Amazon Prime fans were left up in arms after the streaming service cut a crucial scene from the beloved Christmas classic, It’s a Wonderful Life.
A shortened version of the 1946 film was added to the platform in time for the festive holiday, but it had been edited to leave out a scene that many would consider the most important part of the Hollywood classic.
The black-and-white favourite follows the character of businessman George Bailey as he battles with taking his own life.
The scene in question, known as the ‘Pottersville scene’, sees George wish that he had never been born before his guardian angel reminds him that he needs to earn “his angel wings”.
In the original film, George tells the angel that he believes he is worth more dead than alive. The angel then informs George that he does not know all he has done in his life, before showing him a version of a grim world in which he never existed.
That’s when George realises that he has a wonderful life and has positively impacted his loved ones, who he is desperate to get back to as the film wraps up.
But in the shortened version on Prime, the moment where the angel tells George he has to earn his wings abruptly cuts to George happily running through the streets after he’s reconciled with his life – without including what led him to have a change of heart.
It didn’t take long before fans of the film flooded to social media, fuming about the updated version of the film, arguing that it leaves out the entire plot of the film.
Taking to X – formerly known as Twitter – one user argued: “If you want to know what’s wrong with the world, Prime Video has an “abridged” version of It’s a Wonderful Life that removes THE ENTIRE POTTERSVILLE SCENE where George sees life if he wasn’t born. That’s all that’s abridged. The best, most crucial part of the movie. Just. Wow.”
Another fumed: “Brace yourself for the ‘Abridged’ version of It’s a Wonderful Life, which does away with the ENTIRE Pottersville/ how it’d be if he was never born bit, and cuts directly to him being totally ok again for no obvious reason. This exists and is on Prime.”
A third echoed: “I can’t believe how badly Amazon butchered It’s a Wonderful Life in their abridged edition! They literally cut from George asking Clarence if he had $8,000, to George running down the street back home, in celebration.”
Meanwhile, another added: “If you don’t have the movie memorised, this would leave room for no other interpretation besides Clarence handing George $8,000 to solve the problem!”
Amazon Prime has since clarified that the full version of the beloved film still remains on their platform. It also appears the version of the film was released following a copyright dispute regarding the important scene, which was based on a short story.
However, this was not enough for many of the movie’s fans, who claimed the abridged version was the one that was easiest to locate on the platform.
One disappointed viewer penned: “Why do you need an ‘abridged’ version of this? The original is fine. It’s on streaming. You can pause or fast-forward or stop watching if you get bored. Who does this exist?” Another echoed: “OK, let’s make the Polar Express but without the train parts. And Die Hard but without Hans Gruber.”
Daily Express has reached out to a spokesperson from Amazon for a comment.