A breather from weak men and their harpies who've been doing their damndest to muck things up.

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Madame's Nightshirt

Mrs. Peperium

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"I came out here as a contract player at MGM, and I went to work every day. It might be a big part in a little picture, or a little part in a big picture. You learned your craft by working at it. You crawled before you walked."

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"One time they traded me for seven horses. Seven stunt horses."

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"Hollywood dishes out too much praise for small things. I won't let it get me, but too much praise can turn a fellow's head if he doesn't watch his step."

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"Stewart studied architecture at Princeton University, where he played accordion with the drama group and dabbled in magic. After graduation, he got a job in summer theater with the University Players in Massachusetts, working with Henry Fonda and Margaret Sullavan. He made his Broadway debut in 1932 before heading for Hollywood.

"He moved in with Fonda, and the roommates became lifelong friends. They led a freewheeling bachelor life, and according to Hollywood legend, once tried to tunnel into Greta Garbo's nearby house. (They talked about it, but never actually did it, Fonda later said.)"
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"The [ Stewart/ Fonda] friendship endured, Mr. Stewart said in 1983, because '50 years ago we agreed not to discuss politics.'''

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"Stewart enlisted in the Army Air Corps on March 22, 1941, and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant and awarded his pilot wings on December 31, 1941. He served as an instructor pilot during most of 1942 and 1943, and was assigned to the 445th Bombardment Group in Sioux City, Iowa in August 1943. Stewart flew with the group to England in December 1943 and soon began flying combat missions over Europe."

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"His archetypal role (and his own favorite) was that of George Bailey, the small-town banker in ''It's a Wonderful Life,'' Frank Capra's moralistic fantasy in which the hero is rescued from suicide by a pixieish angel who shows him how much meaner life would have been in his hometown without him."

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"'Now, listen,' Frank [Capra] began hesitantly. He seemed a little embarrassed about what he was going to say. 'The story starts in heaven, and it's sort of the Lord telling somebody to go down to earth because there's a fellow who is in trouble, and this heavenly being goes to a small town, and...Clarence the Angel Helps George Bailey', Frank swallowed and took a deep breath. 'Well, what it boils down to is, this fellow who thinks he's a failure in life jumps off a bridge. The Lord sends down an angel named Clarence, who hasn't earned his wings yet, and Clarence jumps into the water to save the guy. But the angel can't swim, so the guy has to save him, and then...' Frank stopped and wiped his brow. 'This doesn't tell very well, does it?' I jumped up. 'Frank, if you want to do a picture about a guy who jumps off a bridge and an angel named Clarence who hasn't won his wings yet coming down to save him, well, I'm your man!'"

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"[George] 'is unaware that most of the people in town are arduously praying for him. In this scene, at the lowest point in George Bailey's life, Frank Capra was shooting a long shot of me slumped in despair. In agony I raise my eyes and following the script, plead, 'God...God...dear Father in heaven, I'm not a praying man, but if You're up there and You can hear me, show me the way, I'm at the end of my rope. Show me the way, God...' As I said those words, I felt the loneliness and hopelessness of people who had nowhere to turn, and my eyes filled with tears. I broke down sobbing. This was not planned at all, but the power of that prayer, the realization that our Father in heaven is there to help the hopeless had reduced me to tears.'"

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"After viewing "It's a Wonderful Life," President Harry S. Truman concluded, 'If Bess and I had a son, we'd want him to be just like Jimmy Stewart.'"

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"After the war, Stewart served as Air Force Reserve commander of Dobbins Air Reserve Base in the early 1950s. In 1966, Brigadier General James Stewart flew as a non-duty observer in a B-52 on a bombing mission during the Vietnam War. At the time of his B-52 flight, he refused the release of any publicity regarding his participation, as he did not want it treated as a stunt, but as part of his job as an officer in the Air Force Reserve. After 27 years of service, Stewart retired from the Air Force on May 31, 1968. He was promoted to Major General by President Ronald Reagan."
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"In 1980, he received the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award. In 1985, he was awarded an honorary Oscar and a standing ovation. Stewart thanked his directors 'who so generously and brilliantly guided me through the no man's land of my own good intentions.'"

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"For Stewart's 75th birthday in 1983, his hometown threw a bash attended by 30,000 people, nearly double the town's population. His former neighbors unveiled a 9-foot statue of the actor and presented him with a birthday cake topped with a rabbit. 'This is where I made up my mind about certain things - about the importance of hard work and community spirit, the value of family, church and God.'"

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"'He is the last of the great leading men. He was a very kind, very generous person. Everybody who knew Jimmy is better off.'" - Robert Wagner

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"'Jimmy Stewart had a wonderful life, and there was no one more dear or more fun than he was.'" -Doris Day

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"His wife often reinforced his humility. At a party one night, he started telling a story in his trademark faltering style. 'Now, dear,' she chided, 'don't talk like Jimmy Stewart.'"

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"Former President Ronald Reagan and wife, Nancy, Stewart's close friends who presented him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1985, said in a statement that Stewart's modesty meant he 'never really understood the greatness that others saw in him.'"
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When Jimmy Stewart was 79 he was asked how he wanted to be remembered.  He replied, 'As someone who believed in hard work and love of country, love of family and love of community.'”

 

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"When it came to kissing, Harlow was the best." --- 

 

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Comments

[George Pal]

"Hollywood dishes out too much praise for small things. I won't let it get me, but too much praise can turn a fellow's head if he doesn't watch his step."

I was tempted to bring up the obvious but, naw... it would be counter to the spirit of the post and the class of Jimmy Stewart. Very nice respite.

[TMI]

Sourced the quote to the NYT obit for Stewart.

If President Obama had a son, who would he be like?
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[The Ancient]

One of my favorite Stewart moments:

http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/video/430359/Mr-Smith-Goes-To-Washington-Movie-Clip-The-Man-On-The-Front-Page.html

(There's a boring 30 second ad at the beginning. Sorry.)

[Mrs. P]

George - had the same thought myself.

TMI -Q: Who would Obama's son be like?

A: Julia

Ancient, for the most part I don't watch today's tv except for election night coverage, and occasionally Diners Dives and Drive-ins and that International housebuying show on HGTV. We watch DVDs of old shows.

Yes, Prime Minister is one of my top 10 favs because while it's humorous, it's true:

http://youtu.be/8keZbZL2ero