Jimmy Stewart - new article on his service

**Rogerbh** · February 27th, 2018, 04:47 AM

Ever since I heard of his military service, I have had a great deal of respect for this man. This latest article is quite good - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...rful-Life.html
Besides stating fighter pilot instead of bomber pilot, I found reading it interesting. Since he was old school, I guess we will never hear the complete story.

A hero that the US can be proud of - Brigadier General Stewart. (although he retired in 1968 as a Brigadier General, he was advanced by President Regan 17 years late to Major General when he was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom)

**BustyWomenLovr** · February 27th, 2018, 05:08 AM

Read the book "Mission" - it really gets into it.
(and finally got the DM article to open - seeing it is a 2016 promo for the book and "not quite right")

There is a great story about pre-war Stewart and his roommate Henry Fonda building model airplanes together, so studio execs sent them off to the brothel to make sure they weren't gay. Like foxes in the henhouse...

**Historian** · February 27th, 2018, 07:26 AM

A few years back, I was watching some documentary where a film critic was talking about the classic 1950's/early 60's war films, and made the point that one reason they were so good was that the actors of that period- men like Stewart, or in the UK, David Niven or Richard Todd, just looked 'right' playing military roles- because after all, a few years previously, many of them had been there and done it in real life

**Staffsyeoman** · February 27th, 2018, 09:14 AM

Tyrone Power... Charles Durning, Clark Gable, Jason Robards... Lee Marvin.. all WW2 veterans. Michael Caine - Korea veteran...

**Sir Honkers** · February 27th, 2018, 09:57 AM

Not to detract from anyone's war service, but I worked in the film and television industry many moons ago and I'm not too sure I believe actors draw on their own experiences to bring realness to a part. Well except for the pretentious wankers...and met more than a few of them.
As Laurence Olivier is reputed to have told Dustin Hoffman during the filming of The Marathon Man...'My dear boy, why don’t you just try acting?”

**haroldeye** · February 27th, 2018, 11:10 AM

Michael Caine got his first break when as an extra he told a director that 'You wouldn't do it like that'. The director asked him to explain and Caine told him about his service in Korea. The director then had a part written for Caine.

The point is that having been in the forces they know how to look. Uniforms worn properly, ranks used in a correct manner. And perhaps they knew enough to rein back some of the directors flights of fancy.

**brk549** · February 27th, 2018, 11:43 AM

Eddie Albert of Green Acres piloted a Higgins boat on Tarawa and was one of the few that was willing to go over the reef and put them on the beach and wouldn't go back till he was loaded with wounded.Watching him act I never would have thought that of him.They should never put actors in war movies that can't even do enough homework to know how to salute correctly.

**Sir Honkers** · March 1st, 2018, 09:27 PM

An A-list cast will feature in a major new movie about the Battle of Long Tan to be filmed in Queensland and producers have put out a casting call for two hundred extras who had military experience in Iraq and Afghanistan for authenticity
If I was a producer I'd be looking for two hundred extras who had experience in not self consciously looking at the camera....a bigger problem than you might think.

**Mal Hombre** · March 1st, 2018, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Historian

A few years back, I was watching some documentary where a film critic was talking about the classic 1950's/early 60's war films, and made the point that one reason they were so good was that the actors of that period- men like Stewart, or in the UK, David Niven or Richard Todd, just looked 'right' playing military roles- because after all, a few years previously, many of them had been there and done it in real life

Most of the cast of "Sink The Bismarck" had served in the Royal Navy during WW2 and Esmonde Knight had been severely wounded aboard HMS Prince Of Wales after She was savaged by the Bismarck in the Denmark Strait.

**BustyWomenLovr** · March 1st, 2018, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brk549

They should never put actors in war movies that can't even do enough homework to know how to salute correctly.

Drives me crazy mad when I see guys wearing a beret like a tourist in Paris.

February 27th, 2018, 04:47 AM	#1
Rogerbh Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Land of the free within reasonable limitations Posts: 10,939 Thanks: 50,619 Thanked 91,397 Times in 10,786 Posts	Jimmy Stewart - new article on his service Ever since I heard of his military service, I have had a great deal of respect for this man. This latest article is quite good - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...rful-Life.html Besides stating fighter pilot instead of bomber pilot, I found reading it interesting. Since he was old school, I guess we will never hear the complete story. A hero that the US can be proud of - Brigadier General Stewart. (although he retired in 1968 as a Brigadier General, he was advanced by President Regan 17 years late to Major General when he was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom)

February 27th, 2018, 05:08 AM	#2
BustyWomenLovr Vintage Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 2,753 Thanks: 20,548 Thanked 43,207 Times in 2,677 Posts	Read the book "Mission" - it really gets into it. (and finally got the DM article to open - seeing it is a 2016 promo for the book and "not quite right") There is a great story about pre-war Stewart and his roommate Henry Fonda building model airplanes together, so studio execs sent them off to the brothel to make sure they weren't gay. Like foxes in the henhouse... __________________ There is no such thing as too big a bust.

February 27th, 2018, 07:26 AM	#3
Historian Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Here and there Posts: 4,029 Thanks: 102,514 Thanked 93,987 Times in 4,024 Posts	A few years back, I was watching some documentary where a film critic was talking about the classic 1950's/early 60's war films, and made the point that one reason they were so good was that the actors of that period- men like Stewart, or in the UK, David Niven or Richard Todd, just looked 'right' playing military roles- because after all, a few years previously, many of them had been there and done it in real life __________________ I'm trying to repost any images lost during the recent Imagebam issues with alternative image hosts over the next few weeks- After that it will depend on whether I have backup copies to repost...-

February 27th, 2018, 09:57 AM	#5
Sir Honkers Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Land Of Glorious Leader Posts: 30,436 Thanks: 287,480 Thanked 387,090 Times in 30,392 Posts	Not to detract from anyone's war service, but I worked in the film and television industry many moons ago and I'm not too sure I believe actors draw on their own experiences to bring realness to a part. Well except for the pretentious wankers...and met more than a few of them. As Laurence Olivier is reputed to have told Dustin Hoffman during the filming of The Marathon Man...'My dear boy, why don’t you just try acting?” Last edited by Sir Honkers; February 27th, 2018 at 10:02 AM..

February 27th, 2018, 09:14 AM	#4
Staffsyeoman Vintage Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 2,271 Thanks: 34,207 Thanked 26,792 Times in 2,162 Posts	Tyrone Power... Charles Durning, Clark Gable, Jason Robards... Lee Marvin.. all WW2 veterans. Michael Caine - Korea veteran...

February 27th, 2018, 11:10 AM	#6
haroldeye Moderator Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Halfwitistan Posts: 5,717 Thanks: 113,610 Thanked 59,984 Times in 5,708 Posts	Michael Caine got his first break when as an extra he told a director that 'You wouldn't do it like that'. The director asked him to explain and Caine told him about his service in Korea. The director then had a part written for Caine. The point is that having been in the forces they know how to look. Uniforms worn properly, ranks used in a correct manner. And perhaps they knew enough to rein back some of the directors flights of fancy.

February 27th, 2018, 11:43 AM	#7
brk549 Vintage Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 1,122 Thanks: 20,226 Thanked 7,179 Times in 1,046 Posts	Eddie Albert of Green Acres piloted a Higgins boat on Tarawa and was one of the few that was willing to go over the reef and put them on the beach and wouldn't go back till he was loaded with wounded.Watching him act I never would have thought that of him.They should never put actors in war movies that can't even do enough homework to know how to salute correctly.

March 1st, 2018, 09:27 PM	#8
Sir Honkers Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Land Of Glorious Leader Posts: 30,436 Thanks: 287,480 Thanked 387,090 Times in 30,392 Posts	An A-list cast will feature in a major new movie about the Battle of Long Tan to be filmed in Queensland and producers have put out a casting call for two hundred extras who had military experience in Iraq and Afghanistan for authenticity If I was a producer I'd be looking for two hundred extras who had experience in not self consciously looking at the camera....a bigger problem than you might think.