James Stewart's Leading Ladies Quiz

Answer: Donna Reed

This is one of the most memorable films of all time. It is a great film with an extraordinary cast and director, Frank Capra. It was made in 1946, by Capra's production studio, Liberty Films. The film did badly at the box office, so Liberty went bankrupt. Unfortunately, Jimmy and Donna never did another film together.

Answer: June Allyson

June Allyson and James Stewart were a great pair. They made their first film together, "The Stratton Story", in 1949. They made two other films together after that, "The Glenn Miller Story" in 1954 and "Strategic Air Command" in 1955 both directed by Anthony Mann.

They had wonderful chemistry and many in the public thought they were really married. They remained friends until Jimmy's death in 1997.

Answer: Yes

Jimmy Stewart made his mark as an actor in this film. It was made in 1939 and directed by Frank Capra. It is a definite classic. Jimmy and Jean Arthur weren't really lovers in the film, but more like friends. They also had wonderful chemistry. Capra wanted her for Mary Hatch in "It's A Wonderful Life" but she was doing a stage play at the time. Donna Reed was chosen and was a great pick.

Answer: Margaret Sullavan

Margaret Sullavan was the first love of Jimmy Stewart's life. They first met while doing summer stock in Cape Cod. That is where Jim also met Henry Fonda, who became a life long friend. Jimmy was in love with Sullavan but didn't want to express his love because she was married to his best bud, Henry Fonda for about 13 months. Jimmy's 2nd film "Next Time We Love" (1936) was the first film in which he co-starred with Margaret Sullavan.

She taught him to use the camera to his advantage, and that it was ok to be awkward. "The Shopworn Angel" (1938) was the 2nd of the four films the two would make. "The Shop Around the Corner" and "The Mortal Storm" were both made in 1940. "The Shop Around the Corner" was the best of the four made by the co-stars.

Incidentally, Stewart never stopped loving Sullavan even after her death of an overdose in 1960.

Answer: Maureen O'Hara

This is a great family film made in 1962 and directed by Henry Koster ("Harvey"). Maureen O'Hara and Jimmy Stewart are great as parents who decide to spend a month with their whole family in one house. What happens next is pure chaos. Lucille Ball was considered for the role. I think that would have been a great pairing. Rita Hayworth never made a film with Jimmy Stewart.

Answer: Grace Kelly

Grace Kelly was one of (if not the most) beautiful actresses to ever be in films. "Rear Window" is considered one of the best Alfred Hitchcock films of all time. James Stewart and Grace Kelly are a wonderful pair who had amazing chemistry. Although Stewart was 45 and Kelly was about 25 at the time of the film, the age difference doesn't show.

In 1956, Stewart found out he would be making "Designing Woman" with Grace and he was extremely excited to be working with her again. Unfortunately (for Stewart), she met and married Prince Ranier of Monaco in 1956 and Stewart was so upset he dropped out of the film.

The roles went to Gregory Peck and Lauren Bacall.

Answer: False

Novak and Stewart actually made two films together, although the other was by no means as popular as "Vertigo". The pair would make "Vertigo" together on the condition that Jimmy would make a Columbia film with Novak. "Bell Book and Candle" was made in 1958 but wasn't a hit by any means. I love the chemistry between Jimmy and Kim and it is the highlight of the film. Jack Lemmon, Elsa Lanchester, Hermoine Gingold, and Ernie Kovacs round out the cast of "Bell Book and Candle". "Vertigo" is one of the best films of all time and both performers give extraordinary performances.

Although popular, the film was not what it is now. After its beautiful restoration, the film is now known as Hitchcock's Masterpiece.

Answer: Marlene Dietrich

"Destry Rides Again" was Jimmy Stewart's first western (although more a comedy). The film was made in 1939. As with her other leading men, Stewart supposedly had an affair with Dietrich on the set of the film. It was a huge success at the box office and in the careers of Dietrich and Stewart.

Answer: Vera Miles

"The FBI Story" isn't very well known, but is one of Jimmy Stewart's best films. It was made in 1959 and directed by Mervyn LeRoy. Vera Miles is great as his wife. They also had great chemistry. Vera Miles was Hitchcock's first pick for Jimmy's co-star in "Vertigo".

She did costume tests and was all set to do the film, but when the script ran into some snags, it took Hitch and the others writers months to fix it. When it was finally fixed, Miles came to Hitch and told him she was pregnant. Hitch was upset, but made a great choice in Kim Novak. Since "The FBI Story" dealt with the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover and other agents were on the set to make sure the stories were true to fact.

The cast and crew got Hoover's okay after a screeening of the film.

Answer: Yes

Yes, the two made a film together in 1939 called "It's A Wonderful World". Although they have similar titles it had nothing to do with "It's A Wonderful Life", which was made 7 years later. "It's A Wonderful World" was a total slapstick vehicle, but was not that successful.

Answer: Audrey Meadows

This was the second of three family films that Stewart would make in a row. "Take Her, She's Mine" was made in 1963 and was produced and directed by Henry Koster. Although Meadows didn't have a huge role, Stewart and Meadows have great chemistry.

Answer: Carole Lombard

"Made For Each Other" was made in 1939 and produced by David O. Selznick and directed by John Cromwell. At the time, Carole Lombard was well known for her many comedic roles, but wanted a vehicle to prove her dramatic talent. Both Selznick and Lombard thought the role of her husband was a perfect fit for James Stewart.

The story is of the problems of a young married couple. Stewart portrayed Johnny Mason who marries Jane (Lombard) although his mother is disappointed. Johnny works hard at his law firm and expects to make partner, but doesn't.

He is ecstatic about the birth of his son, but his wages are running low, with him becoming a family man. When asking his boss for a raise, he really gets a pay cut. Their baby son falls ill with pneumonia.

They need an expensive serum that is only available in a different city. It is the dead of winter and the pilot flies through a snowstorm to save the child's life. Lombard and Stewart had wonderful chemistry. Unfortunately for her husband, the King of Films, Clark Gable, and the movie-going public, Carole Lomabard was killed in a plane crash in 1942 while selling war bonds for the war effort.

Answer: Doris Day

This film was a remake of 1934's "The Man Who Knew Too Much". Both films were directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The 1956 version was a better version in my opinion. This was one of Doris Day's only dramatic performances and was perfectly done. She even sings an Oscar-winning song "Que Sera Sera" in the picture.

Answer: Jean Hagen

"Cabine Williams" was made in 1952 and directed by Richard Thorpe. It is the true story of Marsh Williams who is sent to prison when convicted of killing a man. While in prison, Williams conceived of the short-stroke pistol which became the integral part of the M-1 carbine.

The pistol was developed by Winchester and became the first new rifle adopted by the US Army. It is a story of pure determination and is one of the overlooked performances of Stewart's career. Jean Hagen doesn't have a big part but does a great job as the wife of a genius.

Answer: Debra Paget

"Broken Arrow" was made in 1950 and was directed by Delmer Daves. Stewart jumped at the chance to do the film because it was the first major film to deal with the Indians in a good light and to show their conflict with the whites. Stewart hated racial intolerance and wanted to show everyone.

It is one of Stewart's best westerns and Jeff Chandler was nominated for an Oscar for his role as the Apache chief Cochise. Stewart was newly married and about 41 years old, while his co-star, Debra Paget, was only about 17 years old at the time of the filming.

The film met with mixed reviews but was Stewart's first true western. I do enjoy the film and the love story (dealing with a mixed relationship), but I think Paget was a little young for the role.