Timed with the release of the new biopic “Jimmy,” about actor Jimmy Stewart, in theaters on Friday, Brigham Young University’s Special Collections has pulled some of the Hollywood star’s military memorabilia for general viewing.
If Stewart fans make their way to the Harold B. Lee Library, they will find a display of the actor’s World War II keepsakes on the first floor. Those who have been keeping tabs on Burns and Co. Entertainment’s “Jimmy” will recognize still scenes that director Aaron Burns has brought to the big screen.
Visitors will find images of Stewart in uniform alongside his fellow soldiers, the aircraft he piloted, and even when he was awarded the Croix de Guerre with Palm for his exceptional service.
“I liked that one because it told the story. Look at the look on his face — a picture tells a thousand words. He just took it seriously,” BYU Special Collections archivist Ben Harry said.
Harry combed through Stewart’s collection to create a display that best complemented the wartime stories “Jimmy” will portray. Though the majority of Harry’s findings were documents of Stewart’s military career, the photos he selected are glimpses of his character.
“These kinds of images mean more than his movie images, because this is actually him. It’s not a production. To me, those demonstrate his craft and professionalism. It’s him. That’s his nature,” Harry said.
Serving his country
Stewart’s craft and nature were witnessed firsthand by Harry’s predecessor, James D’Arc, when he personally asked Stewart if he would be willing to donate his effects to BYU.
“He had a magnetism that was born of authenticity,” D’Arc said.
In his 41 years of enthusiastically seeking out collections for the Harold B. Lee Library, D’Arc said he has seen a lot of changes to the motion picture landscape. The recent trend in celebrity biopics is not lost on him, but “Jimmy” hits a personal note due to his relationship with Stewart.
“I feel for the actor who was hired for that role to portray James Stewart. He has a high water mark to reach,” D’Arc said.
“Jimmy” stars New Zealand actor KJ Apa in the titular role. The biopic follows Stewart’s journey from Academy Award-winning actor to draftee and devoted pilot, to his hesitant return to filmmaking.
The trailers feature quips challenging Stewart’s integrity in prospectively serving his country. Special Collections visitors can delve into the documents that record Stewart’s determination to serve without Hollywood-tracked special treatment.
“It is interpretive. But if you see multiple accounts of him going to the doctor and then, at least, we know he had plenty of opportunities to get out. What can we infer from that?” Harry asked.
The patriotism Apa portrays is paired with clips of seeing wartime action. The final trailer includes a sequence of Stewart writing letters to the families of his men missing in action. Stewart saved a copy of one of these letters, commending the courage and determination of fellow airman Carl Flemming. Flemming’s mother, Doris, wrote Stewart back thanking him for the presence he had in her son’s life.
“He didn’t want to talk about the war. It was still too close to him. You lose fellow pilots, people that you have bonded with, you see and experience horrible things,” D’Arc said while reflecting on Stewart’s service.
Though Stewart didn’t elaborate on his experience during the war, he still met D’Arc with generosity when it came to sharing his life story. After discovering D’Arc’s initial inquiries at the bottom of his mail, Stewart called and invited D’Arc to his office on Wilshire Boulevard.
The Jimmy Stewart Collection
D’Arc described his enthusiastic pitch for Stewart to donate his papers to BYU in the early 1980s. He described his mission to share Stewart’s story with the world, passionately advocating for scholars to have access to this original source material, preserving his memory and career for future generations.
“He was sitting in a swivel office chair behind his desk. He leaned back, put his hands on the back of his head, as if to look up at the ceiling. Then said, ‘Well, I think we’ll do it,’” D’Arc said.
D’Arc’s personable approach to acquiring the collection was what convinced Stewart. When reporters asked Stewart why he chose to donate to BYU, D’Arc recalled his three-word answer: “Well, they asked.”
“I actually went down, and he helped me pack his papers and memorabilia in boxes on his living room floor,” D’Arc shared.
The memorabilia Stewart donated includes a plaque with the message “Welcome Back, Jimmy.” The plaque was a gift from the film crew of Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life,” and is part of the curated display in the Harold B. Lee Library. Stewart’s experience with the classic holiday film will also be depicted in “Jimmy.”
“There has to be an almost alchemic, cosmic combination of good writing. Good acting, superb direction and skillful editing, to make something like that come off so well. And I hope it happens,” D’Arc said.
After the anticipated biopic’s theatrical run, fans and film lovers can attend a screening of Stewart’s 16 mm copy of “It’s a Wonderful Life” in the Reynolds Auditorium on the BYU campus on Dec. 4.
