Hank and Jim : The Fifty-Year Friendship of Henry Fonda and James Stewart

New York Times bestselling author Scott Eyman tells the story of the remarkable friendship of two Hollywood legends who, though different in many ways, maintained a close friendship that endured all of lifes twists and turns. Henry Fonda and James Stewart were two of the biggest stars in Hollywood for forty years. They became friends and then roommates as stage actors in New York, and when they began making films in Hollywood, they roomed together again. Between them they made such memorable films as The Grapes of Wrath, Mister Roberts, Twelve Angry Men, and On Golden Pond; and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Destry Rides Again, The Philadelphia Story, Its a Wonderful Life, Vertigo, and Rear Window. They got along famously, with a shared interest in elaborate practical jokes and model airplanes, among other things. Fonda was a liberal Democrat, Stewart a conservative Republican, but after one memorable blow-up over politics, they agreed never to discuss that subject again. Fonda was a ladies man who was married five times; Stewart remained married to the same woman for forty-five years. Both men volunteered during World War II and were decorated for their service. When Stewart returned home, still unmarried, he once again moved in with Fonda, his wife, and his two children, Jane and Peter, who knew him as Uncle Jimmy. For Hank and Jim , biographer and film historian Scott Eyman spoke with Fondas widow and children as well as three of Stewarts children, plus actors and directors who had worked with the menin addition to doing extensive archival research to get the full details of their time together. This is not another Hollywood story, but a fascinating portrait of an extraordinary friendship that lasted through war, marriages, children, careers, and everything else. Henry Fonda And James Stewart Were Two Of The Biggest Stars In Hollywood For Forty Years. They Became Friends And Then Roommates As Stage Actors In New York, And When They Began Making Films In Hollywood, They Roomed Together Again. Between Them They Made Such Memorable Films As The Grapes Of Wrath, Mister Roberts, Twelve Angry Men, And On Golden Pond; And Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, Destry Rides Again, The Philadelphia Story, It's A Wonderful Life, Vertigo, And Rear Window. They Got Along Famously, With A Shared Interest In Elaborate Practical Jokes And Model Airplanes, Among Other Things. Fonda Was A Liberal Democrat, Stewart A Conservative Republican, But After One Memorable Blow-up Over Politics, They Agreed Never To Discuss That Subject Again. Fonda Was A Ladies' Man Who Was Married Five Times; Stewart Remained Married To The Same Woman For Forty-five Years. Both Men Volunteered During World War Ii And Were Decorated For Their Service. When Stewart Returned Home, Still Unmarried, He Once Again Moved In With Fonda, His Wife, And His Two Children, Jane And Peter, Who Knew Him As Uncle Jimmy. For Hank And Jim, Biographer And Film Historian Scott Eyman Spoke With Fonda's Widow And Children As Well As Three Of Stewart's Children, Plus Actors And Directors Who Had Worked With The Men--in Addition To Doing Extensive Archival Research To Get The Full Details Of Their Time Together. This Is Not Another Hollywood Story, But A Fascinating Portrait Of An Extraordinary Friendship That Lasted Through War, Marriages, Children, Careers, And Everything Else. Fonda And Stewart Became Friends And Then Roommates As Stage Actors In New York. When They Began Making Films In Hollywood, They Roomed Together Again, With Shared Interests In Elaborate Practical Jokes And Model Airplaness. Eyman Spoke With Fonda's Widow And Children As Well As Three Of Stewart's Children, Plus Actors And Directors Who Had Worked With The Men To Create A Fascinating Portrait Of An Extraordinary Friendship That Lasted Through War, Marriages, Children, Careers, And Everything Else. Beginning -- War -- Home. Scott Eyman. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 325-348) And Index. "[A] remarkably absorbing, supremely entertaining joint biography" ( The New York Times ) from bestselling author Scott Eyman about the remarkable friendship of Henry Fonda and James Stewart, two Hollywood legends who maintained a close relationship that endured all of life's twists and turns. Henry Fonda and James Stewart were two of the biggest stars in Hollywood for forty years, but they became friends when they were unknown. They roomed together as stage actors in New York, and when they began making films in Hollywood, they were roommates again. Between them they made such classic films as The Grapes of Wrath, Mister Roberts, Twelve Angry Men, and On Golden Pond; and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, The Philadelphia Story, It's a Wonderful Life, Vertigo, and Rear Window. They got along famously, with a shared interest in elaborate practical jokes and model airplanes, among other things. But their friendship also endured despite their differences: Fonda was a liberal Democrat, Stewart a conservative Republican. Fonda was a ladies' man who was married five times; Stewart remained married to the same woman for forty-five years. Both men volunteered during World War II and were decorated for their service. When Stewart returned home, still unmarried, he once again moved in with Fonda, his wife, and his two children, Jane and Peter, who knew him as Uncle Jimmy. For his "breezy, entertaining" ( Publishers Weekly ) Hank and Jim , biographer and film historian Scott Eyman spoke with Fonda's widow and children as well as three of Stewart's children, plus actors and directors who had worked with the men—in addition to doing extensive archival research to get the full details of their time together. This is not just another Hollywood story, but "a fascinating...richly documented biography" ( Kirkus Reviews , starred review) of an extraordinary friendship that lasted through war, marriages, children, careers, and everything else. [A] remarkably absorbing, supremely entertaining joint biography (The New York Times) from bestselling author Scott Eyman about the remarkable friendship of Henry Fonda and James Stewart, two Hollywood legends who maintained a close relationship that endured all of life's twists and turns. Henry Fonda and James Stewart were two of the biggest stars in Hollywood for forty years, but they became friends when they were unknown. They roomed together as stage actors in New York, and when they began making films in Hollywood, they were roommates again. Between them they made such classic films as The Grapes of Wrath, Mister Roberts, Twelve Angry Men, and On Golden Pond; and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, The Philadelphia Story, It's a Wonderful Life, Vertigo, and Rear Window. They got along famously, with a shared interest in elaborate practical jokes and model airplanes, among other things. But their friendship also endured despite their differences: Fonda was a liberal Democrat, Stewart a conservative Republican. Fonda was a ladies' man who was married five times; Stewart remained married to the same woman for forty-five years. Both men volunteered during World War II and were decorated for their service. When Stewart returned home, still unmarried, he once again moved in with Fonda, his wife, and his two children, Jane and Peter, who knew him as Uncle Jimmy. For his breezy, entertaining (Publishers Weekly) Hank and Jim, biographer and film historian Scott Eyman spoke with Fonda's widow and children as well as three of Stewart's children, plus actors and directors who had worked with the men-in addition to doing extensive archival research to get the full details of their time together. This is not just another Hollywood story, but a fascinating ... richly documented biography (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) of an extraordinary friendship that lasted through war, marriages, children, careers, and everything else