This post perhaps takes off from the previous one.
I don't know if it was Rear Window or The Shop Around the Corner I saw first. I don't think I put together at that point that it was the same actor. I liked Rear Window, which is a pretty awesome Hitchcock deal, but I fell in love with the tall, lanky guy from The Shop Around the Corner, and his unique way of talking and the flailing of his arms. This resulted in a whole black and white comedies thing, the highlight of which was The Apartment and The Philadelphia Story. Everything I read seemed to suggest that Cary Grant was the romantic lead to crush on, but I watched The Philadelphia Story (starring both) and I knew: James Stewart was the guy I would always root for. Particularly when it was him vs. the odds, as in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington or It's a Wonderful Life. A few days ago, it started all over again. But this time, rather than sidetracking into black and white comedies in general, J. Stewart's filmography was the point of interest. This guy has done a ton of movies, and I am on a mission to watch every one that I can get my hands on.
Today, though, brain-fried from doing probability problems, I laid back (feeling rather ill, to be honest) and watched this documentary about his life - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVn-NCXXoRo - and his reading of this poem he wrote about his dog -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwGnCIdHQH0. You really just have to read his Wikipedia page, I guess. What a fantastic man! What a remarkable life - from the accordion and Princeton to being an actor and a fighter pilot, building a life on friendship,
camaraderie, decency and all those things I am too unromantic to even completely believe in. I won't make the mistake of saying they're not made like this anymore - I've known a couple of spectacular folk - but I find that I am really rather sad that I don't live in a world with Brig. Gen. James Maitland Stewart in it. He was so fortunate in so many ways, but he watched almost everyone he loved most dearly die. His last words to his family: "I'm going to be with Gloria now" (Gloria Hatrick McLean was his wife for 45 years until she died in 1994). It seems like a great way to go, loving and loved.
The guy was a decorated war hero, a poet, a musician, an actor, a model citizen, and an all-around nice guy. This is one Republican (after Lincoln) that I don't mind at all.
I don't know if it was Rear Window or The Shop Around the Corner I saw first. I don't think I put together at that point that it was the same actor. I liked Rear Window, which is a pretty awesome Hitchcock deal, but I fell in love with the tall, lanky guy from The Shop Around the Corner, and his unique way of talking and the flailing of his arms. This resulted in a whole black and white comedies thing, the highlight of which was The Apartment and The Philadelphia Story. Everything I read seemed to suggest that Cary Grant was the romantic lead to crush on, but I watched The Philadelphia Story (starring both) and I knew: James Stewart was the guy I would always root for. Particularly when it was him vs. the odds, as in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington or It's a Wonderful Life. A few days ago, it started all over again. But this time, rather than sidetracking into black and white comedies in general, J. Stewart's filmography was the point of interest. This guy has done a ton of movies, and I am on a mission to watch every one that I can get my hands on. Today, though, brain-fried from doing probability problems, I laid back (feeling rather ill, to be honest) and watched this documentary about his life - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVn-NCXXoRo - and his reading of this poem he wrote about his dog -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwGnCIdHQH0. You really just have to read his Wikipedia page, I guess. What a fantastic man! What a remarkable life - from the accordion and Princeton to being an actor and a fighter pilot, building a life on friendship,
The guy was a decorated war hero, a poet, a musician, an actor, a model citizen, and an all-around nice guy. This is one Republican (after Lincoln) that I don't mind at all.
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