The Philadelphia Story
Within a one - year span , James Stewart gave three carrying out deserving of an Oscar , but it was really a dissimilar film made during that timeframe that earned that distinction . Over the course of his farseeing vocation in Hollywood , Stewart made a figure of important contributions to cinematic history , with several of his films being household favorites for tenner , includingIt ’s a Wonderful Life . Yet , only one of his films -The Philadelphia Story - hit James Stewart the Academy Award for Best Actor .
Released in 1940,The Philadelphia Storywas a romantic comedy that team up James Stewart with two other Hollywood stars , Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn . The picture was a resounding winner , both critically and commercially . And by granting him the highly - covet Best Actor award , The Philadelphia Storywas also a major career milepost for Stewart . However , it was n’t the first pic of his that should have won it . In fact , he had three movies releasing nearThe Philadelphia Storywhere he gaveevenstronger James Stewart performances .
James Stewart Had Multiple Great Movies In A 1-Year Span
Destry Rides Again, Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, And The Shop Around The Corner Are All Classics
In the late 1930s , Stewart was pumping out multiple movie a yr , with one of his best streaks start out in October 1939 with the release ofMr . Smith Goes to Washington . Now a cinematic icon and a celluloid revered as one ofJames Stewart ’s best movie , Mr. Smith go to Washingtonrightly received a great slew of Oscar bombilation , including a Best Actor nominating speech for Stewart . While that was still play out , Universal Pictures releasedDestry Rides Again , James Stewart ’s first westerly and a film that went on to develop a great repute .
Gentle - voiced Jimmy Stewart specialized in playing righteous heroes and conflicted antagonists with a heart of amber in his best Western motion-picture show .
Within the first month of 1940,Stewart had another smasher on his hands withThe Shop Around the Corner , a romantic comedy he co - starred in with Margaret Sullivan . The two were pair together again for the summertime release ofThe Mortal Storm , a dramatic play that dealt with the start of World War II and the rise of Hitler in Europe . It was extremely well - received , but did n’t exactly break records at the box office . Shortly after that cameNo Time for Comedy , well the light of Stewart ’s four 1940 moving-picture show . All of this workplace preceded Stewart ’s Oscar - win functioning inThe Philadelphia Story , which bump off theaters in the final calendar week of the year .
James Stewart Deserved 3 Oscar Nominations Before The Philadelphia Story (And Only Got One)
Mr. Smith Goes To Washington Should Have Won
Of the five films that Stewart made during that one - yr timeframe that came forwards ofThe Philadelphia Story , three delivered Oscar - suitable performances from the worker . Mr. Smith go to Washington , the only one of the three that Stewart was nominated for , featured a now - iconic speech where his character , a relatable everyman who perplex involved in politics , talk passionately for time of day on the U.S. Senate floor . The get-up-and-go that Stewart demonstrated , and how it seemed to go down as the language went on , even as his type ’s saint never wavered , made it one of the role player ’s best moment in a movie .
James Stewart put in another outstanding execution inThe store Around the Corner , which showed off the histrion ’s comedic chops and talent as a amatory pencil lead . Stewart proved to be the staring choice forThe Shop Around the Corner’sAlfred , as it was tasked with the difficult challenge of mixing dramatic event with funniness . Stewart ’s natural likability play to the pic ’s advantage , just as it does in movies likeMr . Smith proceed to WashingtonandIt ’s a Wonderful life-time , with Stewart create an effortlessly relatable character in Alfred , a shop clerk fired over a misinterpretation .
John Wayne and James Stewart made their first Western together in 1962 , and though they work together again , their first picture show was also their effective .
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likewise , The Mortal Stormbrought out the best aspect of James Stewart ’s onscreen persona , but did it without the drollery use byThe Shop Around the Corner , Mr. Smith Goes to Washington , orThe Philadelphia Story . Made prior to the United States was still a impersonal political party in World War II , The Mortal Stormcast Stewart and Sullivan as Austrian citizens face with Nazi oppression . It weaves a tragic story , one carried largely by Stewart ’s captivating performance as an idealistic man who stands up to the Nazi Party .
watch the films today , it ’s easy to imagine any of them being the seed of an Academy Award for James Stewart . Mr. Smith Goes to Washingtonnearly was , had it not been for Robert Donat ’s part inGoodbye , Mr. Chips . The Shop Around the CornerandThe Mortal Storm , both of which being moving-picture show thathelped define James Stewart ’s career , arguably should have been contenders in 1940 , as evidenced by the legacy they presently uphold . The Shop Around the Cornermaintains a 99%Rotten Tomatoesscore , whereasThe Mortal Stormis rated an impressive 100 % . The fact that all three of these photographic film were made in such a short sentence span is a testament to Stewart ’s versatility and the thought that he was in peak conformation in 1940 .
Depsite Winning An Oscar, James Stewart’s Role In The Philadelphia Story Isn’t As Good As These 3 Performances
The Philadelphia Story Wasn’t James Stewart’s Best Movie
When it come to honour , The Mortal Storm , Mr. Smith Goes to Washington , andThe workshop Around the Cornerdon’t compare to his team - up with Hepburn and Grant . There ’s no denying the film ’s quality , as it really is a gravid flick and a highly - revered classic . That say , The Philadelphia Storyis more of a Katharine Hepburn - Cary Grant film than a James Stewart pic . Stewart winning an Oscar in a moving-picture show where he was fundamentally a supporting grapheme and a third wheel in a love triangle was a major surprisal when it come about . He true did n’t even have as much as to do as Cary Grant , who was the film ’s real manlike lead .
Stewart ’s performance not coming across as one worthy of an Academy Award was reflected in the worker ’s own adoption language . Stewart take to cast his vote for Henry Fonda , who had been nominated forGrapes of Wrath . As discussed by TCM , there was a swell deal of speculation at the time that Stewart was awarded the Oscar as a way ofmaking up for him being disregard the previous year whenMr . Smith go to Washingtondidn’t win . In 1939,Mr . Smith Goes to Washingtonwas the heavy favorite for the award .
All things think , The Philadelphia Storywas a well movie for him in which he put in a memorable performance as one of Katharine Hepburn ’s three love interest . But when look at the other films he was making at the fourth dimension , his only Best Actor - deliver the goods movie seems almost overshadowed . It go down short to not one , but three other James Stewart roles .
A wealthy woman learns the truth about herself when her ex-husband and a tabloid reporter show up just before her planned remarriage.
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A wealthy cleaning woman find out the true statement about herself when her ex - married man and a tabloid newsperson show up just before her planned remarriage .
