Fear and Moviegoing in Toronto – Winter 2020: TIFF Cinematheque – Call Me Jimmy: The Films of James Stewart

It's time for an epic retrospective episode, sparked by TIFF's Call Me Jimmy: The Films of James Stewart, which was unfortunately interrupted by COVID-19. Nevertheless, we watched the remaining films at home, plus a few that weren't scheduled. Here we substantially discuss Clarence Brown's OF HUMAN HEARTS (1938), Frank Capra's MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (1939), and Anthony Mann's THE NAKED SPUR (1953) and THE FAR COUNTRY (1954), and devote a paragraph or so to many others, including REAR WINDOW, ANATOMY OF A MURDER, and CALL NORTHSIDE 777. We identify salient aspects of the Stewart persona, such as the interplay between idealism and cynicism and between suffering and anger. Time Codes: 0h 01m 00s:          Drawling preamble 0h 22m 05s:          Of Human Hearts (1938; dir: Clarence Brown) 0h 53m 54s:          Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939; dir: Frank Capra) 1h 26m 45s:          Rear Window (1954; dir: Alfred Hitchcock) 1h 35m 30s:          Stewart and Anthony Mann – ft. The Naked Spur (1953) 2h 30m 32s:          Call Northside 777 (1948; dir: Henry Hathaway) & Anatomy of a Murder (1959; dir: Otto Preminger) 2h 42m 35s:          Harvey (1950; dir: Henry Koster)                 +++ * Check out our Complete Upcoming Episode Schedule * Find Elise's latest published film piece – "Elaine May's Male Gaze" – in the Elaine May issue of Bright Wall/Dark Room* *And Read Elise's Writing at Bright Wall/Dark Room, Cléo, and Bright Lights.* Follow us on Twitter at @therebuggy Write to us at [email protected] Theme Music: "What's Yr Take on Cassavetes?" – Le Tigre