Robert Matzen is an American author who specializes in Hollywood history. He spent 10 years with NASA and his avid interest in aviation-related topics resulted in the bestsellers Mission: Jimmy Stewart and the Fight for Europe and Fireball: Carole Lombard and the Mystery of Flight 3. He lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Leonard Maltin is a film critic and historian who can be regularly seen on ReelzChannel and Turner Classic Movies. He is the author of the long-running Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide and its companion, Leonard Maltin's Classic Movie Guide. He lives in Los Angeles, California.
"Even before Hollywood legend Jimmy Stewart went off to war, he was
a fighter, working hard to prove his passion for military aviation
to the U.S. government. In this meticulously researched book, film
historian Matzen ( Fireball: Carole Lombard and the Mystery of
Flight 3) provides the rich, detailed backstory of Stewart's time
as a WWII bomber pilot. He delves deep into Stewart's restless
spirit, chronicling his family's legacy of war service, his rise to
movie stardom, the many women in his life, and his struggles to fly
and serve his country. Matzen paints a revealing picture of a man
who defied bureaucratic and health obstacles to become a U.S. Army
Air Force squadron commander. He depicts the excitement and horror
of life in a bomber crew as Stewart commanded a series of missions
over Germany, interspersing his story with those of other WWII
survivors, such as radio operator Clem Leone and Gertrud Siepmann,
who was a young child in Germany during Hitler's rise to power. He
also shows that, although considered a war hero, Stewart had
difficulty getting reestablished as an actor until Frank Capra cast
him in It's a Wonderful Life . Military and movie buffs alike will
revel in this vivid portrayal of a man who successfully straddled
two worlds." Publishers Weekly
"Unlike many Hollywood stars, James Stewart (1908--97) didn't make
morale-boosting combat films during World War II; he was busy
flying combat missions over Europe. Like many veterans, he
preferred not to talk about his experiences when the conflict was
over. One of the first major studies of the actor's risky missions
over Nazi Germany, this title chronicles Stewart's improbable rise
from small-town life in Indiana, PA, to his college years at
Princeton, where he acquired his love for acting and befriended
Henry Fonda, Joshua Logan, and Margaret Sullavan. His shy persona
attracted the likes of actresses Marlene Dietrich, Olivia de
Havilland, Norma Shearer, and Loretta Young. The bulk of this book
covers Stewart's stay in England, his relationships with fellow
crew members, who dealt daily with fear, loneliness, mud, and
bitter cold. Stewart returned from Europe a changed man, reflected
in his edgy, sometimes angry antihero roles in 1950s westerns and
Alfred Hitchcock films. Author Matzen relies on extensive research
and the cooperation of surviving crew members; however, as in his
Fireball: Carole Lombard and the Mystery of Flight 3 , small
details and comments about the subject's thoughts must be taken on
faith. VERDICT: Overall, an illuminating, recommended look at a
hidden chapter in Stewart's life." Library Journal
"Exhaustively researched, exceptionally well written, Mission:
Jimmy Stewart and the Fight for Europe is as informed and
informative as it is thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization
and presentation. While certain to be an enduringly popular
addition to community and academic library American Biography
collections and a 'must' for all Jimmy Stewart fans, it should be
noted for personal reading lists that Mission: Jimmy Stewart and
the Fight for Europe is also available in a Kindle format." Midwest
Book Review
"Great gift for anybody like me who just loves Jimmy Stewart and
loves a good story of history that you've never heard before."Glenn
Beck
"This week's must-read books...A revealing look at the wartime
service of one of America's most beloved actors." New York Post
"As Jimmy Stewart's children, we have always known that our
father's service during the war was the most significant event of
his life, although he rarely spoke of it. This book gives us the
best glimpse we will ever have of what that experience was like for
him and the men he flew with. Thank you, Robert Matzen." Kelly
Stewart, daughter of Jimmy Stewart
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