A new film is set to shine a light on one of Hollywood’s most surprising wartime stories β the real-life heroics of Jimmy Stewart, who walked away from his Oscar-winning career to fly dangerous combat missions in World War II.
From Leading Man to War Hero
Director Aaron Burns, whose film “Jimmy” hits theaters November 6, admits he was among the many who didn’t know about Stewart’s military service. “I feel like Jimmy approached the mess that the world was in a very unique way … raising his hand and saying, ‘I’ll serve,'” Burns told The Daily Wire.
The biopic stars KJ Apa (“Riverdale”) as Stewart, who could have avoided combat duty thanks to his Hollywood connections but chose instead to join the fight against the Axis powers shortly after winning his Best Actor Oscar for 1940’s “The Philadelphia Story.”
A Patriotic Legacy
“Is patriotism too corny of an answer to you? I love my country,” Burns recalled Stewart telling reporters about his decision to enlist. The director notes Stewart came from “a long line of patriots” and was raised with “old-fashioned American values.”
Neal McDonough (“Band of Brothers”) plays Stewart’s father in the film, while Jason Alexander, Rob Riggle, and Christopher McDonald round out the supporting cast. Frank Capra, Stewart’s frequent collaborator, is portrayed by Max Casella.
Authenticity Above All
Burns went to extraordinary lengths to capture Stewart’s essence, even adopting the filmmaking style of Capra, who directed Stewart in classics like “It’s a Wonderful Life.” The production team made cups asking “What Would Capra Do?” as a guiding principle.
New Zealand-born Apa immersed himself in Stewart’s world, watching “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” 50 times to perfect the actor’s voice and mannerisms. “I needed someone to embrace the spirit of Jimmy and have the same heart,” Burns said of his lead actor.
A Daughter’s Blessing
Kelly Stewart, the actor’s daughter and an executive producer on the film, provided crucial access to her father’s private war journal, found in his nightstand after his 1997 death. “Her dad never talked about the war,” Burns noted, but the journal revealed Stewart’s internal struggles about being accepted as a soldier rather than a movie star.
The production, which involved 800 people and consultation with the U.S. Air Force, even recreated historical details like the booth from Chasen’s restaurant where Stewart and his family regularly dined β now displayed at the Jimmy Stewart Museum in Indiana, Pennsylvania.
As Burns prepares his next project about J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, he hopes audiences will find inspiration in Stewart’s unlikely journey from silver screen icon to wartime leader. “This was where all the transformation occurs,” the director said of Stewart’s military service. “It’s a young man dealing with the greatest struggles and trauma he’s ever gonna have.”
Source: www.dailywire.com β https://www.dailywire.com/news/when-americas-favorite-star-traded-hollywood-for-the-skies-of-world-war-ii