Jimmy Stewart
Born in Indiana, Pennsylvania Jimmy Stewart came from a small town background. His father owned a hardware store his son was to take over one day. Stewart met life-long friend Henry Fonda in school. A recently discovered actor in 1935, Fonda encouraged Stewart to take a Hollywood screen test. The direction of Stewart’s life changed.
Jimmy enjoyed early success in his career in the years prior to the outbreak of World War II. His films included his first Western work, Destry Rides Again (‘39). With the outbreak of the war, Stewart enlisted in the Army Air Corps as a private. A licensed pilot, he immediately applied for a commission, which he eventually received soon after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Stewart had to talk his way out of recruiting and training duties to win assignment to a combat unit, a bomber wing he served with distinction, earning 2 Distinguished Flying Crosses and the Air Medal. Stewart rose to the rank of Brigadier General by war’s end. President Ronald Reagan appointed him an Air Force Major General in retirement.
Jimmy’s film career continued after the war. His gritty Western persona emerged in the 50’s under the direction of Anthony Mann in five feature films. In the 60’s Stewart teamed up with mega-star director John Ford in films including the epic How the West Was Won (’62) one of my all-time favorites, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence with John Wayne and Lee Marvin as a psychotic killer. Stewart’s pacifist lawyer (Rance Stoddard) faces a show down with Marvin’s Liberty. Wayne (tough-guy, Tom Doniphon) has Stewart’s back. Liberty is killed by Tom while Stoddard gets the credit. Years later then Senator Stoddard attempts to set the record straight with a reporter on the occasion of Doniphon’s funeral. He evokes one of the great lines in all of Western film when the reporter says, “When legend becomes fact, print the legend.”
Stewart’s Western credits conclude with John Wayne’s final film, The Shootist (’76). Jimmy Stewart’s career credits go on and on with roles in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, The Philadelphia Story, You Can’t Take It With You, It’s A Wonderful Life and The Spirit of St. Louis to name a few. A genuine nice guy, he was married to the same woman until her death in ‘94. In 1996 at 89 Jimmy Stewart elected to forego his pacemaker and died eight months later.
Next Week: Henry Fonda
Return to Facebook to comment
Ride easy,
Paul
Jimmy enjoyed early success in his career in the years prior to the outbreak of World War II. His films included his first Western work, Destry Rides Again (‘39). With the outbreak of the war, Stewart enlisted in the Army Air Corps as a private. A licensed pilot, he immediately applied for a commission, which he eventually received soon after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Stewart had to talk his way out of recruiting and training duties to win assignment to a combat unit, a bomber wing he served with distinction, earning 2 Distinguished Flying Crosses and the Air Medal. Stewart rose to the rank of Brigadier General by war’s end. President Ronald Reagan appointed him an Air Force Major General in retirement.
Jimmy’s film career continued after the war. His gritty Western persona emerged in the 50’s under the direction of Anthony Mann in five feature films. In the 60’s Stewart teamed up with mega-star director John Ford in films including the epic How the West Was Won (’62) one of my all-time favorites, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence with John Wayne and Lee Marvin as a psychotic killer. Stewart’s pacifist lawyer (Rance Stoddard) faces a show down with Marvin’s Liberty. Wayne (tough-guy, Tom Doniphon) has Stewart’s back. Liberty is killed by Tom while Stoddard gets the credit. Years later then Senator Stoddard attempts to set the record straight with a reporter on the occasion of Doniphon’s funeral. He evokes one of the great lines in all of Western film when the reporter says, “When legend becomes fact, print the legend.”
Stewart’s Western credits conclude with John Wayne’s final film, The Shootist (’76). Jimmy Stewart’s career credits go on and on with roles in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, The Philadelphia Story, You Can’t Take It With You, It’s A Wonderful Life and The Spirit of St. Louis to name a few. A genuine nice guy, he was married to the same woman until her death in ‘94. In 1996 at 89 Jimmy Stewart elected to forego his pacemaker and died eight months later.
Next Week: Henry Fonda
Return to Facebook to comment
Ride easy,
Paul
No comments have been added yet.
