I can't remember the first James 'Jimmy' Stewart movie I watched, the chances are it was either "It's a Wonderful Life" or "The Glenn Miller Story", but I do know that for as long as I care to remember I have been a fan. Even now having watched the majority of his movies from the earlier ones such as "The Philadelphia Story" through to his various westerns, if a James Stewart movie comes on TV I will watch it. My love of James Stewart also extends to the various books which have been written about the movie legend which leads me to "Jimmy Stewart: The Truth Behind The Legend" written by Michael Munn, who has also written about "John Wayne", "Richard Burton", "Frank Sinatra" and "Steve McQueen".
Published in 2006 "Jimmy Stewart: The Truth Behind The Legend" is very much a true biopic, chronologically following Stewart's life from his childhood In Indiana, his service as a bomber during the war, the struggle to find work as an actor when he returned right through to July 1997 when James Stewart passed away. Something which is very striking about "Jimmy Stewart: The Truth Behind The Legend" is that Michael Munn writes in such away that it comes across as if he was close to both Stewart and his wife Gloria. It's something which he does with all his books on actors, delivering a sense of being a personal friend to the stars in question. How close he was is unproven but it makes it a far more pleasant book to read with an almost personal warmth which radiates from not only his words, but those of James Stewart whose interviews contribute too many of the chapters.
As you would expect from a book about a movie star it mixes James Stewart's personal life, his loves, relationships and passions with his acting career. As such I would say every movie, TV appearance, radio broadcast and play is covered and not just with a few sentences. There is a lot of focus on his career and in the way Michael Munn combines facts with his own opinion and also various opinions from James Stewart himself, thanks to interviews, you get a real idea about each movie and various problems which may have blighted production. It's the contribution of James Stewart from various interviews which are the most enlightening especially when it comes to the way he got on or didn't with the various other stars in his movies.
Whilst all this insight into James Stewart's career provides for some fascinating reading it is the look into his personal life which ends up being the big surprise in "Jimmy Stewart: The Truth Behind The Legend". Again thanks to the various interviews with James Stewart it feels like you have him there reeling of a yarn about his life. So we learn in his own words about the feuds he had with other stars such as Henry Fonda who for a time was his closest friend as well as his falling out with Alfred Hitchcock. But you also learn about his various loves, such as actress Margaret Sullavan and of course his wife Gloria, but also about his passion for flying.
All of which works well combining career with his personal life. But there is an extra element to "Jimmy Stewart: The Truth Behind The Legend" and that is a series of revelations. Whilst James Stewart made a niche for himself playing that innocent up right gentleman with high morals in various movies such as "Mr Smith Goes to Washington" away from the camera he was as red blooded as the next fellow and had relationships with various women. He also had a run in with the Hollywood Mafia which would nearly lead to him being killed. And most surprisingly is he worked as a spy for Edgar J. Hoover reporting on those suspected of being sympathetic to communism.
As already mentioned one of the charms of the book is that there is so much given over to James Stewart and you get a sense whilst reading that he is in the same room telling you a story about the good old days of Hollywood. But James Stewart is not the only star to lend their words, having made movies with many of the greats there are numerous interjections from other stars. Having been a close friend, Henry Fonda often also lends his words either backing up something that James Stewart said or explaining something, such as Stewart's supposed racial tendencies. Henry Fonda is not the only other person to contribute to the book and amongst many others there are the likes of Lee Marvin and Burgess Meredith who worked with James Stewart on "On Our Merry Way".
When you finish reading Michael Munn's "Jimmy Stewart: The Truth Behind The Legend" it reiterates what a great actor James Stewart was and one who was also highly respected within the movie business. With the warmth of Michael Munn's word and the various contributions from James Stewart as well as other stars it's not only a charming book to read but one which feels like you have all these big name actors in the room with you reminiscing over the good old days of Hollywood.
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