James Stewart at the Oscars Trivia Quiz

Answer: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Stewart's idealistic performance of Jefferson Smith and his standoff against corrupt senator Joseph Paine (Claude Rains) and the Taylor political machine in Frank Capra's 1939 classic continues to inspire to this day. The film also placed 5th on the AFI's list of the 100 most inspirational movies.

The other choices are films that star Stewart and were also released in 1939, an indication of the level of output in classic Hollywood.

Answer: Robert Donat for "Goodbye, Mr. Chips"

Though it was quite a competitive year, Donat managed to come away with the statue for his 65-year-spanning performance as London prep school Professor "Chips" Chipping, beating Stewart by only a few votes. This close result soon caused the Academy to revamp its voting procedures, including keeping the results secret till the show. Donat, who's chronic asthma always plagued him, would only make 10 more films until his death in 1958.

Answer: The Philadelphia Story

His portrayal of struggling writer/cynical reporter Macaulay Connor was only a portion of the great comedy classic by George Cukor, which followed an ex-husband's (Cary Grant) attempts to sabotage his ex-wife's (Katharine Hepburn) plans of remarriage, and the tabloid pair sent to cover the scoop.

Hepburn and costar Ruth Hussey were also Oscar nominated, for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress respectively.

Answer: James Stewart

Sure enough, Stewart walked away with the Oscar that night. What is more interesting was that he was not planning on attending the event, but received an anonymous phone call prompting him to go. Despite this being the first year the Oscar results were kept secret, the anonymous tip proved correct. Stewart himself admitted he had voted for his good friend, Henry Fonda, for his role as Tom Joad in "The Grapes of Wrath".

Answer: It's a Wonderful Life

It is said that Stewart was not up for the role of George Bailey so soon after his experiences in World War II, but costar Lionel Barrymore convinced him to accept the part. In certain scenes, Stewart was so intensely into his performance of a man whose lifelong string of bad luck and failures lead him to contemplate suicide, he would begin to sob, such as the scene where he is praying in the bar. Later in life, Stewart would reflect and considered George Bailey to be his favorite character.

Answer: Fredric March

Fredric March picked up his second Oscar for the William Wyler drama "The Best Years of Our Lives", playing a soldier returning from World War II and his struggles with alcoholism. This is quite a departure from his first Oscar-winning role, and shows his desire to avoid typecasting. Olivier and Peck would win their first Oscars in 1949 and 1963 respectively, while Parks fell into obscurity following the Communist blacklisting of the '50s.

Answer: Elwood P. Dowd

Having played the role of the naively good-natured, possibly mentally-ill Elwood P. Dowd on Broadway for three years, Stewart was a natural for the film adaptation. Stewart contributed much to the film's production, even suggesting to director Henry Koster that he shoot the film so that Harvey could be "included" in the frame.

Answer: Josephine Hull

Hull was 62 when she received the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress of 1950, playing Stewart's character's sister, Veta Louise. Stewart would praise Hull's performance, saying she had the most difficult role in the film because she had to believe and not believe in Harvey at the same time. Viewers may also recognize Hull as one of Cary Grant's crazy aunts in 1944's "Arsenic and Old Lace."

Answer: Otto Preminger's "Anatomy of a Murder"

Otto Preminger, who himself had a law degree, directed the adaptation of the bestselling courtroom drama by John D. Voelker. Stewart's performance as country lawyer Paul Biegler defending a US Army soldier on a murder charge earned him an Oscar nom and continues to stand as a complex role, one which even Stewart's father detested because of Beigler's use of then-taboo phrases like "panties" and "sperm".

Answer: Charlton Heston

Unfortunately, this was also the year "Ben-Hur" walked away with a record-setting 11 Oscars, including the Best Actor Oscar to Heston for his role as the titular slave-turned-Roman champion. This would prove to be Heston's only Oscar nomination and win. Hugh Griffith won Best Supporting Actor for "Ben-Hur", beating both Arthur O'Connell and George C. Scott, who were nominated for "Anatomy of a Murder".