On a Christmas Eve, in a moment of financial crisis, a severely depressed Mary contemplates suicide, but is rescued by her guardian angel, Clara Oddbody (Cloris Leachman).

Revisions in the script include fleshing out and exploring some of the characters who are citizens of Bedford Falls to a greater extent than in the original.

[1] It Happened One Christmas was first broadcast at a time when It's a Wonderful Life was rarely aired on television and, as a result, many viewers were unfamiliar with its source.

After its initial airing a New York Times follow-up article revealed that Frank Capra, the director of the 1946 film It's A Wonderful Life, had denounced the remake as "plagiaristic.

A search for the title on YouTube returns the full movie posted via several accounts, including an HD version.