Jimmy Stewart: The Truth Behind the Legend

by Michael Munn

Overview

Many of the stars of the silver screen in twentieth-century Hollywood became national icons, larger-than-life figures held up as paragons of American virtues. Unfortunately, the private lives of actors such as John Wayne, Henry Fonda, and Errol Flynn rarely lived up to the idealistic roles they portrayed. However, James Stewart was known as the underdog fighter in many of his films and in real life. He was highly decorated for his bravery during his time as a bomber pilot during World War II and was adored for his earnest and kindly persona.

Here many unknown sides of Stewart are revealed: his explosive temper, his complex love affairs, his service as a secret agent for the FBI, his innate shyness, and his passionate patriotism. Munn’s personal touch shines through his writing, as he was a friend of Stewart and his wife, Gloria, and interviewed them as well as their colleagues and friends. This definitive biography reveals the childhood ups and downs that formed this cinema hero, explores the legendary Fonda–Stewart relationship, and recounts Stewart’s experiences making acclaimed films that include The Philadelphia Story, Rear Window, Anatomy of a Murder, It’s a Wonderful Life, and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781628734959
Publisher:	Skyhorse
Publication date:	03/01/2013
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	336
Sales rank:	961,005
File size:	779 KB

About the Author

Michael Munn is a film historian and the author of twenty-five books, including Stars at War, The Hollywood Connection, Richard Burton: Prince of Players, and the bestseller John Wayne: The Man Behind the Myth. As a journalist he has written extensively on cinema, crime, ancient history, and World War II. He lives in Suffolk, England.

Table of Contents

Foreword Lee Pfeiffer xi

Preface xv

1 How the Stewarts Won the West 1

2 Beat the Kaiser 11

3 Inventions and Education 19

4 The Lady's Man 33

5 Taking to the Stage 41

6 Hollywood 59

7 Gangsters 68

8 What Shall We Do With Jimmy Stewart? 82

9 Star Status 94

10 An Oscar and a Commission 106

11 Over There 125

12 Trying For a Wonderful Life 138

13 The Secret FBI Agent 150

14 Undercover in Hollywood 160

15 Gloria 177

16 Keeping All the Balls in the Air 196

17 The Anthony Mann Years 211

18 Friendships Renewed and Destroyed 225

19 Times of Depression 236

20 The Last Good Decade 253

21 The Television Years 271

22 Honoured to the Very End 282

Filmography 292

Sources 303

Bibliography 305

Index 307

Editorial Reviews

“This affectionate biography is intriguing and groundbreaking. . . . The content is immensely valuable in exploring Stewart’s dark side.” —Sunday Times

“A fun Old Hollywood bio.” —Booklist

“This affectionate biography is intriguing and groundbreaking. . . . The content is immensely valuable in exploring Stewart’s dark side.” —Sunday Times

“A fun Old Hollywood bio.” —Booklist

From the Publisher