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The Man From Indiana, Pennsylvania
Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 08:44PM 
All my life I have loved movies. I learned this from my mother, who rarely missed an installment of NBC's groundbreaking Saturday Night at the Movies beginning with the series' debut film in September of 1961, How To Marry A Millionaire. I used to wallow in the floor raptly watching the stars of Hollywood's Golden Age be glamorous and beautiful on our massive black-and-white television set. Mama would watch too, and she always patiently explained to me what was happening in the movie. Because then as now, I was largely clueless. I loved how she always "got" what was going on in the film. It was all part of the esoteric language of adulthood and I was firmly in its thrall. Understanding The Movie, to me, was synonymous with being a grownup.
His last words reportedly were, "I'm going to be with Gloria now."
Four is my favorite number. I am particularly fond of the number 44. Double the fun! Even when Johnny Depp turns 45 in a few weeks, on June 9th, 44 will still be my best number.
Speaking of which ... I have four favorite actors.
Of course Johnny is first and naturally he is in a class by his onesie, but for the sake of my favorite number I will add the other three to him. All four will be in good company ... even though, sadly, with the exception of Johnny each has long ago passed off the scene.
They are: Cary Grant, Gary Cooper, and the inimitable James Stewart.
James Stewart was born 100 years ago today -- May 20, 1908 -- in Indiana, Pennsylvania. Although he has been gone since 1997, on what would have been his hundredth birthday I would like to pay homage to the stellar actor who for so many years -- both on screen and off -- defined what it meant to be a redblooded, hardworking, idealistic, patriotic American man. The very best kind of man.
In addition to being one of the finest actors of the twentieth century, James Stewart served in the United States Air Force Reserve and the United States Army Air Corps from 1941 until 1968, achieving the rank of Brigadier General in 1959. He defended the United States of America in both World War II and the Vietnam War. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the French Croix de Guerre with Palm, the Distinguished Flying Cross (twice) the Air Medal (four times), the Army Commendation Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
In other words, James Stewart was a genuine American hero.
Professionally, he occupied a decidedly upper echelon. Politically, he was famously conservative. Personally, he was married to the same woman, his beloved Gloria, from 1949 until her death in 1994. His last words reportedly were, "I'm going to be with Gloria now."
I don't care how far you wander down the endless corridors of American cinema ... it will never get any better than James Stewart in films like It's A Wonderful Life, Rear Window, Harvey (Dowd ... Elwood P.), The Philadelphia Story, You Can't Take It With You, Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, The Shop Around The Corner, Vertigo, and so many others.
All day today Turner Classic Movies played James Stewart films. I couldn't sit and watch, but that was okay because I've seen every one of them multiple times. Whenever I'd walk through the kitchen, there was Jimmy doing his thing and making it look easy. From Macaulay Connor to Alfred Kralik to L.B. Jefferies to Scottie Ferguson to Glenn Miller to George Bailey, Jimmy Stewart brought an honesty and bravado to every role that made it more than memorable. He made each role immortal.
Happy Birthday, Jimmy Stewart. You will never be forgotten ... but you will always be missed.
Reader Comments (10)
He's one of my faves. So suave. So debonair. Cliche, I know, but true. And "It's a Wonderful Life" is one of my favorite movies in the world.
Mine too! We need to watch it together sometime, Joonie!
I loved him in Hitchcocks "Rope." Brilliant movie, brilliant performance. They don't make 'em like him anymore.
Absolutely fantastic movie, RJK ... loosely based on the Leopold and Loeb case. Love it.
I love the classic movie actors you mentioned (and JD's not bad either!). They were incomparable. I especially love the Frank Capra films all three did. They were my favorites.
I once wrote a fan letter to actress Greer Garson many years ago, and she wrote back! Needless to say I cherish the letter and she was just as gracious, intelligent and witty as I expected her to be.
I love old films!
Nothing much better than a Capra film. I agree.
I love Greer Garson. My favorite movie of hers is Random Harvest, although I loved her in Mrs. Miniver too. How cool that you got a letter from her!
A few months ago I exchanged emails with Karolyn Grimes, who played Zuzu in It's A Wonderful Life! She was so nice.
Ah, James Stewart! How could you not love him? My Mum loved him too. And in 1970-something, not long after my Dad died, I took her to London to see him in the stage version of Harvey. He was quite elderly by then but he was still wonderful, and Mum still talks about that evening!
What a neat story! I never knew he did a stage version of Harvey! I know that was thrilling for yer Mum, Jay.
Oh Jenny, my Dad is a big movie buff! He can name every "old time" actor there ever was! He has his faves, like John Wayne & Elizabeth Taylor, but I swear he knows them all! He will watch the old movies everytime they come on tv... everytime! He knows the dialog by heart! Your post today reminded me of his love of tv!
That's so special, Darla! My children cut their teeth on classic movies as well. We collapse in laughter quoting whole sections of movies like Singin' In The Rain and It's A Wonderful Life. Once in a while a movie comes along that comes close to the splendor of those films of the '30s and '40s ... but not often.