Silver Screen Super Heroes

There is more than one definition but…….a hero/heroine is typically a person, real or fictional, who is admired for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities, often in the face of danger or

adversity. They may be celebrated for acts of bravery, selflessness, or for embodying ideals of strength, virtue, or wisdom.

They are often fictional and play leads in films. Personal to each of us they are many and varied. Why do we need them? It can be said we need them to survive, to aspire to greater things, role models…..

Libby told us of 12 reasons for having heroes:

            Gives us hope

            Energises us

            Developes us

            Heals us

            Imparts wisdom

            Role models for morality

            Offer safety and protection

            Gives us positive emotions

            Gives us meaning and purpose

            Provides connection and reduces loneliness

            Helps achieve personal goals

            Helps society achieve societal goals

They help us survive through the worst times and helps us to the best times. They determine the way we live our lives.

Heroes are often big stars of Hollywood - they can be bad, good, villains, evil beings…..they may be the subject of Westerns, wars, romance or comedies for example. Often their experiences/struggles elicit empathy on our part. Libby challenged us to think of our own heroes or heroines.

Libby revealed her hero - James Stewart. She passed around framed memorabilia showing us the depth of her interest.

He was born James Maitland Stewart on 20^th May 1908 in Indiana, passing away on 2^nd July 1997. He was considered the most eligible bachelor of the time and, indeed, trod the lonely road of the bachelor. He didn’t marry until 1949 when he married Gloria Hatrick McLean, a divorcee with two children. James and Gloria had twin daughters together and James adopted her two sons from the previous marriage.     

His acting career started whilst at Princeton University; his Broadway debut was in 1932 and his first screen appearance in 1934. He starred in 92 films, TV programmes and shorts.  He was a classics man with strong morals. Stewart retired in 1991 and after the death of his wife in 1994 he largely became a recluse. Although deaf by then, he was happy in his own company. His acting roles were many and varied from comedy through thrillers and westerns, naming but a few.

As well as holding a private pilots licence he was in the US Army Airforce in WW2, eventually commanding 703 Bombardment Squadron. He was asked to make a recruitment film during his service - Winning Your Wings. He was the first film star to enlist and began by training pilots. Stewart came to England in November 1943 with 703 squadron and flew B-24 Liberators from RAF Tibenham and RAF Old Buckenham in Norfolk. He returned to the US in 1945 and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and French Croix de Guerre. He also won the Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters - a true hero in every sense. An aviator, he loved flying - he owned his own plane, a Cessna 310, which has been restored.  He was promoted in March 1945 to full Colonel and was the presiding officer of the court martial of a pilot and navigator who accidentally bombed Zurich. He never really recovered from his wartime experiences and may, indeed, have had PTSD…. 130 men were lost under his command.

James stewart was often seen playing ‘everyman’ characters (stock). His way of speaking was memorable - slow and drawn out with pauses. We talked about a few of his most memorable films.

It’s a Wonderful Life - from 1946, the film was not a particular success at the time but it has since become one of the iconic Christmas films to watch. Libby produced all sorts of DVDs and videos of his films - Harvey, Vertigo and the Philadelphia Story (for which he won an Oscar). He reputedly got on well with his fellow actors but not with his directors - for example Alfred Hitchcock. They clashed, trading gestures and glares rather than words!

Rear Window - a masterpiece. He made many films with mixed reviews. His appreciation came later and particularly posthumously.

Westerns - he rode the same horse in 17 movies. The horse was called Pie and they had a wonderful connection - he declared the horse was his best co-star!

Far Country in 1954 required his horse to go down the street on its own with a bell sounding on the saddle. There was much doubt that this would not succeed…..Stewart whispered in the horses ear, it set off and did the whole thing on the first take!

He achieved many honours and awards. He was awarded best actor for Philadelphia Story in 1940 even though he was not the lead. He was nominated for four other movies - Mr Smith Goes to Washington, It’s a Wonderful Life, Harvey and Anatomy of Murder. In 1985 he was given an Academy Award and in 1999 the American Film Institute ranked him the third greatest American male actor after Humphrey Bogart and Cary Grant. He was followed in this list by other greats - Marlon Brando, Fred Astaire, Henry Fonda and Clark Gable.  He was offered a role in On Golden Pond but he did not like the father/daughter thing! The role was given to Henry Fonda with whom he was friends for many years (at one point Stewart and Fonda were room mates).

Why is James Stewart Libby’s hero? She confessed to liking the roles he played in films, he was a calm character with dignity - he would cry but retained his masculinity. He had a gentleness and a soft spot for women. In his private life he had strong morals and belief in God; he trusted his friends and God. Libby read an extract from his book - James Stewart Biography - which illustrated her interest and demonstrated his being.