First movie Jimmy Stewart made after WW2 - you can see/tell in his character the agony he was suffering right after the war. I hated the movie until I found that out.
When Mr. Stewart passed on a few years ago, on the front of the New York Post had the “It Was A Wonderful Life.” Had picture of him.
When Mr. Stewart passed on a few years ago, on the front of the New York Post had the “It Was A Wonderful Life.” Had picture of him.
First scene shot in the movie that included Stewart was the scene where he visits Donna Reed at her house the day his younger brother comes home from college.
Stewart said he wasn’t sure if he’d still be able to act. That scene took only one take.
Why Jimmy Stewart is one of my favorite actors!!
I hated the movie as soon as I realized that the money was not promptly returned. And what idiot wouldn’t guard the equivalent of $70k (in today’s dollars) with their life? Angels getting their wings? Yeah I watched the whole thing, but wished I hadn’t.
My father in law was a waist gunner in a B24, based in England. He was quickly known for his almost superhuman aim with his 50cal. He received the DFC w/oak leaf clusters, among other medals. Early on (lied about his age when he signed up for the Air Corps), his goal was to do his tour, come back to the states and enter fighter pilot school. His tour ended a month before D-day.
When he got back to the states, he couldn’t hold a cup of coffee without using both hands, and was honorably discharged. He rarely talked about combat. He told us many stories about training and base life.
My mother’s only brother was a tail gunner in a 24. He perished in Germany, on his first mission (about a week after my FIL’s last mission. They never new each other even though they grew up in neighboring towns).
My aunt Evelyn’s brother in law, a P-51 pilot, was in a big dogfight over Germany, and was certain that he shot down a buddy. His CO and fellow pilots tried to convince him that enemy fire got him. But to no avail. Battling depression, he did well to hold down a job as a sales clerk in the men’s dept at Sears. He was in and out of mental hospitals until he died at age 78 iirc.