His ‘Life’s’ work

Re “Christmas Classic is in his Blood” (by Nancy Henderson Wurst, Dec. 21): “It’s a Wonderful Life,” which I covered as story analyst when it was submitted to Columbia Pictures’ story department in 1946, did originate as a Christmas card, but it didn’t write itself. The author was Philip Van Doren Stern, and it was a blue booklet, 26 pages long. Titled “The Greatest Gift,” it reminded Stern’s many friends that, despite the horrors of World War II, life still offered rewards.

Julian Myers

Marina del Rey