I am James Stewart playing James Stewart. I couldn’t mess around with characterizations. I play variations on myself. James Stewart
Biography
The early years
Born in 1908 James Stewart’s life almost spanned the entire 20th century: when he died in 1997 his Hollywood career ensured that he was one of the most admired and respected movie stars of his generation. Fellow Americans saw him as a self-effacing ‘ordinary guy’ and he had a fervent patriotism making him even more popular with his fans especially in a century that saw increased American involvement in overseas combat. He didn’t have a larger than life personality or matinee idol looks and, in fact, for a great part of his adult life had to wear a toupee, but this hasn’t stopped him being classed as one of the true greats of the acting fraternity.
His 45 year long marriage to his beloved, Gloria, seemed to bear out the fact that he hadn’t fallen under the spell of celebrity stardom like so many of his friends and colleagues. However, having said that, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence to point to many off-screen romances with his glamorous leading ladies, when he was still unattached. Stewart was the first major Hollywood star to join the war effort when he signed up with the air force. His strong political views often set him at odds with some of his closest acting friends, such as Henry Fonda, especially when he openly supported the blacklisting of left-wing sympathisers.
He lived the early part of his life in Indiana, Pennsylvania and started his acting career on Broadway before transferring his talents to Hollywood and the big screen. A successful collaboration with director Frank Capra saw the beginning of his naïve and idealist persona as he starred as the heroic underdog in films such as You Can’t Take it With You (1938) and Mr Smith Goes to Washington (1939). Ernst Lubitsch then cast him in The Shop Around The Corner (1940) and in the same year he won his only Oscar for Katharine Hepburn’s inspired project, The Philadelphia Story.
Stewart cemented his growing appeal with Capra’s post-war sentimental classic It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) establishing himself as a major Hollywood star and soon after he appeared in the wonderfully quirky and eccentric tale, Harvey (1950). Amidst the charming and feel good tales Stewart continued to stretch himself as an actor and began to take on darker roles. Two directors, British master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock, and noir Western specialist, Antony Mann, gave Stewart roles which challenged his ‘nice guy’ persona and brought him even more popularity.
Having worked with some of Hollywood’s finest directors including Frank Capra, John Ford, Alfred Hitchcock, Billy Wilder and Anthony Mann across a range of popular genres, it is surprising that Stewart only won one competitive Oscar despite having been nominated for roles including It’s a Wonderful Life. However, in 1985, the Academy presented him with an Honorary Award ‘For his fifty years of memorable performances, for his high ideals both on and off the screen, with respect and affection of his colleagues.’
With a career lasting from 1934 to 1992 James Stewart leaves behind a rich legacy with film performances that have rightly earned him a place as one of the greatest classic actors of 20th century. |
