Scott eyman henry fonda and james stewart were two of the biggest stars in hollywood for forty years. A remarkably absorbing, supremely entertaining joint biography the new york times from bestselling author scott eyman about the remarkable friendship of henry fonda and james stewart, two hollywood legends who maintained a close relationship that endured all of lifes twists and turns. My life is written so that it almost seems like a good novel instead of a straightforward autobiography. The fiftyyear friendship of henry fonda and james stewart, by scott eyman. New york times bestselling author scott eyman tells the story of the remarkable friendship of two hollywood legends who, though different in many ways, maintained a close friendship that endured all of lifes twists and turns. The friendship of jimmy stewart and henry fonda shows that. Author scott eyman captives an audience at the city of burbanks buena vista branch library, with stories from his new book about hollywood icons henry fonda and james stewart.
Hank and jim is a new book about two of hollywoods most iconic and enduringly beloved actors, henry fonda and james stewart, and about their friendship that stretched over half a century, through shared experiences and political differences, through war and peace, through stage and screen. Demille and john wayne, to name just a few does a sweet job in portraying how. Many of fords films were westerns, and interviews with him are filmed in monument valley, one of his favorite film settings. There have been many famous friendships in hollywood, and one of the longest and most cited is jimmy stewart and henry fondas. Fonda was a liberal democrat, stewart a conservative republican, but after one memorable blowup over politics, they agreed never to discuss that subject again. Leonard maltin in his engrossing new book, biographer and film historian eyman vividly portrays the lives and work of two hollywood legends.
Eyman, who specializes in biographies on some of hollywoods greatest figures john ford, cecil b. Hank and jim book by scott eyman official publisher. The fifty year friendship of henry fonda and james stewart, historian scott eymans absorbing dual biography of two hollywood legends and their extraordinary five decade friendship, is a deftly entertaining book that could only be described as a study in friendship diversity here was henry fonda, a nebraskaraised agnostic liberal democrat with a fraught domestic life, and. However, i did love the unique premise of the book and when i won it in a giveaway i was thrilled.
They became friends and then roommates as stage actors in new york. Henry fonda and james stewart were two of the biggest stars in hollywood for forty years, but they. A family saga covering several decades of westward expansion in the nineteenth century including the gold rush, the civil war, and the building of the railroads. They roomed together as stage actors in new york, and when they began making films in hollywood, they were roommates again. This post is a part of the dynamic duos in classic film blogathon, hosted by once upon a screen and classic movie hub. They became friends and then roommates as stage actors in new york, and when. Henry fonda and james stewarts lifelong friendship. Henry fonda and james stewart were two of the biggest stars in hollywood for forty years. They got along famously, with a shared interest in elaborate practical jokes and model airplanes, among other things. Stewart plays an unlikely hero, forced into action when his conscience will not permit. Directed by john ford, henry hathaway, george marshall. After all, they are two of the most celebrated actors of the 20th century. My life by henry fonda meet your next favorite book.
Fonda grew up in omaha, nebraska, and the surrounding area. It is narrated by director peter bogdonavich, whose own work shows fords influence. Its much much more enjoyable than the man who saw a ghost. Two hollywood greats, james jimmy stewart and henry hank fonda, offer a valuable lesson for todays polarized america. Directed by john ford by peter bogdanovich, john wayne. Hollywoods original bffs, jimmy stewart and henry fonda. The best example was the rocksteady friendship between henry fonda, a fervent liberal, and jimmy stewart, an equally fervent conservative. This is hands down my favorite biography ive read to date. Jane fonda ive always felt that platonic relationships dont get enough attention from biographers, though they can often be the source of the most fascinating stories. It kind of dances around a deeper meaning to the story but never lands on anything, and so ultimately its a very bythe book western, which means im going to forget. With james stewart, john wayne, gregory peck, henry fonda.
In an interview, author scott eyman talked about what made these men so emblematic of the american spirit. Henry fonda, model anita colby james stewart and fondas wife frances ford fonda, attend the premiere of alfred hitchcocks spellbound in 1945. In this good and very readable book, scott eyman shows that their differences were not just ideological, but extended into their personalities as well. Hollywoods original bffs, jimmy stewart and henry fonda, share the screen at last. His wife, gloria hatrick mclean passed away in 1994 and four years later, at the age of 89, stewart suffered from cardiac arrest. Henry fonda and james stewart have never been captured so well, nor has their extraordinary fiftyyear friendship. Henry fonda and james stewart were icons, opposites and. Suspend for now the cynicism of your facebook feed and consider the example of henry fonda democrat and james stewart republican, who held it. Its the story of two men with an unbreakable bond despite their differing politics and attitudes about religion and the movie industry, commented eyman. Scott also discusses fondas surprise turn as the villain. Hear eyman discusses the unlikely friendship between henry fonda and james stewart on the leonard lopate show. Henry fonda and james stewart were two of the biggest stars in hollywood for 40 years. Firecreek is a 1968 american western film directed by vincent mceveety and starring james stewart and henry fonda in his second role as an antagonist that year.
Henry fonda and james stewart were two of the biggest stars in hollywood for forty years, but they became friends when they were unknown. Henry fonda, in full henry jaynes fonda, born may 16, 1905, grand island, nebraska, u. They became friends and then roommates as stage actors in. Henry fonda and jimmy stewart are two of my alltime favorite actors.
By scott eyman henry fonda and james stewart were two of the biggest stars in hollywood for forty years. James stewart and henry fonda are interesting enough to keep this from being awful, but theres nothing unique or interesting about this movie. Among the actors interviewed are john wayne, jimmy stewart and henry fonda. The fiftyyear friendship of henry fonda and james stewart, will focus on stories from the book during an author event at the burbank buena vista library on wednesday, november 8. Stewart retired following the deaths of his good friends, henry fonda and grace kelly, but not before presenting an honorary oscar to cary grant. Hollywoods biggest stars seen inside and out the new. They became friends and then roommates as stage actors in new york, and when they began making films in hollywood, they roomed together again. Although i do enjoy james stewart, ive never been a particular fan of henry fonda. You learn about fondas life events but the material is presented in a very storylike style.
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