• Jimmy Stewart

  • The Truth Behind the Legend
  • By: Michael Munn
  • Narrated by: Mark Whitten
  • Length: 11 hrs and 22 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (742 ratings)

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Jimmy Stewart  By  cover art

Jimmy Stewart

By: Michael Munn
Narrated by: Mark Whitten
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Editorial reviews

Fans of classic Hollywood, take heed: In Jimmy Stewart: The Truth Behind the Legend, Michael Munn has engineered a fascinating glimpse into the hitherto clouded public and private lives of one of the most famous figures in film history.

Performed with great energy by actor Mark Whitten, this comprehensive biography provides keen insights into the man behind the mask, emphasizing the differences and similarities between Stewart’s assumed public persona and his private self, delving deeply into his patriotism and FBI service alongside his relationships and rage issues.

Publisher's summary

In this definitive biography of one of Hollywood's most beloved stars, Michael Munn reveals the truth behind the diffident, earnest and kindly persona of Jimmy Stewart. Drawn from the author's formal interviews and informal meetings with the star and his friendship with Stewart's wife, Gloria, is this portrait of a man who came from the Presbyterian traditions of Pennsylvania to become one of the silver screen's enduring legends.

An openly right-wing Conservative and super-patriot, Stewart worked for the FBI at the behest of J. Edgar Hoover, directing his undercover sleuthing to crack organised crime in Hollywood. But he was unscrupulously manipulated by the president into flushing out Communists from the film industry. Among these revelations, there are also tales of heady love affairs, hookers and hoodlums, and of Stewart's run-in with the most dangerous of all gangsters, Benjamin 'Bugsy' Sigal. Accusations of racism are explored, as is Stewart's notoriously volatile temper. There is a comprehensive account of his experiences as a colonel in the US Air Force in World War Two - and, of course, there are the films: It's a Wonderful Life, The Greatest Show on Earth, Rear Window, the westerns and his Academy Awards.

©2013 Michael Munn (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about Jimmy Stewart

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Engaging and wonderfully delivered

An interesting telling of the life of Jimmy Stewart, skillfully narrated with a good impersonation of Jimmy’s voice and that of his wife Gloria

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Rewriting history through the lens of today is distorted!

Jimmy Stewart will always be one of America’s finest actors and even this author’s distorted interpretation of his shortcomings will not change this! It was enjoyable to learn more about Stewart’s friendships and experiences. Although I enjoyed many aspects of this book, I was disappointed that the narrator did not study pronunciation of common names of the era like Senator Estes Kefauver and actor Jose Ferrer, among others. It took away from the delivery like nails on a chalkboard! Jimmy Stewart will ever be a hero in my eyes!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding!

Great book and great narrator. I like how the narrator actually got a little choked up at times. It made the book that much more interesting.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great Actor, only human

Most of it was the James Stewart that I expected. I had read Hank and Jim a couple of years ago and that was a very good book also. There are some things that I just don't want to believe are true about him, but even though they might be..most of those were things that most people said that he was never mean, just would go off by himself most of the time during the making of a movie, it wasn't personal he was a loner and liked being alone. I didn't agree with his great deal of respect of J. Edgar Hoover or his "stanch" conservativism, or his racism (if he truly was one?) But I still think that he was a good man and a great Actor!!
The narrator's voice takes a bit of getting used to, but then you come to realize that he's very good at sounding a little bit Jimmy Stewart.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Very well done

Extremely well told and narrated story of a movie legend and war hero. Highly recommend it!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent Listen

The story was well written, the narrator was very clear and it was an overall good listen.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful biography of an equally wonderful actor

Where does Jimmy Stewart rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It was quite good though not my favorite, due to the narration.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

Mark Whitman's attempt to sound like Stewart and others was a bit off putting, as well as his mispronouncing people's names or in the case of Henry Fonda calling him Henry Ford at least once. As a trivia buff I am aware that Bette Davis referred to herself as Bet, but when Whitman refers to her in this manner it's just confusing.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Perhaps one of the final lines "Moments in time: The Jimmy Stewart Story"

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Loved this book

Wonderful story about a wonderful and surprisingly interesting man.
Mark Whitten did a great job reading the book just enough flavor without going overboard. Will look for more book read by him.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great man, great story

A very concise and beautiful biography of a beautiful human. Learned much about a fabulous life.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

I've always wanted to learn about Jimmy Stewart

This is a great story told very well. I loved the biography. I am disappointed about his philandering, but loved that he was so committed to his wife and kids.

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