The 1940 film 100% on Rotten Tomatoes was James Stewart’s only Oscar win

Despite a reputation as one of the most talented actors of Hollywood’s Golden Age, James Stewart only had one movie win an Oscar. The Philadelphia Story May not be the legendary actor’s most famous film or even one made at the height of his acting career, but it is still considered one of James Stewart’s best movies, as it currently has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Usually as the lead, James Stewart is associated with a long list of Hollywood classics, across a variety of genres. Perhaps the film he is most widely recognized for is It’s a wonderful lifeThe 1946 Christmas favorite he starred in alongside Donna Reed. But it is hardly the only James Stewart movie to achieve icon status, as it is also Alfred Hitchcock’s movie Rear window, Mr. Smith is going to WashingtonAnd Anatomy of a murder. For many of these, Stewart unsurprisingly achieved critical acclaim, but of them all, Only The Philadelphia Story won him the industry’s top award.

The Philadelphia Story was James Stewart’s only Oscar win

James Stewart beat out Henry Fonda at the Academy Awards

Over the years, Stewart accumulated multiple Oscar nominations, with his first coming in 1939 when he played the titular character in Mr. Smith is going to Washington. Only a year later he received more, when he showed up The Philadelphia Story Starring Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant, a romantic comedy directed by George Cukor. In the movie, Stewart played Mike Connor, one of three love interests for Hepburn’s Tracy. Mike is a reporter who competes with two other men for Tracy’s affections (including her fiancé).

All three leads received considerable praise for their performances in the film, with Stewart and Hepburn nominated for Best Actress and Best Actress respectively. But Stewart was ultimately the only cast member to win. More nominations followed in subsequent years, with Stewart also receiving recognition for his roles in It’s a Wonderful Life, Harvey and Anatomy of a Murder. But as with what happened Mr. Smith goes to Washington, Stewart saw his competition win every time and Never won a second Oscar for any of his films.

Why James Stewart thought another actor should have won Best Actor in 1940

James Stewart never thought Mike Conner was his best performance

Because The Philadelphia Story was an important milestone for James Stewart and one that he never repeated, it is all the more interesting that the actor did not seem to think his work in this film was Oscar-worthy. He admitted as much in his acceptance speech, telling the audience that he did Actually cast his Best Actor vote not for himself but for Henry Fondawho presented a very memorable performance The grapes of wrath.

Although it will never be confirmed one way or another, there was a sentiment at the time – which persists to this day – that Stewart’s Oscar win was an effort to rectify his snub in 1939, when he failed to win it for Mr. Smith is going to Washington. With Mike Conner basically being a supporting role in The Philadelphia Story And Grant being the real male lead, it was funny that of all the movies he made, this was the one that got him the ever-elusive award.