James Stewart had 3 Oscar-winning movies in a 1-year span before his Best Actor win

In the span of a year, James Stewart gave three Oscar-worthy performances, but it was actually a different film made in that time frame that earned the distinction. Over the course of his long career in Hollywood, Stewart made a number of significant contributions to cinematic history, with some of his films being household favorites for decades, including It’s a wonderful life. However, only one of his films – The Philadelphia Story – Scored James Stewart the Academy Award for Best Actor.

Released in 1940, The Philadelphia Story was a romantic comedy that paired James Stewart with two other Hollywood stars, Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn. The film was a huge success, both critically and commercially. And by giving him the highly-coveted Best Actor award, The Philadelphia Story is also a major career milestone for Stewart. However, it is not the first film of his that should have won it. In fact, he has three movies released live The Philadelphia Story Where he gave Even Strong Jacob Stewart performances.

Jacob Stewart has several great movies in a 1-year span

Destry rides again, Mr. Smith goes to Washington, and the store around the corner is all classics

In the late 1930s, Stewart was pumping out multiple movies a year, with one of his best streaks beginning in October 1939 with the release of Mr. Smith is going to Washington. Now a cinematic icon and a film revered as one of James Stewart’s best movies, Mr. Smith is going to Washington Right received a great deal of Oscar buzzincluding a Best Actor nomination for Stewart. While this was still playing, Universal Pictures released Destry rides againJames Stewart’s first western and a film that developed a great reputation.

In the first month of 1940, Stewart has another hit on his hands with The shop around the corner, A romantic comedy in which he starred with Margaret Sullivan. The two are paired together again for the summer release of The mortal stormA drama that dealt with the beginning of the Second World War and the rise of Hitler in Europe. It was extremely well-received, but did not exactly break records at the box office. came soon after No time for comedyEasily the weakest of Stewart’s four 1940s films. All of these works preceded Stewart’s Oscar-winning performance in The Philadelphia StoryWhich was in theaters in the last week of the year.

Jacob Stewart Earns 3 Oscar Nominations Before The Philadelphia Story (And Only One)

Mr. Smith goes to Washington should have won

Of the five films that Stewart made during the one-year period that preceded The Philadelphia StoryThree delivered Oscar-worthy performances from the actor. Mr. Smith goes to Washington, The only one of the three that Stewart was nominated for featured a now-iconic speech where his character, a relatable everyman involved in politics, speaks passionately for hours on the US Capitol. it. Senate floor. The energy that Stewart demonstrated, and how it seemed to disappear as the speech went on, even as his character’s ideals never wavered, made it one of the actor’s best moments in a movie.

Jacob Stewart gave another outstanding performance The shop around the cornerwhich showcased the actor’s comedic chops and talents as a romantic lead. Stewart proved to be the perfect choice for The shop around the corner Alfred, as it was tasked with the difficult challenge of mixing drama with comedy. Stewart’s natural likability played to the movie’s advantageJust like it does in movies like Mr. Smith is going to Washington And It’s a wonderful lifeWith Stewart creating an effortlessly relatable character in Alfred, a store clerk fired over a misunderstanding.

so too, The mortal storm brought out the best facets of James Stewart’s onscreen persona, but did so without the comedy employed by The store around the corner, Mr. Smith goes to Washington, Or The Philadelphia Story. Made before the United States was still a neutral party in World War II, The mortal storm Cast Stewart and Sullivan as Austrian citizens faced with Nazi oppression. A tragic story is woven, which is mostly supported by Stewart’s captivating performance as an idealistic man who stands up to the Nazi party.

When you see these films today, it’s easy to imagine that one of them is the source of an Academy Award for James Stewart. Mr. Smith is going to Washington Almost was, if it wasn’t for Robert Donat’s role in Goodbye, Mr. Chips. The shop around the corner And the mortal storm, Both of them being movies that helped define James Stewart’s career, arguably should have been contenders in 1940, as evidenced by the legacies they currently support. The shop around the corner keep a 99% Rotten tomatoes score, whereas The mortal storm is rated an impressive 100%. The fact that all three of these films were made in such a short period of time is a testament to Stewart’s versatility and the idea that he was in top form in 1940.

Despite winning an Oscar, James Stewart’s role in The Philadelphia Story was not as good as the 3 performances

The Philadelphia Story is not James Stewart’s best movie

When it comes to accolades, The mortal storm, Mr. Smith goes to Washington, And The shop around the corner Do not compare to his team-up with Hepburn and Grant. There is no denying the quality of the film, as it is truly a great film and a highly revered classic. That said, The Philadelphia Story is more of a Katharine Hepburn-Cary Grant film than a James Stewart movie. Stewart winning an Oscar in a movie where he was essentially a supporting character and a third wheel in a love triangle was a major surprise when it happened. He obviously didn’t even have as much to do as Cary Grant, who was the actual male lead of the film.

That Stewart’s performance was not worthy of an Academy Award was reflected in the actor’s own acceptance speech. Stewart admitted to casting his vote for Henry Fonda, who was nominated for Grapes of Wrath. As discussed by TCMThere was a lot of speculation at the time that Stewart was awarded the Oscar as a way of Get snubbed for him the previous year when Mr. Smith is going to Washington did not win. in 1939, Mr. Smith is going to Washington was the heavy favorite for the award.

All things considered, The Philadelphia Story was a good movie for him in which he gave a memorable performance as one of Katharine Hepburn’s three love interests. But when you look at the other films he made during that time, his only Best Actor-winning movie seems almost overshadowed. It falls short of not one, but three other James Stewart roles.

Source: TCM