Posted on 10/07/2016 5:21:51 AM PDT by DFG
Jimmy Stewart suffered such extreme PTSD after being a fighter pilot in World War II that he acted out his mental distress during 'It's a Wonderful Life'. Stewart played George Bailey in the classic movie and channeled his anger and guilt into the scenes where he rages at his family. Stewart was haunted by 'a thousand black memories' from his time as an Air Force commanding officer that he took with him back to Hollywood after the war. Pilots who flew with him said that became 'Flak Happy' during World War II, a term to describe what is now known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
The deadline was coming up and they needed an interesting story...
Something odd here.
My Dad was a radioman on an aircraft carrier in WW II. Curious: When did the Navy get to fly their own planes?
Wouldn't surprise me
The Navy bought their first airplanes in 1911.
I have to wonder if he, as a big and famous and important Hollywood actor, had much to say publicly about politics.
True, but most people have enough self control and self discipline to get through it without crying on every-bodies sleeves.
Jimmy Stewart did not allow them to use his medals or wartime exploits to sell his movies. THAT is why it took awhile to get a part.
I dont get it. The second line :)
Don't tell Obama! He'll say they're good enough.
Peter Fonda was an infant at the time.
Jimmy Stewart was the greatest American hero.
Henry Fonda? Remember, this is the Daily Mail, they’re not strong on facts (or much of anything else other that publishing a hundred articles a day).
Weird that he was friends with Henry Fonda. Fonda was a disgusting pro Soviet anti American.
Henry Fonda was born in 1905.
Duh. My bad...Peter Fonda. Morons.
“True, but most people have enough self control and self discipline to get through it without crying on every-bodies sleeves.”
Different people, different reactions. Being in command, being responsible for men’s lives, *and* flying the missions. Those were some of the most heavily defended targets in Europe. FLAK and fighters. That can be very much unnerving.
There is a great book on Jimmy Stewart, called A Biography. He was more than just a great actor, he was an incredible man in every dimension.
I agree, but the story he tells is quite different. And just because you can call up the anger and fear of a situation for a role, does not mean you are suffering from PTSD. It means you are a good actor.
None of his actions in later years showed any fear of flying, or getting back in the saddle, that any kind of PTSD would have shown.
I don't think that Henry Fonda was much beyond a leftist Democrat, ie typical Hollywood left. It was his kids, Peter and Jane, that went much further left, reputedly to some discomfort on his part. Jimmy Stewart was not his only conservative Hollywood friend, as both John Wayne and Ronald Reagan regarded him as a misguided friend. Of course, this was when Hollywood did not have the conservative black list that it appears to have today!
Thanks! I’ll check that out.
He was a national treasure.
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