“Mission: Jimmy Stewart & the Fight for Europe”

On a Saturday in March 1941, Jimmy Stewart, America's boy-next-door actor, left Hollywood behind and took the oath of service in the United States Army Air Corps. Once in the service, Stewart ducked the press at every opportunity and to a large extent for the next four years remained behind the secure perimeters of air bases in the Western Hemisphere serving his country. Then at war's end he refused to discuss what had happened "over there," and continued to be tight lipped about it to the end of his life. In effect, Jimmy Stewart took the story of his military service with him to the grave. “Mission: Jimmy Stewart and the Fight for Europe” tells that story by presenting the first in-depth look behind the scenes at Jimmy Stewart's life in the skies over Germany through 20 combat missions, and, ultimately, his return to Hollywood the changed man who embarked on production of his first post-war film, “It's a Wonderful Life.”

Robert Matzen spent 10 years working in communications for NASA Headquarters. He is also a filmmaker whose work has been nationally broadcast and has won major awards. His 2001 historical documentary, “When the Forest Ran Red,” was broadcast on PBS and is now recognized as the classic interpretation of the French and Indian War in America.

Description courtesy of GoodKnight Books.

PA Books airs Sunday nights at 7 pm.

 

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