His lanky frame and stammering drawl became such regular fodder for comic impersonators that sometimes we forgot just how talented and versatile an actor Jimmy Stewart was.
But, fortunately, thanks to video and television, several generations are reminded of Stewart’s brilliance practically every week. Very few days past without a Jimmy Stewart movie being shown somewhere in the world. And his character of George Bailey in “It’s a Wonderful Life” has been a regular visitor to millions of American homes for countless Christmas seasons.
Earlier this month when Stewart died at age 89, many of us paused and reflected on the career of a man who defined the word beloved. As I scanned my memory for favorite Jimmy Stewart movies, I was struck by how many of them were made memorable just by his presence.
The obvious films came to mind; “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” “Destry Rides Again,” “The Philadelphia Story,” “Harvey,” “Rear Window,” “The Glenn Miller Story,” “Vertigo,” “Anatomy of a Murder” and the previously mentioned “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Happily, all are available on video and can be enjoyed whenever the urge strikes.
What follows is other favorite Stewart efforts. Some are famous and others are not so famous.
– “Call Northside 777” (1948): Stewart is a newspaper reporter who becomes involved in an old murder case. His relentless investigation leads to the freeing of an innocent man from prison.
– “Rope” (1948): Stewart is terrific as the college professor invited to a party by two of his former students who are seeking a thrill. The two have murdered a fellow student and hidden his body in a trunk that sits in plain view during the drop-in.
– “Broken Arrow” (1950): Stewart is an Indian agent who falls in love with an Apache maiden while trying to bring peace between her people and the white man.
– “Carbine Williams” (1952): Stewart is the imprisoned moonshiner who invents a new rifle and is eventually pardoned.
– “The Naked Spur” (1953): Bounty hunter Stewart, displaying a streak of meanness heretofore unseen, goes on the trail of killer Robert Ryan.
– “The Far Country” (1954): On his way to deliver much-needed food to a group of settlers in the Alaska gold fields, Stewart is robbed of his cargo by a gang of outlaws. With the help of his grizzled old pal Walter Brennan, Stewart tracks them down.
– “Man from Laramie” (1955): This realistically violent Western has Stewart again roaming the range with revenge on his mind. This time, he’s after the men who murdered his brother.
– “The Spirit of St. Louis” (1957): Stewart is Charles Lindbergh, who takes his historic flight across the Atlantic to Paris in 1927. A truly absorbing film. You feels as if you’re in the plane with Stewart.
– “The FBI Story” (1959): Forget all that stuff about J. Edgar Hoover and enjoy this history of the FBI as seen through eyes of one of its key agents, played by Stewart.
– “Shenadoah” (1965): Stewart is head of a Virginia family who finds itself reluctantly drawn into the Civil War.
– “The Rare Breed” (1966): Stewart is determined to breed an English mare with Texas longhorns despite the skepticism of Muareen O’Hara and Brian Keith.
– “Fools’ Parade” (1971): An absolute gem that has seemingly been misplaced. During the Depression, Stewart and his pal Strother Martin are released from prison. Lawman George Kennedy trails them, certain that the duo will go to the money they were accused of stealing.
