Within a one-year span, James Stewart gave three performances deserving of an Oscar, but it was actually a different film made during that timeframe that earned that distinction. Over the course of his long career in Hollywood, Stewart made a number of significant contributions to cinematic history, with several of his films being household favorites for decades, includingIt’s a Wonderful Life. Yet, only one of his films -The Philadelphia Story-scored James Stewart the Academy Award for Best Actor.
Released in 1940,The Philadelphia Storywas a romantic comedy that teamed James Stewart with two other Hollywood stars,Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn. The film was a resounding success, both critically and commercially. And by granting him the highly-coveted Best Actor award,The Philadelphia Storywas also a major career milestone for Stewart. However, it wasn’t the first film of his that should have won it. In fact, he had three movies releasing nearThe Philadelphia Storywhere he gaveevenstronger James Stewart performances.
Destry Rides Again, Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, And The Shop Around The Corner Are 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 ofMr. Smith Goes to Washington. Now a cinematic icon and a film revered as one ofJames Stewart’s best movies,Mr. Smith Goes to Washingtonrightly received a great deal of Oscar buzz, including a Best Actor nomination for Stewart. While that was still playing out, Universal Pictures releasedDestry Rides Again, James Stewart’s first Western and a film that went on to develop a great reputation.
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Within the first month of 1940,Stewart had another hit on his hands withThe Shop Around the Corner,a romantic comedy he co-starred in with Margaret Sullivan. The two were paired together again for the summer release ofThe Mortal Storm, a drama that dealt with the start of World War II and the rise of Hitler in Europe. It was extremely well-received, but didn’t exactly break records at the box office. Shortly after that cameNo Time for Comedy, easily the weakest of Stewart’s four 1940 films. All of this work preceded Stewart’s Oscar-winning performance inThe Philadelphia Story, which hit theaters in the final week of the year.
James Stewart Deserved 3 Oscar Nominations Before The Philadelphia Story (And Only Got One)
Mr. Smith Goes To Washington Should Have Won
Of the five films that Stewart made during that one-year timeframe that came ahead ofThe Philadelphia Story, three 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 who gets involved in politics, speaks passionately for hours on the U.S. Senate floor. The energy that Stewart demonstrated, and how it seemed to wane 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.
James Stewart put in another outstanding performance inThe Shop Around the Corner, which showed off the actor’s comedic chops and talents as a romantic lead. Stewart proved to be the perfect choice forThe Shop Around the Corner’sAlfred, as it was tasked with the difficult challenge of mixing drama with comedy.Stewart’s natural likability played to the movie’s advantage, just as it does in movies likeMr. Smith Goes to WashingtonandIt’s a Wonderful Life, with Stewart creating an effortlessly relatable character in Alfred, a shop clerk fired over a misunderstanding.
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Similarly,The Mortal Stormbrought out the best facets of James Stewart’s onscreen persona, but did it without the comedy employed byThe Shop Around the Corner, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,orThe Philadelphia Story.Made prior to the United States was still a neutral party in World War II,The Mortal Stormcast Stewart and Sullivan as Austrian citizens faced with Nazi oppression. It weaves a tragic tale, one carried largely by Stewart’s captivating performance as an idealistic man who stands up to the Nazi Party.
Watching the films today, it’s easy to imagine any of them being the source of an Academy Award for James Stewart.Mr. Smith Goes to Washingtonnearly was, had it not been for Robert Donat’s role inGoodbye, Mr. Chips.The Shop Around the CornerandThe Mortal Storm,both of which being movies thathelped define James Stewart’s career, arguably should have been contenders in 1940, as evidenced by the legacies they currently uphold.The Shop Around the Cornermaintains a 99%Rotten Tomatoesscore, whereasThe Mortal Stormis rated an impressive 100%. The fact that all three of these films were made in such a short time span is a testament to Stewart’s versatility and the idea that he was in peak form in 1940.
Depsite Winning An Oscar, James Stewart’s Role In The Philadelphia Story Isn’t As Good As These 3 Performances
The Philadelphia Story Wasn’t James Stewart’s Best Movie
When it comes to accolades,The Mortal Storm, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,andThe Shop Around the Cornerdon’t compare to his team-up with Hepburn and Grant. There’s no denying the film’s quality, as it truly is a great film and a highly-revered classic. That said,The Philadelphia Storyis 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 admittedly didn’t even have as much as to do as Cary Grant, who was the film’s real male lead.
Stewart’s performance not coming across as one worthy of an Academy Award was reflected in the actor’s own acceptance speech. Stewart admitted to casting his vote for Henry Fonda, who had been nominated forGrapes of Wrath.As discussed by TCM, there was a great deal of speculation at the time that Stewart was awarded the Oscar as a way ofmaking up for him being snubbed the previous year whenMr. Smith Goes to Washingtondidn’t win. In 1939,Mr. Smith Goes to Washingtonwas the heavy favorite for the award.
All things considered,The Philadelphia Storywas a good movie for him in which he put in a memorable performance as one of Katharine Hepburn’s three love interests. But when looking at the other films he was making at the time, his only Best Actor-winning movie seems almost overshadowed. It falls short to not one, but three other James Stewart roles.
The Philadelphia Story
Cast
A wealthy woman learns the truth about herself when her ex-husband and a tabloid reporter show up just before her planned remarriage.
