'It's a Wonderful Life' Fills My Head with Visions of Time Travel and the Chaos Theory Each Holiday Season

When asked to name a favorite holiday film, the average person will probably mention "It's a Wonderful Life," the story of a small town dreamer who makes everyone else's dreams come true except his own.

Throughout his life, George Bailey sacrifices his own plans for the sake of other people in his hometown of Bedford Falls until he reaches a near-fatal decision.

Heavenly forces get involved and dispatch Clarence, an angel in need of wings, to help George. Clarence turns George's idle wish that he had never been born into a chilling reality.

Capra's classic was nearly forgotten until, as Roger Ebert pointed out , the film became public domain in the 1970's, meaning that it could be shown just about anywhere, even in colorized form. During the 1980's, it was hard to turn a TV on in December and not see this classic film in one form or another.

Like most people, I fell in love with this story of small-town life, but only for the scientific implications of changing history. And the person I have to blame for that former "That Girl" star Marlo Thomas.

In the 1970's, "It Happened One Christmas," a made-for-TV movie starring Thomas, received a few holiday airings.

Marlo Thomas, it seemed, had optioned the TV rights to "It's a Wonderful Life" and, in a bit of role reversal, cast herself as Mary Bailey. Like her male counterpart, Mary put her dreams of world travel on hold to help keep her hometown afloat.

A serious financial scandal and one soaking wet Cloris Leachman later (she took over the angel role), Mary learns that all she needs is good family and friends.

That particular life lesson escaped me until I received my annual holiday doses of "It's a Wonderful Life," a film that seemed awfully familiar the first time I saw it in the 1980's.

What Marlo Thomas' version did do for me, though, is create a fascination with time travel and what has become known as the "Chaos Theory." In essence, this theory says that the gentle flap of a butterfly's wings in China could cause devastating changes in the world's climate.

On a simpler level, both versions of "It's a Wonderful Life" show what can happen if a person is removed from the time stream.

Without a big brother or sister to pull him out of the freezing water, for instance, Harry Bailey dies and doesn't grow up to save dozens of soldiers on an Army transport. Without a dedicated young leader, the Bailey Building and Loan closes up shop.

Admittedly, I got a little overexcited about the whole idea of one person changing history, to the point where I annoyed my high school friends. Comic book like me adore the idea of time travel, but my friends, unfortunately, did not like comics.

I will admit, though, I did feel better in 1985, after Marty McFly tampered with his own existence in "Back to the Future." In the novelization of "Back to the Future," Doctor Emmett L. Brown even mentions that "It's a Wonderful Life" is like a textbook on how we live our lives.

Each year, as I park myself in front of a three-hour presentation of "It's a Wonderful Life," my mind still reels with thoughts of time travel and changing history, all because of Marlo Thomas.