James Stewart probably appeared in more classics of the American cinema than any other actor. His persona which at first glance might seem limiting is actually very flexible making him at home in westerns, thrillers, dramas and comedies. He was one of the favourite actors of two of the greatest directors of American film : Alfred Hitchcock and Frank Capra and was also lucky enough to appear in their finest works.

From the start of his film career Stewart seemed to have a knack for appearing in interesting and entertaining films. He even sang Cole Porter's Easy to Love to Eleanor Powell in Born To Dance (1936). Although he was under contract to MGM Stewart's first great role came on loan to Columbia in Frank Capra's You Can't Take It With You (1938) which established the gangly,youthful, honest Jimmy audiences were to adore. His next film for Capra Mr Smith Goes To Washington (1939) was one of his very best and he really delivered in the famous filibuster scene in which he speaks to the US congress trying to appeal to their belief in honesty and justice. As Tom Destry he tried to dispense the same in his first Western Destry Rides Again (1939).

Returning to MGM Stewart co-starred with Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn in The Philadelphia Story (1940). He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance as newspaperman Macauley Connor. After war service Frank Capra directed Jimmy in another fine performance in perennial favourite It's A Wonderful Life (1946). Other interesting post war Stewart films included the film noir Call Northside 777 (1948) and his first for Hitchcock : Rope (1948).

Hitchcock almost viewed Stewart as his onscreen alter ego and together they made three more films : Rear Window (1954), The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) and Vertigo (1958). On stage and screen Stewart played the loveable Elwood Dowd with his imaginary rabbit friend in Harvey (1950). Another important director-star association Stewart had in the Fifties was with Anthony Mann who hardened the honest Jimmy image for westerns like Winchester 73 (1950), Bend In The River (1952), The Naked Spur (1953) and The Man from Laramie (1954).

Other fine Stewart performances included those in Otto Preminger's Anatomy of a Murder (1959) and John Ford's The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962). From the Sixties on Stewart's films became less consistent but he kept working into the Eighties. He left a rich legacy of classic performances.




Filmography

1934    ART TROUBLE    performer
1935    THE MURDER MAN    performer
1936    AFTER THE THIN MAN    performer
1936    BORN TO DANCE    performer
1936    THE GORGEOUS HUSSY    performer
1936    NEXT TIME WE LOVE    performer
1936    ROSE MARIE/ INDIAN LOVE CALL    performer
1936    SMALL TOWN GIRL/ ONE HORSE TOWN    performer
1936    SPEED    performer
1936    WIFE VS. SECRETARY    performer
1937    THE LAST GANGSTER    performer
1937    NAVY BLUE AND GOLD    performer
1937    SEVENTH HEAVEN    performer
1938    OF HUMAN HEARTS    performer
1938    THE SHOPWORN ANGEL    performer
1938    VIVACIOUS LADY    performer
1938    YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU    performer
1939    DESTRY RIDES AGAIN    performer
1939    ICE FOLLIES OF 1939    performer
1939    IT'S A WONDERFUL WORLD    performer
1939    MADE FOR EACH OTHER    performer
1939    MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON    performer
1940    THE MORTAL STORM    performer
1940    NO TIME FOR COMEDY/ GUY WITH A GRIN    performer
1940    THE PHILADELPHIA STORY    performer
1940    THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER    performer
1941    COME LIVE WITH ME    performer
1941    POT O' GOLD    performer
1941    ZIEGFELD GIRL    performer
1946    IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE    performer
1947    MAGIC TOWN    performer
1948    CALL NORTHSIDE 777    performer
1948    ON OUR MERRY WAY/ A MIRACLE CAN HAPPEN    performer
1948    ROPE    performer
1948    YOU GOTTA STAY HAPPY    performer
1949    MALAYA    performer
1949    THE STRATTON STORY    performer
1950    BROKEN ARROW    performer
1950    HARVEY    performer
1950    THE JACKPOT    performer
1950    WINCHESTER '73/ MONTANA WINCHESTER    performer
1951    NO HIGHWAY IN THE SKY/ NO HIGHWAY    performer
1952    BEND OF THE RIVER    performer
1952    CARBINE WILLIAMS    performer
1952    THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH    performer
1953    THE NAKED SPUR    performer
1953    THUNDER BAY    performer
1954    THE GLENN MILLER STORY    performer
1954    REAR WINDOW    performer
1955    THE FAR COUNTRY    performer
1955    THE MAN FROM LARAMIE    performer
1955    STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND    performer
1956    THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH    performer
1957    NIGHT PASSAGE    performer
1957    THE SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS    performer
1958    BELL, BOOK AND CANDLE    performer
1958    VERTIGO    performer
1959    ANATOMY OF A MURDER    performer
1959    THE FBI STORY    performer
1960    THE MOUNTAIN ROAD    performer
1961    TWO RODE TOGETHER    performer
1962    HOW THE WEST WAS WON    performer
1962    THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE    performer
1962    MR. HOBBS TAKES A VACATION    performer
1963    TAKE HER, SHE'S MINE    performer
1964    CHEYENNE AUTUMN    performer
1965    DEAR BRIGITTE    performer
1965    SHENANDOAH    performer
1966    FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX    performer
1966    THE RARE BREED    performer
1968    BANDOLERO!    performer
1968    FIRECREEK    performer
1970    THE CHEYENNE SOCIAL CLUB    performer
1971    DIRECTED BY JOHN FORD    performer
1971    FOOLS' PARADE    performer
1974    THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT!    performer
1976    THE SHOOTIST    performer
1977    AIRPORT '77    performer
1978    THE BIG SLEEP    performer
1978    THE MAGIC OF LASSIE    performer