James Stewart

James Stewart (May 20, 1908 – July 2, 1997), he starred in many classic films and was nominated for five Academy Awards, winning one in competition and receiving one Lifetime Achievement award. He was a major MGM contract star. He also had a noted military career and was a World War II and Vietnam War veteran, who rose to the rank of Brigadier General in the United States Air Force Reserve.

Throughout his seven decades in Hollywood, Stewart had a versatile career and performed in such classics as:

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington(1939), is a story about a idealistic Jefferson Smith, who is leader of the Boy Rangers and is appointed by the governor to represent his state. In Washington, Smith soon learns about the many problems in the political process, when they first try to corrupt Smith and then later try to destroy him through scandal.

James Stewart, gives a superb performance. Although.. I'm amazed that Stewart did not win the Oscar for this role but was awarded one the following year for a lesser role in, The Philadelphia Story.

The Philadelphia Story(1940). Philadelphia socialites Tracy Lord and C.K. Dexter Haven, marry on a whim. Unfortunately, they soon break up when Dexter's drinking became a way to cope, with Tracy's many complaints, over Dexter's imperfections. Two years after their break-up, Tracy is about to remarry, the ceremony to take place at the Lord mansion. Tracy's bridegroom is a aspiring politician, George Kittredge. The day before the wedding, three unexpected guests show up at the Lord mansion, Macaulay Connor, and Elizabeth Imbrie, who are friends of Tracy's brother, Junior and Dexter. Dexter, now works for a tabloid Spy magazine, makes a deal with its editor Sidney Kidd, to get a story on Tracy's wedding...

Stewart's drunken scene is pure fun and his role as part of a romantic triangle made film history.

Harvey (1950). In this classic film, Harvey is a 6' 3'' very gentle spirt who has befriended, Mr. Elwood P. Dowd and this causes all kinds of trouble for those around him. He likes to take a drink once in a while and is always talking to his rabbit friend to the dismay of his sister Veta Louise, whose social life suffers when her brother Elwood, is around. Elwood's actions also interfere with her plans to marry off her daughter Myrtle Mae. When Veta decides to commit Elwood, to a psychiatric institution, it is she that ends up being committed. When Elwood, leaves the hospital, the medical staff in the hospital realize their mistake and all try to find him...

Jimmy Stewart, is flawless as a chacter who always has a smile on his face and a friend to everyone. Harvey, is a wonderful classic film that works because of its good-natured humor.

It's a Wonderful Life(1946), George Bailey, has always to travel but never had the opportunity because of his small loan company, which was founded by his father. But on Christmas Eve, George's Uncle Billy loses the business's money while making a bank deposit. Potter, finds the money and hides it from Billy. When the bank discovers the shortage, George realizes that he will be held responsible and sent to jail and that will be the end of his families company. Thinking of his wife, their young children, and others he loves will be better off with him dead, he thinks about killing himself. The prayers of all his loved ones bring an angel named Clarence to help George...

James Stewart, will put on a roller coaster of emotions throughout this beautiful film, and is one of the few that you can watch again and again and still have the same fuzzy feeling as you did when you first watched it.

Shenandoah(1965). Farmer Charlie Anderson, finds himself and his family, in the middle of the Civil War, when his youngest son is taken prisoner by the North. Jimmy Stewart, is at his best in this film and stays true to his believes.

Rear Window(1954). Jimmy Stewart, plays Professional photographer L.B. Jeffries, who breaks his leg while getting an action shot at an auto race. Confined, in a wheel chair in his apartment, he spends his time looking out of his rear window watching his neighbors. He begins to suspect that a man across the courtyard may have killed his wife. Jeff and girlfriend Lisa Freemont and his nurse Stella, try and learn the truth...

Jimmy Stewart, and his eyes could not have given a better performance as the lead character.

Rope(1948), The story begins, when, Brandon and Philip, who share a apartment, make the decision to murder their friend, David Kentley. Together they strangle David with a rope and placing his body in an chest and then throw a small party. The guests include David's father, his fiancee Janet and their old schoolteacher Rupert from whom they somehow got their ideas. Rupert, begins to suspect something. James Stewart, plays the voice of reason thought the film perfectly.

The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956). Dr. Ben McKenna, his wife Jo and their son Hank, are vacationing in Africa when they meet Louis Bernard, on a bus. The next day Bernard is murdered in the street, but before he dies he tells Ben, the details of an assassination plot in London. The assassins kidnap Hank in order to keep the McKenna's silent.

In this film, James Stewart, shows great courage and heartbreak of a man that has lost his child and would do anything to get him back.

The Shop Around the Corner(1940), Mr. Hugo Matuschek owns the Matuschek and Company department store and his best salesman is, bachelor Alfred Kralik. But, after Matuschek hires, Klara Novak, Kralik and she do not get along very well. Kralik, has an unknown pen pal who he plans to marry. However, he is fired without explanation by Matuschek. He goes where he and unknown pen pal have a scheduled meeting with his colleague Pirovitch and he finds that Klara is his unknown pen pal, but he does not tell her his true identity. When Matuschek finds out that he made mistake, he hires him for the position of manager. But, will Klara ever find out who Kralik really is?

The Stewart and Sullavan relationship on screen is so wonderful, that something unique happens.

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance(1962). When Senator Ransom Stoddard returns home to Shinbone for the funeral of Tom Doniphon, he tells the a local newspaper editor his story. That he was the towns lawyer many years ago. Now, all Stoddard has are a few law books and has to get a job working in a restaurant. The towns trouble maker Valance, destroys the local newspaper office and attacks the editor, Stoddard calls him out though, you have to watch close to see what really happens.

This is a great western, with many plot twists and turns, that end in shocking conclusion, that you won't find in any other western.

Vertigo(1958). John "Scottie" Ferguson, is a retired San Francisco police detective, who suffers from acrophobia. A wealthy shipbuilder who is an old friend from college days asks Scottie to follow his wife, Madeleine. He is worried she is contemplating suicide, because she believes she is possessed by a dead ancestor. Scottie, agrees after he sees the beautiful Madeleine.

Jimmy Stewart, gives one of his best performances of his career.

Stewart left his mark on a wide range of film genres, including westerns, suspense thrillers, family films, biographies and screwball comedies. He worked for directors: Alfred Hitchcock, John Ford, Billy Wilder, Frank Capra, George Cukor, and Anthony Mann. He won many of the industry's highest honors and earned Lifetime Achievement awards from every major film organization. He died at age 89, leaving behind a legacy of classic performances, and is considered one of the finest actors of the "Golden Age of Hollywood".

Personal Quote:

"Sometimes I wonder if I'm doing a Jimmy Stewart imitation myself".

Please click here to learn more about Jimmy Stewart.

Please click here to learn more about James Stewart.

Jimmy Stewart Westerns.

Great On Screen Couples: Jean Arthur & Jimmy Stewart

When you think of great female screwball comedy actresses, you have to think of Jean Arthur. She starred in some of the most notable screwball comedies of all time: Easy Living, The Devil and Miss Jones, Too Many Husbands, and The More The Merrier. And let's not forget her three classic films for director Frank Capra: Mr. Deeds Goes To Town, You Can't Take It With You, and Mr. Smith Goes To Washington. The last two pairing her with Jimmy Stewart. The only two films these legendary stars appeared in. Jean and Jimmy were perfectly in these wildly popular and sentimental films. Both stars projected down home easy going manners that everyday people could relate to. Even though they only paired up for these two films, they made a lasting impression of film lovers everywhere and established them firmly as a top Hollywood on screen couple.

CMBA Hitchcock Blogathon: Vertigo(1958).

Hitchcock, directed more than fifty feature films in a career spanning six decades. Hitchcock did more than any director to shape modern cinema. He is famous for his narrative and withholding crucial information from his characters and from the audience.

One of my favorite Hitchcock films is, Vertigo (1958). Where Stewart plays "Scottie", a former police investigator suffering from acrophobia, who develops an obsession with a woman he is shadowing (Novak). Scottie's obsession leads to tragedy, and this time Hitchcock does not go for a happy ending. The film clip below shows Hitchcock's cameo in the film.

Vertigo(1958). Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Cast: James Stewart, Kim Novak and Barbara Bel Geddes. The film was written by Alec Coppel and Samuel A. Taylor, based on a novel by Boileau-Narcejac. At first the film received mixed reviews, but now ranked among the greatest films ever made. Hitchcock's film is about obsession, which means that it's about circling back to the same moment, again and again ...

The story begins in San Francisco, during a police chase across the rooftops, Detective John "Scottie" Ferguson nearly falls to his death. Unfortunately, his partner falls to his death while trying to save him. After which, Scottie decides to retire from police force, but an old friend Gavin Elster, contacts Scottie and wants him to work for him as a private investigator. His job is to follow his friends wife, Madeleine Elster and to learn the mystery of her strange behavior. Scottie follows them to a restaurant so he knows what she looks like.



In my favorite part of the movie, Scottie now on the case follows Madeleine as she visits the grave and the museum portrait of Carlotta Valdes.

Scottie learns that Carlotta Valdes tragic life ended in suicide and that she was Madeleine's great-grandmother. Madeleine next stop is Fort Point, where she jumps into San Francisco Bay. Scottie jumps in after her and takes her to his home to dry off and rest. There Madeleine shares with him what she thinks is living in a bad dream, Scottie believes the location in the dream as Mission San Juan Bautista and takes her there, in hopes to make her feel better..

At the mission, Madeleine panics and runs into the church and up the staircase of the bell tower. Scottie chases after her, but his acrophobia prevents him from climbing the staircase. Scottie hears a scream and sees Madeleine fall from the tower. Her death was declared a suicide and Gavin blamed it on possession by Carlotta Valdes.

Scottie had fallen in love with Madeleine and went into a great depression after her death. As he improves, he begins to visit the places that they had once visited. In his travels, he spots woman who reminds him of Madeleine. Scottie follows her to her hotel room where she tells him that her name is Judy Barton. At first she is angry, but after a few minutes she does agree to join Scottie for dinner. After Scottie has left, we learn of her true identity. She was, in fact, the woman who he knew as "Madeleine". Judy in love with Scottie, decides to hide the truth. Their relationship is troubled by his memory of "Madeleine." He transforms Judy so that she begins to look like "Madeleine."



Scottie becomes suspicious when Judy wears a necklace that he remembered seeing in the portrait of Carlotta Valdes. Scottie takes Madeleine to Mission San Juan Bautista, so he can reenact the tragic event in which he could not save Madeleine. Maybe he has taken his obsession too far.

The wonderful performances of Novak and Stewart make this one of my favorite films. Hitchcock is on the mark for creating hypnotic scenes and a sense of tension which will keep you on the edge of your seat!

The wonderful score of Bernard Herrman is very important in help creating the atmosphere of these scenes.

Fun Facts:
When actress Vera Miles, who was under personal contract to Hitchcock and had appeared on both his television show and in his film, The Wrong Man, could not act in Vertigo because of her pregnancy. The director cast Kim Novak as the female lead. Columbia head Harry Cohn agreed to lend Novak to Vertigo, if Stewart would agree to co-star with Novak in Bell, Book and Candle (1958).

Hitchcock said that Vertigo was one of his favorite films. Hitchcock blamed the film's failure on Stewart, at age 50, looking too old to play a convincing love interest for Kim Novak, who at 25 was half his age at the time.

Filming locations:

Filmed from September to December 1957, Vertigo is best known for its location of the San Francisco Bay Area, with its famous steep hills, expansive views, and tall, arching bridges.

The Mission San Juan Bautista, where Madeleine falls from the tower, is a real place, but the tower had to be matted in with a painting using studio effects. Hitchcock had first visited the mission before the tower was torn down due to dry rot, and was reportedly displeased to find it missing when he returned to film his scenes. The original tower was much smaller and less dramatic than the film's version.

The gallery where Carlotta's painting appears is the California Palace of the Legion of Honor in San Francisco.

Muir Woods National Monument is in fact represented by Big Basin Redwoods State Park. The redwood tree showing its age is a replica of one that can still be found at Muir Woods.

The coastal region where Scottie and Madeleine first kiss is Cypress Point, a well-known location along the 17 Mile Drive near Pebble Beach. However, the lone tree by which they kiss is in fact a prop brought specially to the location.

The spectacular domed building past which Scottie and Judy walk is the Palace of Fine Arts.

Coit Tower appears in many background shots; Hitchcock once said that he included it as a phallic symbol.

Gavin and Madeleine's apartment building is "The Brocklebank" at 1000 Mason Street, is across the street from the Fairmont Hotel, where Hitchcock stayed when he visited and where many of the cast and crew stayed during filming.

The "McKittrick Hotel" was a privately-owned Victorian mansion from the 1880s at Gough and Eddy Streets, was torn down in 1959.

Podesta Baldocchi is the flower shop Madeleine visits as she is being followed by Scottie. The Podesta Baldocchi flower shop now does business from a location at 410 Harriet Street. It is well-known today as the "World's Oldest Family Owned Florist".

The sanatorium is 351 Buena Vista East, formerly St. Joseph's Hospital, now Park Hill condominiums.

The Empire Hotel is a real place, called the York Hotel, and now (as of January 2009) the Hotel Vertigo at 940 Sutter Street.

Please click here to read Lady Eves article: Shooting on a beautiful San Francisco day.

Jimmy Stewart (May 20, 1908 – July 2, 1997), was nominated for five Academy Awards, winning one in competition and receiving one Lifetime Achievement award.  He also had a military career and was a World War II and Vietnam War veteran, who rose to the rank of Brigadier General in the United States Air Force Reserve.

Throughout his seven decades in Hollywood, Stewart had a very versatile career and performed in the classics: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, The Philadelphia Story, Harvey, It's a Wonderful Life, Rear Window, Rope, The Man Who Knew Too Much, and Vertigo.

Kim Novak (born February 13, 1933), is best known for her performance in the classic film , Vertigo. Novak retired from acting in 1991 and has become an artist of oil paintings. She lives with her veterinarian husband on a ranch in, Oregon, where they raise livestock.

Barbara Bel Geddes(October 31, 1922 – August 8, 2005), Her film career began with The Long Night (1947), starring Henry Fonda, a remake of the French film, Le Jour se lève (1939). She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for, I Remember Mama (1948). She found new opportunity when Alfred Hitchcock cast her in four episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Hitchcock cast her again with James Stewart in Vertigo (1958), as the long-suffering bohemian Midge. Bel Geddes also starred with Danny Kaye and Louis Armstrong in the musical, The Five Pennies.

Nineteen other classic movie blogs will post reviews and articles on many Hitchcock films. I 'm really looking forward to a day of wonderful movie reviews about one of my favorite directors. Please join us.

The Birds – Classic Film & TV Café
Dial M for Murder – True Classics: The ABCs of Film
The Lady Vanishes – MacGuffin Movies
Lifeboat – Classicfilmboy’s Movie Paradise
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) – Reel Revival
Marnie – My Love of Old Hollywood
Mr. and Mrs. Smith – Carole & Co.
North By Northwest – Bette’s Classic Movie Blog
Notorious – Twenty Four Frames
The Pleasure Garden – Thrilling Days of Yesteryear
Rear Window – Java’s Journey
Rebecca – ClassicBecky’s Film and Literary Review
Rope – Kevin’s Movie Corner
Shadow of a Doubt - Great Entertainers Media Archive
The 39 Steps – Garbo Laughs
Three Classic Hitchcock Killers – The Lady Eve’s Reel Life
Torn Curtain - Via Margutta 51
The Trouble with Harry – Bit Part Actors
Vertigo – Noir and Chick Flicks
The Wrong Man – The Movie Projector

Happy Birthday, Jimmy Stewart!

Jimmy Stewart, was an film and stage actor, best known for his self-effacing persona. Throughout his seven decades in Hollywood, Stewart had a wonderful career and recognized screen image in such classics as Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, The Philadelphia Story, Harvey, It's a Wonderful Life, Rear Window, Rope, The Man Who Knew Too Much, and Vertigo. And was nominated for five Academy Awards, winning one in competition and receiving one Lifetime Achievement award. He also had a noted military career, a WWII and Vietnam War veteran, who rose to the rank of Brigadier General in the United States Air Force Reserve.

DOUBLE FEATURE SPOTLIGHT: DIAL M FOR MURDER (1954) and REAR WINDOW (1954)

GRACE KELLY'S performance in HIGH NOON(1952), caught the interest of director Alfred Hitchcock, who, with the help of Edith Head, transformed Grace Kelly, into his idea of a elegant, beautiful blond. She gave Hitchcock wonderful performances in DIAL M FOR MURDER(1954), REAR WINDOW(1954), and TO CATCH A THIEF(1955).

DIAL M FOR MURDER (1954), begins as Margot (Grace Kelly) discusses with the other man in her life, Mark Halliday (Robert Cummings), that she had changed her mind about divorcing her husband. And is convinced, that her husband still cares for her and wants a fresh start in her marriage. She also informs him about a blackmailer who stole a letter that Mark wrote to her, but never picked up the money. When Tony (Ray Milland), comes home, he announces that he has unexpected business to take care of and has to change their evening plans. But insists that Mark and Margot to go on without him. After they leave,Tony makes a call to Lesgate, who has a car for sale. They make plans to meet at Tony's apartment. Tony informs him and that he is aware of illegal activities, in which he is involved and blackmails Lesgate, into agreeing to do the killing.Tony warns Lesgate that going to the police would only backfire.

Lesgate, is to watch the apartment and when Margot goes into the bedroom, he is to enter using Margot's house key.. At the agreed time, Tony will call, and when Margot answers, Lesgate, is to strangle her. When he has finished, Lesgate is to whistle into the phone and hang up. He is to leave the garden window open and put the key under the stairway.

Before Tony and Mark leave for the club, Tony gets the key from Margot's handbag and requests her to stay behind to clip articles for his scrapbook. At the club,Tony leaves the table, saying he must call his boss, but calls home. During this time Lesgate has unlocked the apartment door and put the key under the stairway, he waits inside the apartment. When Margot goes to answer the phone, Lesgate tries to strangle her, but things don't go as planned. Tony, on the other end of the phone line, has to quickly come up with a new plan. He talks into the phone and Margot, hearing his voice, tells him what happened. Later, when the police start to investigate they find all evidence points to Margot letting Lesgate in and killing him because he was blackmailing her. What is to happen to Margot?

Hitchcock arranged to have Grace Kelly dressed in bright colors at the start of the film and made them progressively darker as time goes on.

http://www.tcm.com/video/videoPlayer/?cid=2515&titleId=16707
Click to view theatrical trailers.
http://www.tcm.com/video/videoPlayer/?cid=64870&titleId=87777

THE REAR WINDOW (1954)
Jeff (Jimmy Stewart), a professional news photographer, stuck in a wheelchair with a broken leg from an accident while on assignment. Spends his hot summer days watching his neighbors through the REAR WINDOW of his New York apartment. Dreaming up names for his new friends, like Miss Torso, the ballerina and Miss Lonely Heart, the old maid. One neighbor in particular, seems to have peaked Jeff's interest. A traveling salesman and his bed ridden, nagging wife, who lives in a apartment across the courtyard.

Everyday like clock work, Stella (Thelma Ritter) , his nurse, drops by to prepare his meals and to make his bed. She disapproves of his spying on his neighbors and encourages him to marry Lisa(Grace Kelly). Jeff, insists that Lisa is too "perfect", for his adventurous lifestyle.

In the middle of the night, Jeff hears a woman scream and glass break, but sees nothing outside. Jeff believes that he is a witness to the murder of Mrs Thorwald. Over the next few days they watch Thorwald's, suspicious behavior. Jeff comes up with a plan to write him an anonymous note, asking... "What have you done with her?" Lisa slips the note under his door. What is Thorwald's next move ?

The romance between war photographer Robert Capa and actress Ingrid Bergman is believed to be Hitchcock's inspiration for the movie, REAR WINDOW..