# Proof That Jimmy Stewart was one of the Coolest People on the Planet
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-jimmy-stewart-was-one-of-the-coolest-people-on-the-planet/415850
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [August 16, 2007, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-jimmy-stewart-was-one-of-the-coolest-people-on-the-planet/415850 "2007-08-16T20:25:21Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 3
### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [August 17, 2007, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-jimmy-stewart-was-one-of-the-coolest-people-on-the-planet/415850/41 "2007-08-17T20:17:41Z")
[QUOTE=Little Plastic Ninja]
There. I’ve successfully made that joke not funny at all.
[/QUOTE]
Yes you have, and you did a very good job of it, too! 😃
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### Author:  [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)
#### Post date: [August 17, 2007, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-jimmy-stewart-was-one-of-the-coolest-people-on-the-planet/415850/42 "2007-08-17T20:25:09Z")
[QUOTE=Little Plastic Ninja]
Implying that the cat was a fighter pilot bombing, ah, German soldiers. Yes, kraut is a mean and naughty word and despite that rather commonly used in WW2 to refer in a derogatory manner to Germans. I suppose it would have been a little less offensive to make this “Im in ur kokpit, bommin ur nossies”, but A) I think some of the impact of the joke is added with the use of the archaic slur, B) I can only mildly imagine Jimmy Stewart calling someone a Kraut, C) It would have made me laugh even harder because of a hard to explain inside joke.
[/QUOTE]
Crap, two keyboards in one thread.
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### Author:  [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)
#### Post date: [August 17, 2007, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-jimmy-stewart-was-one-of-the-coolest-people-on-the-planet/415850/43 "2007-08-17T20:30:05Z")
[QUOTE=SiouxChief]
Complete highjack. I haven’t been to the Arclight since I visited my friend in LA years ago and we saw, “Master and Commander: The far side of the world.”. Does that incredibly hot redhead cashier still work there? To this day, meeting her was my favorite memory of that trip.
[/QUOTE]
Um…I’m there regularly, so I’ll check for you. Then again, their opening a second Arclight, so perhaps she’ll relocate? I’ll tell her you asked about her!
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### Author:  [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)
#### Post date: [August 17, 2007, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-jimmy-stewart-was-one-of-the-coolest-people-on-the-planet/415850/44 "2007-08-17T23:24:18Z")
[QUOTE=Little Plastic Ninja]
There. I’ve successfully made that joke not funny at all. 😃
[/QUOTE]
Nope. “Im n ur kokpit, bommin ur krowtz” is still hysterical.
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### Author:  [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)
#### Post date: [August 18, 2007, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-jimmy-stewart-was-one-of-the-coolest-people-on-the-planet/415850/45 "2007-08-18T00:03:37Z")
[QUOTE=UncleRojelio]
Crap, two keyboards in one thread.
[/QUOTE]
Maybe it’s a sign that you should buy stocks in a keyboard mfg company ?
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### Author:  [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)
#### Post date: [August 18, 2007, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-jimmy-stewart-was-one-of-the-coolest-people-on-the-planet/415850/46 "2007-08-18T00:39:59Z")
[QUOTE=detop]
Maybe it’s a sign that you should buy stocks in a keyboard mfg company ?
[/QUOTE]
Or wrap the next one in cellophane.
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### Author:  [@rayh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rayh)
#### Post date: [August 18, 2007, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-jimmy-stewart-was-one-of-the-coolest-people-on-the-planet/415850/47 "2007-08-18T01:19:57Z")
[QUOTE=Tuckerfan]
He landed at least one movie role because of his service in WWII. I don’t remember the name of the film, but it was a Western where he’s tracking a killer cross country, before finally killing him at the end (which is when you learn that he was Stewart’s brother). The studio didn’t want to use Stewart in the role, since they didn’t think that he’d be believable in the role (“Too nice.”). The director proceeded to describe Stewart’s military service during the war, concluding with words to the effect of, “If the guy can do all of _that_, then surely he can be believable in this role.”
[/QUOTE]
[Winchester '73](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043137/)?
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### Author:  [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)
#### Post date: [August 18, 2007, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-jimmy-stewart-was-one-of-the-coolest-people-on-the-planet/415850/48 "2007-08-18T02:16:42Z")
[QUOTE=Miller]
Or wrap the next one in cellophane.
[/QUOTE]
[Try a silicone, moisture-proof keyboard.](http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/input/5a7f/)
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### Author:  [@Hometownboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hometownboy)
#### Post date: [August 18, 2007, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-jimmy-stewart-was-one-of-the-coolest-people-on-the-planet/415850/49 "2007-08-18T03:04:32Z")
Not only nice and noble, but smart. This from CNN’s obituary of Mr. Stewart:
> [@](#):
>
> During the 1950s Stewart set a trend actors still follow today. He realized he could work for a percentage of the movie profits, a move that proved fortuitous when Alfred Hitchcock signed him up for the leading role in “Vertigo” and “Rear Window.” The films went on to become box office hits and classics.
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### Author:  [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)
#### Post date: [August 18, 2007, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-jimmy-stewart-was-one-of-the-coolest-people-on-the-planet/415850/50 "2007-08-18T03:09:35Z")
I was reviewing his obit from the NY Times. (What, you don’t save them?) I note:
First Lieut. Ronald W. McLean, his stepson was killed in Vietnam in 1969.
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### Author:  [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)
#### Post date: [August 18, 2007, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-jimmy-stewart-was-one-of-the-coolest-people-on-the-planet/415850/51 "2007-08-18T03:14:53Z")
[QUOTE=rayh]
[Winchester '73](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043137/)?
[/QUOTE]
That maybe it, but I don’t remember anything about a rifle.
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### Author:  [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)
#### Post date: [August 18, 2007, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-jimmy-stewart-was-one-of-the-coolest-people-on-the-planet/415850/52 "2007-08-18T03:41:03Z")
I too have a tremendous respect and admiration for Jimmy Stewart.
Sadly, when people talk of the ideal American hero, they always mention that “other guy”. I think you folks know my vote would _always_ go to Jimmy Stewart for the archetypal American hero.
Incidentally, I believe Jason Robards Jr was stationed at Pearl Harbor _one week_ before the infamous Japanese attack.
As for Dana Carvey’s impersonation of Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey, I think the other thing that made it funny is that in the actual movie, nothing happens to Mr Potter who only was a constant enemy of Jimmy Stewart’s, stole $8,000 and almost was responsible for getting Jimmy Stewart sent to jail. I think the Dana Carvey version is the way a lot of us would love to see that movie end. 😃
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### Author:  [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)
#### Post date: [August 18, 2007, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-jimmy-stewart-was-one-of-the-coolest-people-on-the-planet/415850/53 "2007-08-18T04:20:35Z")
Legally, Mr. Potter did not “steal” the $8,000. George Bailey lost it, and Mr. Potter found it, and said nothing about it.
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### Author:  [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2007, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-jimmy-stewart-was-one-of-the-coolest-people-on-the-planet/415850/54 "2007-08-19T04:24:48Z")
[QUOTE=Walloon]
Legally, Mr. Potter did not “steal” the $8,000. George Bailey lost it, and Mr. Potter found it, and said nothing about it.
[/QUOTE]
Does the Potter Estate still have you on retainer after all these years, counselor? 😉
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### Author:  [@GraceTX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GraceTX)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2007, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-jimmy-stewart-was-one-of-the-coolest-people-on-the-planet/415850/55 "2007-08-19T04:37:18Z")
[QUOTE=Walloon]
Legally, Mr. Potter did not “steal” the $8,000. George Bailey lost it, and Mr. Potter found it, and said nothing about it.
[/QUOTE]
George lost nothing. Uncle Billy accidentally put it in Mr. Potter’s newspaper when he was taunting Potter about Harry being a war hero. George was willing to take the blame, but he didn’t lose the money.
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### Author:  [@GraceTX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GraceTX)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2007, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-jimmy-stewart-was-one-of-the-coolest-people-on-the-planet/415850/56 "2007-08-19T04:44:54Z")
[QUOTE=Tuckerfan]
That maybe it, but I don’t remember anything about a rifle.
[/QUOTE]
I think **rayh** is right. The baddie in Winchester 73 is the brother of Jimmy Stewart’s character and he (Jimmy) kills him in the end.
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### Author:  [@Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Plastic_Ninja)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2007, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-jimmy-stewart-was-one-of-the-coolest-people-on-the-planet/415850/57 "2007-08-19T17:05:57Z")
[QUOTE=UncleRojelio]
Crap, two keyboards in one thread.
[/QUOTE]
Hey, if you get the Nossies in-joke (and it’s the same one I’m thinking of) I’m going to get worried that this intarweb is a very small place…
Trust me, if you do, bombing Nossie is hilarious (and the only thing that will work; we’ve tried everything else…).
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### Author:  [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)
#### Post date: [September 8, 2007, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-jimmy-stewart-was-one-of-the-coolest-people-on-the-planet/415850/58 "2007-09-08T01:07:14Z")
[QUOTE=Little Plastic Ninja]
Hey, if you get the Nossies in-joke (and it’s the same one I’m thinking of) I’m going to get worried that this intarweb is a very small place…
Trust me, if you do, bombing Nossie is hilarious (and the only thing that will work; we’ve tried everything else…).
[/QUOTE]
Had to find this thread to pass on to friends. “Nossies”? Please explain.
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### Author:  [@633squadron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/633squadron)
#### Post date: [September 8, 2007, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-jimmy-stewart-was-one-of-the-coolest-people-on-the-planet/415850/59 "2007-09-08T01:26:40Z")
[QUOTE=Tuckerfan]
[He’s getting a stamp, but that’s not what makes him so cool.](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070816/ap_en_ot/stewart_stamp;_ylt=A0WTcVWZsMRGVToAQw7qChkF) 🆒
[/QUOTE]
He was a great one, all right. One of my favorites. Hard to believe that the slightly dandified college boy in his early films becomes the heartthrob in _Philadelphia Story_ and then the amazing actor with such magnificent range in _It’s a Wonderful Life_ (we used to joke about IAWL-TV: “It’s a Wonderful Life Channel - All George Bailey, All the Time!”)
Princeton grad. Pilot and commander in WWII (hey, pilot is good. military pilot is courageous. Military _commander_ as well? That’s _damn_ good.)
Yeah, SAC is sappy, but I get the feeling he made it to recognize all the guys who were sticking with the USAF during the Cold War.
His Westerns are great. One of my favorites is The Cheyenne Social Club with Henry Fonda. Great line from it: Fonda is trying to borrow money from Stewart, but then says “There you go, thinking like a Republican again!” Stewart replies “Well, you don’t bring up politics while you’re borrowing money, Harley. It ain’t seemly!”
They were roommates as bachelors; Stewart was of course a long-time Republican as much as Fonda was a long-time Democrat. Is it that they don’t make actors like that any more, or is it that they don’t make _movies_ that need and grow actos like that any more.
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### Author:  [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)
#### Post date: [September 8, 2007, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-jimmy-stewart-was-one-of-the-coolest-people-on-the-planet/415850/60 "2007-09-08T10:32:30Z")
Yeah I liked Jimmy Stewart a hell of a lot.
Never forget, he almost killed Liberty Valance
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