The Reason 'It's a Wonderful Life' Nearly Became James Stewart's Final Movie Role

Jan 06, 2021 by apost team

The festive season brings with it memories of James Stewart and "It’s a Wonderful Life," the movie that turned him into a household name. This 1946 classic film was directed by the legendary Frank Capra and remains a darling whenever the holidays draw near. The movie is actually considered one of James Stewart’s best works, but this did not come easy for him.

The movie industry at the time was changing fast to meet the demand for more youthful faces on the screen, and Stewart did not quite cut it. It was extremely difficult for him to land acting roles, hence the fear that the classic movie would be the last anyone would see of him, but was it? Several issues deterred Stewart both mentally and physically, but he fought to rise above them.

According to Biography.com, Stewart was born James Maitland Stewart in Indiana, Pennsylvania, in 1908. He was the only son of his mother, Elizabeth Ruth, and the eldest son of his father, Alexander Maitland Stewart. His father was a staunchly religious Presbyterian who raised him to be a devout Christian as well.

Both his parents were part of the church's choir, as per Movieguide.org. “Dad was a Presbyterian, strong in his religion as he was in all beliefs,” Stewart wrote as per guideposts.org. “He sang in the choir with a true but penetrating tenor voice, and someone once described the hymns as ‘solos by Mr. Stewart, with accompanying voices.'”

apost.com

James Stewart attended Mercersburg Academy preparatory school because his father was doubtful he would be accepted into Princeton after attending a public high school. Here he took part in several extracurricular activities, among them football and yearbook. His first appearance on stage was a school play named "The Wolves."

He went back home during summer breaks and worked as a magician’s assistant and a brick loader. Stewart contracted scarlet fever in 1927 which grew into a kidney infection and forced him to take time out of school. This delayed his graduation until later the next year.

Stewart never lost his deep-founded vision of becoming a pilot. He divulged that his interest was piqued by the first solo transatlantic flight commandeered by Charles Lindbergh. He abandoned this vision when his father directed him to join Princeton. James Stewart majored in architecture and even joined the Princeton Charter Club. His academics were spectacular, but he developed an interest in the music and drama clubs at school. His thesis on airport design led him to be awarded a graduate studies scholarship. However, Stewart chose to join a performance company in Massachusetts.

James Stewart assumed the role of George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life after having served in the Second World War. Chicago Tribune reports that when he was being cast, he appeared frail and sickly with some saying that he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is said that he had contemplated throwing in the towel before he took the George Bailey role. 

Stewart was actually the first famous American movie star who enlisted in the United States Army and fought in World War II. This is largely attributed to the fact that his family was deeply rooted in the military, with his grandfathers from both sides fighting in the Civil War and his father serving in both World War I and the Spanish-American War according to Jimmy.org. He tried first in 1940 but was rejected because his weight was below the set regulations. He successfully enlisted the next year and went through private induction in the Air Corps because he had some experience as an amateur pilot.

He was 33 years old at the time and way too old to train as an aviation cadet. This limitation forced him to apply for a commission in the Air Corps as a licensed commercial pilot and a college graduate.

Stewart did not make any new movies after enlisting and only made public appearances for Army Air Force engagements. However, he appeared on a network radio program, We Hold These Truths, a broadcast about the U.S. Bill of Rights that was aired a week after Pearl Harbor was attacked. He also appeared in a short film intended to assist in recruiting airmen. This film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary and helped to recruit more than 150,000 recruits.

James Stewart received numerous awards including the Distinguished Flying Cross for his service as the Deputy Commander of the Second Bombardment Wing. He was promoted to colonel in 1945 to join the list of few Americans to ever rise from private to colonel in just four years.

Stewart served for 27 years before attaining the age of mandatory retirement, at which point he was awarded the United States Air Force Distinguished Service Medal. He appeared in an episode of The World at War, a British TV documentary series, and made some remarks about the catastrophic Schweinfurt mission of 1943. However, he was very reluctant when it came to talking about his time at war.

The main reason why James Stewart returned to film after his wartime service was the fact that it was where he felt safest. It was also the only way for him to express the trauma and agony he had experienced in combat. As per Chicago Tribune, Robert Matzen wrote in his book, Mission: Jimmy Stewart and the Fight for Europe, "The war had changed Jim down to the molecular level. He could never begin to articulate what those four-and-a-half years, including fifteen months in combat, had done to him. One thing he could do was express a bit of it on-screen."

Getting roles wasn’t easy for him, though. Most directors were in the habit of awarding roles to younger actors, and Stewart was at a disadvantage, having spent most of his youth away from the film industry. Louis B. Meyer, his former boss, propositioned him a role in a film that was intended to feature his experience in war and portray him as a war hero.

Stewart declined. He did not want to talk about his past nor relive those memories. It’s a Wonderful Life was the first film he featured in after the war. His role as George Bailey depicted a respectable man in a small town who was tormented by his financial woes and mediocre existence. Bailey goes on to contemplate committing suicide on Christmas Eve but is led to rediscover his purpose by an angel. After the movie was finished, Stewart was still doubtful about his abilities as an actor and considered calling it quits.

The film went on to be nominated for several Academy Awards but was faced with varying reviews for its purported overall sentimentality. Reports say that Capra and Stewart did not agree at the onset of their meeting. This was because Stewart was disagreeable with the film's storyline. However, both of them gave this movie their all because they considered it their last Hollywood project. The film scene had changed, and they had been left behind. However, Stewart went on to star in numerous movies and received accolades for his impeccable talent.

The film was reported to have cost more than $3 million in production and was termed a long and tiring shoot. Speaking of what it was like on set in his book, Matzen wrote, "Now he was running for his life, Jim Stewart, former squadron commander of the 703rd. 'Merry Christmas, Bedford Falls!' he called into the hot air of Encino. 'Merry Christmas, you old Building and Loan!' Suddenly, he wanted to be a part of Hollywood where he felt comfortable and safe."

When the script was released, It’s a Wonderful Life was considered naughty because it featured words like "lousy" and "jerk." The movie was not an instant hit, but it played a vital role in relaunching Stewart’s acting career. It started gaining popularity in the 20th century and went on to become widely loved.

Kelly Stewart, James Stewart's daughter, is among the many Americans who await the replay of the popular Christmas movie. Kelly divulged to Closer Weekly in December 2020 that her father not only livened Christmas for his fans but also made sure that Christmas would be a memorable holiday for his family.

Stewart’s roles in most of the films he starred in portrayed an idealistic character. He was considered one of the sweetheart movie figures in the 20th century, all thanks to his relatable devotion to family on television. Dennis Bingham, a film scholar, stated that he displayed "American Ideals" so effortlessly that male actors after him tried to emulate him with such vigor.

Stewart became one of the most sought-after film actors of his time. His success inspired other actors to pursue their careers independently. Several of his films went on to become classics in American cinema. Twelve of these movies had been listed in the United States National Film Registry by 2019. Five of these films were featured in the list of 100 greatest American films by the American Film Institute.

The Jimmy Stewart Museum was launched in Indiana, Pennsylvania, in 1995 to commemorate the actor's 87th birthday.

There is a James Stewart statue on the Indiana County Courthouse lawn with a sign that marks where he was born. The Jimmy Stewart Airport of Indiana County was named as a tribute to him as was the United States Post Office in Pennsylvania which became the Jimmy Stewart Post Office Building.

James Stewart is the perfect example of a man who pushed himself beyond his comfort zone. The changes experienced in the film industry could have been the end of him, but he took one opportunity and used it to propel his career.

We sincerely hope that you enjoyed this story. Your friends are guaranteed to love it as well. Let us know what you thought about this post. Your feedback is important to us.