This 1940 Movie With 100% On Rotten Tomatoes Was James Stewart's Only Oscar Win

The Philadelphia Story

Despite a repute as one of the most talented actors from Hollywood ’s Golden Age , James Stewart only had one picture show pull ahead an Oscar . The Philadelphia Storymay not be the fabled actor ’s most notable film or even one made during the peak of his acting career , but it is still regarded as one ofJames Stewart ’s best movies , as it currently holds a 100 % rating on Rotten Tomatoes .

Usually as the lead , James Stewart is associated with a farsighted lean of Hollywood classics , across a variety of musical style . Perhaps the film he ’s most wide tell apart for isIt ’s a howling lifespan , the 1946 Christmas favorite he asterisk in alongside Donna Reed . But it ’s just the only James Stewart movie to get to icon status , as there ’s also Alfred Hitchcock’sRear Window , Mr. Smith Goes to Washington , andAnatomy of a Murder . For many of these , Stewart unsurprisingly achieved critical eclat , but out of them all , onlyThe Philadelphia Storywon him the industry ’s top award .

The Philadelphia Story Was James Stewart’s Only Oscar Win

James Stewart Beat Out Henry Fonda At The Academy Awards

Over the years , Stewart accumulated multiple Oscar nominating address , with his first do in 1939 when he trifle the titular character inMr . Smith decease to Washington . He get another just a year by and by when he appear inThe Philadelphia StorywithKatharine Hepburn and Cary Grant , a romantic comedy directed by George Cukor . In the movie , Stewart played Mike Connor , one of three honey interests for Hepburn ’s Tracy . Mike is a reporter who compete with two other mankind for Tracy ’s warmheartedness ( let in her fiance ) .

All three of the leads received considerable praise for their functioning in the movie , with Stewart and Hepburn get nominated for Best Actor and Best Actress severally . But Stewart was ultimately the only cast member to win . More nominations followed in subsequent year , with Stewart also getting recognition for his roles inIt ’s a Wonderful Life , Harvey , and Anatomy of a Murder . But like what happened withMr . Smith plump to Washington , Stewart saw his competition acquire each time andnever come through a second Oscar for any of his films .

Why James Stewart Thought Another Actor Should Have Won Best Actor In 1940

James Stewart Never Thought Mike Conner Was His Best Performance

BecauseThe Philadelphia Storywas an important milepost for James Stewart and one that he never repeated , it ’s all the more interesting that the actor seemingly did n’t cogitate his work in the film was Oscar - worthy . He admit as much in his espousal spoken language , telling the audience that he hadactually cast his Best Actor vote not for himself but for Henry Fonda , who had turned in an highly memorable performance inThe Grapes of Wrath .

Though it ’ll never be confirmed one way or another , there was a view at the time - that persists to this day - that Stewart ’s Oscar win was an endeavor to rectify his repulse in 1939 , when he fail to gain it forMr . Smith Goes to Washington . With Mike Conner essentially being a supporting role inThe Philadelphia Storyand Grant being the real male lead , it did seem odd that out of all the movies he made , this was one that get down him the ever - elusive award .