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Jimmy Stewartwas Hollywood ’s folksy everyman before Tom Hanks . ThroughoutStewart ’s illustrious film career , the actor was substantially known for his roles inIt ’s A Wonderful Life , The Philadelphia Story , andVertigo , in which he played likable , down - to - earth character reference that audiences pertain to . Stewart ’s comportment on cover was always paying attention and never brash , but he did steal every scene he was in . His famous filibusterer scene fromMr . Smith Goes to Washingtonwill be forever ingrained in the memory of moviegoers .
In addition to his playing , Stewart also had an impressive vocation with the U.S. Military . He serve up in the U.S. Army during World War 2 , then joined the Air Force Reserves , where he served during part of the Vietnam War . He eventually earned the rank of Brigadier General , makingStewart the highest - ranking actor in U.S. Military history . But military service and acting aside , Stewart became the subject of a Hollywood urban legend . After his performance inFool ’s Parade , some viewers were will broken , asking , " How did Jimmy Stewart lose his eye?“The response comes from one of Stewart ’s last motion-picture show before starring in a television series , then easing into retreat .
Jimmy Stewart Didn’t Lose His Eye — He Wore A Glass Eye For Fool’s Parade
The Eye Has A Life Of Its Own In The Film
The rumor behind Stewart lose his eye come from the 1971 filmFool ’s Parade . The crime dramatic event follows manslayer Mattie Appleyard ( Stewart ) as he tries to go directly and open a general storage after spend time in prison , only to find that the guard he trust with his money has sinister design .
In the film , Mattie outwear a very conspicuous glass eye , which he has given a image named " Tighe " , and it ’s this function that head many to believe Stewart was drop an centre in actual life . However , this is not the eccentric — the actor was wearing a fake methamphetamine eye for hisFool ’s Paraderole .
Gentle - voiced Jimmy Stewart specialize in playing righteous heroes and conflicted opposer with a heart of atomic number 79 in his unspoilt westerly movies .
Notably , inFool ’s Parade , Stewart plays against type as amovie anti - hero . Most of Stewart ’s characters are directly - lace up unspoiled guys , but Appleyard has a dark past tense and , potentially , a dark hereafter on the way . Still , Stewart delivers a credible functioning , all while wearing a glass eye . However , while Stewart certainly shines in the moving picture , the revaluation were lukewarm . Fool ’s Parade , with a middling rating of 57 % on Rotten Tomatoes . So , while Stewart might have brought an gratifying warmness to the film , critics agree the story , effects , and execution were second-rate .
Fool ’s Parade is also known asDynamite Man from Glory Jail .
Other Actors Who Have Worn Fake Eyes For Roles & What They’ve Said About It
Vin Diesel’s Contact Lenses In Pitch Black Prompted A Trip To The Hospital
Jimmy Stewart ’s fake shabu eye inFool ’s Paradewas reportedly very uncomfortable to wear , and the actor allegedly could only fend wearing it for 20 arcminute at a time while shooting ( viaLooper ) . And Stewart is also far from the only worker to digest for his art when it come to eyewear . In thePitch Blackfranchise , Vin Diesel ’s Riddick lineament magnificently has glint eyes , which require the role player to wear contacts . Like Stewart and his phoney ice eye , Diesel ’s physical contact were far from comfortable , and even required hospitalization . Diesel toldIGN ,
The contacts were paradigm , they had never been try or fag before . So it finger like – suppose blend in to your father ’s 1960 Plymouth , select the hubcaps off , painting them blue and sticking them in your eyes . They had to aviate out an optometrist from three hours away on the first Clarence Day because they could n’t get ‘em out . And they were like , ' What the– ? ' And at the end of that , I had to go to the hospital . They were like , ' We should take you to the infirmary . ' I was like , ' Why ? What are you– ? ' ' Because there ’s a piddling scrape , we have to verify everything ’s okay , we have to go to the hospital . ' It was a grueling experience having to wear those contacts .
WhileJimmy Stewartand Vin Diesel both sour in splendid performances despite their exasperating eyewear , these stories just go to show that sprightliness as a famous Hollywood actor can be far from glamorous .
