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‘Jimmy’ Review: KJ Apa Expertly Channels James Stewart In An Inspiring Movie That Tells The Story The Beloved Oscar Winning Star Kept To Himself
Jimmy is a biographical drama about James Stewart’s service as a combat pilot in the Second World War and the struggles he faced after returning to Hollywood. KJ Apa plays Stewart, whose wartime experiences and doubts about acting shaped his role in the film It’s a Wonderful Life.
Stewart flew 20 dangerous missions over Europe, rose to the rank of colonel during the war and later became a brigadier general. The film also depicts director Frank Capra persuading him to return to the screen, while he was dealing with depression and what is now recognised as PTSD.
In short
- KJ Apa plays James Stewart in a wartime biographical drama.
- Stewart flew 20 missions over Europe.
- The film explores his post-war doubts and return to Hollywood.
Explained simply
James Stewart was a leading Hollywood actor before the United States entered the Second World War. He joined the US Army Air Forces, trained as a pilot and flew 20 combat missions over Europe, rising to the rank of colonel.
After the war, Stewart returned to a film industry that had changed while he was away. Director Frank Capra encouraged him to act again, and Stewart’s experience of depression and what is now called post-traumatic stress disorder formed part of his life at the time.
Stewart went on to star in It’s a Wonderful Life, a film about a man facing personal and financial hardship. His wartime service and return to acting offer context for the period in which he made it.
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