Why Jimmy Stewart Is My Favorite Actor

Hello, all!

Today would have been James Stewart's 111th birthday! Because of that I have been hosting a blogathon in honor of him. Make sure to check out all of the other posts HERE.

I am really picky about choosing my favorite actors and actresses. But for the last year, anytime anyone asks me who my favorite actor is I have immediately said: "Jimmy Stewart!" But, why?

For someone to be one of my favorite actors/actresses, I need to have seen them as at least five different characters. Or as my sister likes to put it, a variety of roles. I mean, I love to see Emma Watson in movies, but she has admitted that she is very similar to the characters of Hermione Granger and Belle. She is just enjoying being herself, which I do love to see! But, acting is, well, acting.

I think that Jimmy Stewart is the actor who I have seen in the most movies. I have seen him in eleven films: You Can't Take It with You (1938), It's a Wonderful World (1939), Destry Rides Again (1939), The Shop Around the Corner (1940), The Philadelphia Story (1940), It's a Wonderful Life (1946), Harvey (1950), Bend of the River (1952), The Man from Laramie (1955), The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956), & The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962).

My sister says that he plays the same person every time. But that's not true! In each movie he puts himself in a different role:

The person who learns that the friend whom he is sure is "the one" if he could only meet her, turns out to be his irritating co-worker.

Someone who wants nothing more than to travel the world, but keeps sacrificing his dreams to help others, and when his world comes crashing down, the only way he can see to help is to end it.

The sweetest character you will ever come across, who has a best friend who know one can see, and will do anything to make his sister happy.

A man who learns something that he wasn't supposed to which he knows he should tell someone, but if he does, his son's life is in danger.

A former criminal who is trying to do everything to get away from his past, but it keeps chasing him.

A lawyer who wants everything to be civilized and there to be justice, but keeps being told that the only justice in the West is with a gun in your hand.

Now, for those of you who have seen those movies, I hope that you can tell which ones I am talking about. Of all of his movies, those are the characters who impacted me: they made me laugh, cry, and sit on the edge of my seat.

He made so many movies, this is just a small portion. I look forward for many years to come, watching new ones.

He also is a very big inspiration to me! He had a hard time talking because he stuttered. He worked so hard to control it, and it comes out sometimes during his roles, but it only makes them more powerful. As someone who has had trouble stuttering, for me it is amazing to watch him.

Thank you for the memories, Jimmy. Happy birthday.


MovieCritic