George Bailey needs your help — again.

Actually, it’s you he wants to help this holiday season, bringing some feel-good, community warmth to the season.

It’s a Wonderful Life entered the scene in 1946, and these days it is a time-honored classic. But the tale took awhile to gain steam — the original story, titled The Greatest Gift written by Philip Van Doren Stern in 1939, was rejected so many times by publishers the author finally gave up and self-published it in a pamphlet he mailed to family members as a holiday gift, or so legend has it.

The film started slowly too, opening to mixed reviews (some said it was too sentimental) but eventually Clarence Odbody the bumbling angel, evil Henry F. Potter and Zuzus petals became household words.

If tired of watching the movie each year at home, or if the rest of the family has revolted and said “no more, not this year,” do not despair as the Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse is showcasing the film on Dec. 18 as part of its Monday night at the movies series. Showtime is at 6 p.m.

Then on Tuesday, Dec. 19 the playhouse switches back to a live holiday performance featuring Paul Munafo, Shelagh Hackett and accompanist Jeremy Berlin in what is being billed as a “casual cabaret.”

The show is called Holiday Memories and begins at 7 p.m.; there is a suggested donation of $20.

Visit mvplayhouse.org for a full schedule of events.