A Movie Star Was Born - James Stewart

It was on this day way back in 1908 that James - or Jimmy, as I like to call him - Stewart was born. Stewart, through his impressive career as an actor, became one of the biggest names in that era of Hollywood. Ranked alongside Humphrey Bogarte and Cary Grant. He was recognized by the Academy of Motion Pictures with several nominations and a win (The Philadelphia Story). 

I remember, as a kid, first seeing Stewart's movies on TV. He nearly always played a likable, self-deprecating, genteel yet down-to-earth character. His acting range enabled him to star in mysteries, westerns, dramas, and in comedies. One of my very favourite Stewart films is Harvey, where he plays a tippler who has an invisible giant rabbit as a best friend. Many of his pictures, like this one, are warm, maybe a little folksy, and gently funny. When he wasn't sweetly stammering, he might be rather ornery. I'm not sure about Jimmy's personality in real life, but I'd hazard a guess that he brought more than a touch of his own self to the roles the played. 

A few of my favourite Stewart films are: Winchester '73 (perhaps my fave - where he plays a rougher character than usual in the Old West), The Far Country and The Man From Laramie (two more great westerns), Rear Window and Rope (a pair of Hitchcock murder mystery classics), and The Flight of the Phoenix (an adventure story boasting an all-star cast sweating it out under the Sahara sun).

Director Anthony Mann liked working so much with Stewart that he called him back again and again to star in his movies, mostly rugged tales of the Old West. Stewart seemed to thrive in these genre pictures, truly assuming the traits of his character, and giving a believable and life-like performance every time. 

The eminent John Ford took on Stewart for his trio of western masterpieces, Cheyenne Autumn, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, and Two Rode Together. Even when Stewart played against type, he retained a charisma that captivated viewers. 

Alfred Hitchcock, too, kept Stewart close as he built his casts around the star. The Man Who Knew Too Much and Vertigo are a couple more great thrillers where Jimmy's everyman endured harrowing experiences, sputtering, and trying to do the right thing. And director Otto Preminger used Stewart's talents to make his Anatomy of a Murder as unforgettable a classic as Hitch's pictures. 

And of course, we can't forget the Frank Capra Christmas classic, It's a Wonderful Life, which to this day is still a favourite during the holiday season. Here, we see Stewart joyful, flailing, exasperated, crumbling, and humbled... he exercises his chops fully in this bittersweet comedy-drama. One of the most loved films in American cinema. 

I've seen all of the movies I've mentioned here, and own most of them in my home video collection. I'd say Winchester '73 and Rear Window are the ones I've watched the most. No cinephile should be without some James Stewart movies on his shelves.  

I'll leave you with this quote (and Stewart was very quotable):

"There's not much I can tell you about this war. It's like all wars, I guess. The undertakers are winning."  - Jimmy Stewart in Shenandoah (1965)