There was something about James Stewart that was always reassuring. No matter what he was playing, whether it was the idealistic Jefferson Smith, the desperately in love George Bailey or one of Hitchcock's rather troubled leading men, you knew you were in the hands of a man of genuine integrity. He was a decorated WWII veteran, and his war experience had a massive impact on his life. This weekend there's a new film which looks at that other side of one of Hollywood's most treasured stars.
By Allan R. Ellenberger
Jimmy (2026) opens nationwide on November 6, and stars KJ Apa as Stewart in a biopic directed by Aaron Burns. It's not a film that attempts to tell Stewart's entire life story. It's focused on a very specific period of time: it starts with his Oscar-winning performance in The Philadelphia Story (1940), moves through his time in the service and ends with his return to Hollywood and the making of Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life (1946).
At the height of his fame, he effectively put his career on hold to serve in the US Army Air Corps. He eventually became a combat pilot, flew 20 missions over Europe and rose to the rank of Colonel. Whereas many of his Hollywood peers would have got involved in the war effort through the medium of entertainment and public appearances, Stewart went on to take part in numerous dangerous combat missions himself. The experience left a deep emotional scar which he was very reluctant to talk about.
The film looks at how those wartime experiences informed Stewart's return to acting, specifically in his performance as George Bailey, a man who was at the point of despair before realizing the immense value of an ordinary life.
Joining Apa are Max Casella as Frank Capra, Sarah Drew as columnist Hedda Hopper, Jason Alexander as Louis B. Mayer of MGM and Christopher McDonald as Lionel Barrymore. Kelly Stewart-Harcourt (Stewart's daughter) is an executive producer on the project, which gives it a very strong family link.
Its arrival just days before Veterans Day is particularly apt. Stewart's extraordinary military record is as much a part of his story as his film work and it's a story which sits at the intersection of Hollywood history and American history.
I haven't seen Jimmy yet, so I'll withhold judgment as to how successfully it captures the man behind the legend. Its subject alone is sufficient to warrant bringing it to the attention of anyone with an interest in classic film.
Jimmy opens in limited release in theatres Friday 6th November (including selected AMC, Regal and Laemmle locations across the Los Angeles area). If you're a fan of James Stewart for years or you're just discovering his remarkable life then this is a film well worth seeing. More info and tickets are available at the film's official site.
Will you be seeing Jimmy this weekend? Whether you're a lifelong James Stewart admirer or simply curious about the man behind the Hollywood legend, consider catching this new film in theaters. If you do, I'd love to hear your impressions! Please return to The Hollywoodland Revue and share your thoughts in the comments.
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