank Capra, and its star, Jimmy Stewart, considered it their favorite.

This American movie classic follows the descent of businessman George Bailey (Stewart) after he is blamed for his company's unrecoverable financial loss. Sinking into despair, he is visited by the angel Clarence (Henry Travers), who shows him what life in the town of Bedford Falls would have been like if George had never been born. Lionel Barrymore and Donna Reed also star.

Introduced by Cooper, the film is screened as part of a series that invites notable local celebrities to share a favorite film in Brown Auditorium Theater.