#these tcm actor/actress marathons are keeping me going these days

[britneyshakespeare]

marlon brando was so goddamn hot

[tcm]

Five Facts on James Stewart by Jill Blake

It’s that time again for TCM’s annual Summer Under the Stars festival! Each day throughout the month of August is dedicated to a single actor or actress with a 24-hour marathon of their movies. From the most recognizable Hollywood stars to lesser-known character actors, Summer Under the Stars is a can’t miss event with something for every viewer. And on August 7th, TCM will pay tribute to one of the best: the “aw-shucks” actor with that delightful, unforgettable drawl-- James Stewart. With a career that spanned over fifty years, ranging from romantic comedies, biopics, political and courtroom dramas, iconic Westerns, and Hitchcockian thrillers, there’s an embarrassment of riches to choose from for Stewart’s Summer Under the Stars tribute, which includes the following films: AFTER THE THIN MAN (1936); NO TIME FOR COMEDY (1940); THE STRATTON STORY (1949); THE NAKED SPUR (1953); THE MAN FROM LARAMIE (1955); THE MORTAL STORM (1940); THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER (1940); HARVEY (1950); ANATOMY OF A MURDER (1959); THE SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS (1957); and MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (1939).

To prepare for James Stewart day, here are five facts about this All-American actor:

Small Town Life

James Maitland Stewart was born on May 20, 1908 in the small town of Indiana, Pennsylvania. His father, Alexander, ran the family’s hardware store, which was first opened by Stewart’s paternal grandfather and namesake in 1853. When Alexander Stewart enlisted to serve in the Ordnance Corps during World War I, he told his young son to look after his mother and sisters, which Stewart did so dutifully. However, he wanted to do more to help during the war, so young Jimmy Stewart decided to contribute to the effort, as well as satisfy his burgeoning interest in acting, by writing and performing patriotic plays for other children in his hometown. When his father returned home on a short leave, Stewart put on a special performance of one of his plays for his family. Years later, Stewart recalled that his father struggled to maintain a straight face throughout the performance saying, “He was too kind to tell me he could hardly keep from laughing.” Stewart was quite close with his father and it was through him that he learned the importance of hard work. Stewart not only worked in his father’s hardware store, but also as a handyman, performing various odd jobs around town. Several years later when Stewart was an international superstar, he never lost touch with his small-town roots, work ethic and strong moral code instilled by his father.

American Hero

James Stewart came from a long line of military men, with his grandfather serving in the Civil War and his father in the Spanish-American War and World War I. In 1935, after years of fascination with aviation, Stewart obtained his pilot’s license and within a few short years became a highly skilled aviator. Wanting to put those specialized skills to use for the greater good, Stewart enlisted in the Army Air Corps during World War II. Initially, Stewart was worried that his age and star status would keep him in domestic, behind-the-frontlines service. And his fears were confirmed when he received orders to be an instructor stateside. However, Stewart appealed to his commanding officer to allow him to use his experience and licensing as both a private and commercial pilot to serve overseas in combat. Throughout World War II, James Stewart flew on almost two dozen combat missions, returning home a decorated war hero and earning the rank of colonel. Following the end of the war, Stewart continued to serve in the Army Air Forces Reserve, which became the United States Air Force Reserve in 1947. By the time he retired in May of 1968, James Stewart had been promoted to brigadier general—the highest rank of any actor in military service. Stewart rarely discussed his military service and strived to keep it separate from his Hollywood persona.

Friendship Goals

While there are countless stories of actors getting along both on and off the set, there is perhaps no better example of true friendship between two Hollywood stars than that of James Stewart and Henry Fonda. On the surface, Stewart and Fonda couldn’t have been more different from one another. For starters, their political beliefs were on opposite ends of the spectrum, with Stewart being a staunch conservative and Fonda a liberal. When the two friends discovered that they couldn’t discuss politics without getting into incredibly heated arguments, they agreed to avoid the subject altogether rather than put a strain on their relationship. Fonda was also known to be a bit of a perfectionist, while Stewart was easy going. But according to author and historian Scott Eyman, both men were loners and rarely open and intimate with their family and friends. Director John Ford, who had worked with Stewart on three films, once said of the actor, “You don’t get to know Jimmy Stewart. Jimmy Stewart gets to know you.” Despite this difficult personality trait in both Stewart and Fonda, the two men maintained a deep and long-lasting friendship, lasting 50 years.

It’s Never Too Late for Love

James Stewart was very guarded about his private life, which can be quite difficult to maintain for a popular Hollywood star. One point of public interest was Stewart’s love life. By the time he entered World War II at the age of 33, Stewart was still one of Hollywood’s most eligible bachelors. In 1947, two years after he returned home from the war, Stewart began dating model Gloria Hatrick McLean. In 1949, Stewart and McLean married and he adopted her two sons from her first marriage. Two years later in 1951, the couple welcomed twin daughters. Jimmy and Gloria remained happily married for almost 45 years until her death in 1994.

James Stewart the Poet

While James Stewart considerably slowed down his acting work later in life, he vowed to keep working and did so up until 1991, just three years before his wife Gloria’s death in 1994 and his own at the age of 89 in 1997. Stewart also invested time into his various hobbies. In addition to having a love of aviation, Stewart was an experienced gardener and a talented “folksy” writer, penning countless poems and monologues. In 1981, Stewart appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and was asked to recite Beau, a heartwarming and bittersweet poem he wrote about his pet Golden Retriever. With his charming and distinctive drawl, Stewart’s recitation of Beau has become one of the most memorable moments from The Tonight Show and added yet another layer to this popular and beloved star. In 1989, Stewart published some of his written work in the book Jimmy Stewart and His Poems, including the poem Beau.