James Deaville, a music professor at Carleton University in Canada, has criticized the 1946 film 'It’s a Wonderful Life' for its perceived racial biases. He claims that the film's musical elements contain underlying racism, particularly in the contrast between the music associated with the fictional town of Bedford Falls and that of the alternative setting, Pottersville.

Deaville points out that while Pottersville features jazz and boogie-woogie music, which he associates with Black culture, the songs performed by the main characters in Bedford Falls are traditional white standards, such as 'Buffalo Gals.' He also notes that the film predominantly features a white cast, with minimal representation of Black characters, which he argues reflects a broader issue of racial representation in media.

The film, directed by Frank Capra and starring James Stewart as George Bailey, has been recognized by the American Film Institute as one of the 100 best American films. Deaville's comments have sparked a backlash from some fans of the film, who view his critique as an unwarranted attack on a beloved classic.