James Stewart: Behind the Scenes of a Wonderful Life: Cloth Book [Hardcover]

Lawrence J. Quirk (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2000

This startling, intimate biography of James Stewart frankly reveals with new facts and discoveries a fully dimensional view of this revered figure and consummate American icon. Shrewd, self-protective, financially astute, the James Stewart that Mr. Quirk uncovers was no bumbling naive Mr. Smith, but a Man of the World.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

With the recent death of actor-icon Stewart, it's not surprising that another biography has been published (three others have appeared in the last four years, including Gary Fishgall's Pieces of Time, LJ 10/1/97). This one purports to show the two sides of Stewart?his responsible, upright Ideal American side vs. his artistic, more "human" side. However, the truth is that despite rumors of bisexuality, there really wasn't much about Stewart's life that was very surprising or scandalous. He didn't marry until 41, but when he did he stayed married. He was a family man and war hero. He seemed well liked by those who knew and worked with him. Still, prolific celebrity biographer Quirk has done a good job of chronicling Stewart's life, and his discussion of Stewart's films is especially good. If your patrons like their celebrity biographies juicy and revealing, this one won't satisfy them; recommended if you didn't buy one of the other recent biographies or if demand warrants.?Rosellen Brewer, Monterey Bay Area Cooperative Lib. System, Cal.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

Readers interested in finding out more about Stewart and his distinguished career, his signal roles in movies such as Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Winchester '73, Harvey, and Vertigo, should steer far wide of this stunningly inept work. This is not a biography in any conventional sense. A few facts and dates may flutter by, events come and go, but this is essentially a dull exercise in cheap and unconvincing sensationalism. Under the smarmy pretense of presenting the ``whole'' Stewart, veteran celebrity dirt-digger Quirk (Totally Uninhibited: The Life and Wild Times of Cher, 1991, etc.) unearths only a few spoonfuls of unsubstantiated innuendo. And it all comes down to this: Stewart may or may not have been bisexual and may or may not have had affairs with actors such as Henry Fonda. Not much to build a book around, especially considering that Quirk has almost no proof for any of this beyond allegation and insinuation: Stewart was roommates with Fonda; he married late, at 41; he enjoyed the masculine camaraderie of the air force during his WW II service. And these paltry imputations are Quirk's strongest evidence. Because he is so obsessed with his hypothesis, he has little time, beyond a sentence or two, for other dirt, such as Stewart's supposed cheapness. For its genre, this book is remarkably pallid, lacking even a scintilla of gabby, trashy fun. Not a wonderful account of a life. (50 b&w photos, not seen) (First printing of 50,000) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Applause Books; 1st(ReviewCopy) edition (March 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 155783329X
• ISBN-13: 978-1557833297
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 1.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,444,489 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This is NOT a biography, July 5, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: James Stewart: Behind the Scenes of a Wonderful Life: Cloth Book (Hardcover)

I saw this book and got excited because I didn't know there was a biography out about Jimmy Stewart. Had I known of Mr. Quirk's reputation for sensationalistic biographies, I would not have gone near this book and I'm sorry I did. He continually and unabashedly from page one infers that Mr. Stewart was as at best a bisexual and he implies much worse. He derides his values, his war record and his movies. I guess since there has never been a hint of scandal about the man, Mr. Quirk decided to invent some. Of course, AFTER Mr. Stewart is no longer with us to defend himself. He spends a paragraph in the last chapter trying to say that Jimmy more or less gave him permission to write a book about him. I doubt this is what he would have in mind. He makes fun of his later movies, primarily it seems because they were "family films". He blisters him for a book of poems he released not even mentioning how well it did or how his reading one in particular about his dog brought the usually unemotional Johnny Carson to tears on THE TONIGHT SHOW in the late 1980's and Johnny showed it every year thereafter on his anniversary shows. I could say much more but the bottom line is if you want to read something real about Jimmy and you don't like wasting money, avoid this book like the plague. I wish I had.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars An awful, sensationalist piece of trash., August 24, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: James Stewart: Behind the Scenes of a Wonderful Life: Cloth Book (Hardcover)

I fortunately did not spend any money on this piece of garbage. I do find it amusing that this author, who claims (in several lines on the back cover) to have spent "years researching the true story," and had "many interviews with the family and the man himself," never bothered to learn the correct spelling of Mrs. James Stewart's maiden name! Everywhere throughout the book is Mrs. Gloria McLean Stewart's name and the names of her 2 sons misspelled! Surely with all of the biographies written (both worthwhile and mediocre reads) Mr. Quirk could have glanced at the spelling. We are talking about the one great love and the two sons in this superior actor and father's life! What an atrocity to attempt to mar the image and memory of such a fine, giving, and reputable man. Shame on you, Mr. Quirk. You obviously have done nothing worthwhile in this life and must degrade the work and life of another to boost youself. Post Script: I would have given this zero stars had that been an option.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Horrible! Waste of time and paper!, May 2, 2007

By 

lighthouse - See all my reviews

This review is from: James Stewart: Behind the Scenes of a Wonderful Life: Cloth Book (Hardcover)

I agree with the other reviewers opinions on this book. No person or celebrity is perfect but this is pure defamation of character. Hopefully someone has written something better.