Donna Reed's daughter becomes guardian angel of her mother's film.
For the past 16 years Donna Reed's daughter, Mary Owen, has been introducing screenings of It's a Wonderful Life in small independent theaters.
It's become a tradition she enjoys; especially seeing the enthusiasm of the various audiences and their relationship to the film.
"I love seeing how audiences change every year and they are getting younger, especially in New York City," said Owen. "It's also a way to celebrate the holidays, in a strange way, with Mom."
This year's appearances have included:
Dec. 8-10 - It's a Wonderful Life Festival in Seneca Falls, NY as they celebrated the 78th anniversary of the film's release. She did three presentations. Two were based on screenings from The Donna Reed Show - The Geisha Girl and A Very Merry Christmas. Her third was-long talk about From Here to Eternity.
Dec. 11 -The FDR Presidential Museum/Library in Hyde Park, NY for a double feature film screening of From Here to Eternity and It's a Wonderful Life.
Dec 12-15 - IFC Center in New York City to introduce four screenings of the film. This is where her tradition began while living in New York City.
Dec. 17, 19 and 21- FilmScene at The Chauncey in Iowa City for three screenings of the film. Owen now resides in Iowa City, moving here three years ago to coordinate the 100th anniversary of her mother's birth.