Jimmy Stewart, the Army Air Force officer in World War II who starred in “It’s a Wonderful Life,” among other movies, is the subject of a new biopic being produced and directed by Aaron Burns, who is cooperating with the Stewart family to make it. The biopic will, according to Burns, show the extent of Stewart’s Christian faith.
Speaking about the upcoming biopic, called A Truly Wonderful Life, in comments to Deadline, director Burns said that the Stewart family had trusted him to accurately show what Stewart was like, including his Christian faith and how he prayed to the Lord above.
He said, “I am so honored Kelly and her family are trusting us with their father’s legacy.” He continued, “We are excited to take moviegoers on a journey to discover the real Jimmy, and how his father’s prayers and his collaboration with Frank Capra guided him through his darkest hours. Jimmy came to truly embody the characters he played, as husband, father, and citizen.”
Frank Capra, famously, is the director of It’s A Wonderful Life who asked Stewart to star in the movie, a huge boost to his acting career, which he had left behind to serve in Europe. Speaking about the movie and its success, Stewart noted how central faith is to George Bailey’s character in the movie, saying, “It’s simply about an ordinary man who discovers that living each ordinary day honorably, with faith in God and a selfless concern for others, can make for a truly wonderful life.”
Kelly Stuart, one of Jimmy Stuart’s daughters, said, “Our family is thrilled that Aaron and his team approached us about bringing Dad’s story to life on the big screen.” Continuing, Kelly added, “Everyone loved him as George Bailey. Now they can learn how that movie intertwined with other parts of his life in so many important ways.”
Further, according to the Daily Citizen, the upcoming biopic “promises to leave little doubt about his faith and the fact that God answered the prayers he prayed as he read Psalm 91.” That Psalm reads, in part, “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”
Stewart’s connection to Psalm 91 came from his father, who, when he left for Europe with his bomber unit, tucked a note and booklet in his uniform pocket. That note read, “My dear Jim, soon after you read this letter, you will be on your way to the worst sort of danger. I have had this in mind for a long time and I am very concerned… But Jim, I am banking on the enclosed copy of the 91st Psalm.”
It continued, “The thing that takes the place of fear and worry is the promise in these words. I am staking my faith in these words. I feel sure that God will lead you through this mad experience … I can say no more. I only continue to pray. God bless you and keep you.”
Featured image credit: By National Telefilm Associates – Screenshot of the movie, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6397263