Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

  • Jimmy Stewart

  • The Truth Behind the Legend
  • By: Michael Munn
  • Narrated by: Mark Whitten
  • Length: 11 hrs and 22 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (198 ratings)
Offer ends May 1st, 2024 11:59PM GMT. Terms and conditions apply.
£7.99/month after 3 months. Renews automatically.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Jimmy Stewart cover art

Jimmy Stewart

By: Michael Munn
Narrated by: Mark Whitten
Get this deal Try for £0.00

Pay £99p/month. After 3 months pay £7.99/month. Renews automatically. See terms for eligibility.

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically.

Buy Now for £18.99

Buy Now for £18.99

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Listeners also enjoyed...

John Wayne cover art
Will She Do? cover art
Bad Boy Series: 3-Book Collection cover art
Mind Waves cover art
The Only Woman in the Room cover art
The Man of Legends cover art
Anna Karenina cover art
Glass and Steele Boxed Set: Books 1-3 cover art
Semper Fi cover art
My Happy Days in Hollywood cover art
Emma [Naxos Edition] cover art
The Aviator's Wife cover art
America's First Daughter cover art
A Moveable Feast cover art
Truman cover art
The Six Wives of Henry VIII cover art

Editor reviews

Fans of classic Hollywood, take heed: In Jimmy Stewart: The Truth Behind the Legend, Michael Munn has engineered a fascinating glimpse into the hitherto clouded public and private lives of one of the most famous figures in film history.

Performed with great energy by actor Mark Whitten, this comprehensive biography provides keen insights into the man behind the mask, emphasizing the differences and similarities between Stewart’s assumed public persona and his private self, delving deeply into his patriotism and FBI service alongside his relationships and rage issues.

Summary

In this definitive biography of one of Hollywood's most beloved stars, Michael Munn reveals the truth behind the diffident, earnest and kindly persona of Jimmy Stewart. Drawn from the author's formal interviews and informal meetings with the star and his friendship with Stewart's wife, Gloria, is this portrait of a man who came from the Presbyterian traditions of Pennsylvania to become one of the silver screen's enduring legends.

An openly right-wing Conservative and super-patriot, Stewart worked for the FBI at the behest of J. Edgar Hoover, directing his undercover sleuthing to crack organised crime in Hollywood. But he was unscrupulously manipulated by the president into flushing out Communists from the film industry. Among these revelations, there are also tales of heady love affairs, hookers and hoodlums, and of Stewart's run-in with the most dangerous of all gangsters, Benjamin 'Bugsy' Sigal. Accusations of racism are explored, as is Stewart's notoriously volatile temper. There is a comprehensive account of his experiences as a colonel in the US Air Force in World War Two - and, of course, there are the films: It's a Wonderful Life, The Greatest Show on Earth, Rear Window, the westerns and his Academy Awards.

©2013 Michael Munn (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about Jimmy Stewart

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    128
  • 4 Stars
    48
  • 3 Stars
    18
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    111
  • 4 Stars
    52
  • 3 Stars
    16
  • 2 Stars
    4
  • 1 Stars
    3
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    121
  • 4 Stars
    46
  • 3 Stars
    14
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    2

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The real Jimmy Stewart.

With Jimmy Stewart what you see is mostly what. This book is from conversations and interviews with Jimmy ( himself ), his wife, family and friends. The thing that soon becomes apparent is that Jimmy is a man who is liked by most of the people he met. This is definitely a read again, and one I recommend and hope you enjoy the book as much as I have.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

It truly was a Wonderful life.

The life of a great actor and person, inciting so many emotions and feelings truly fulfilled his desire to give those little moments of happiness. Thank you

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A True Legend

I enjoyed this audiobook from beginning to end, it’s excellently narrated and the stories related are exactly what one would expect to hear about such a beloved star
The pace of the writing is just right, definitely not a thriller or a roller coaster ride It’s like a warm blanket and for me in these uncertain times it just hit the spot

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

a good review of the life of Jimmy stewart

Mark Whitten's Reading of the book and the actor's impression of Jimmy's voice is spot on. Thankfully this account is not a sugar-coated version of a remarkable man's life; but I have a sneaky feeling that some aspects of Mr Stewarts life have been omitted. None the less the book details in some detail the extraordinary life and works of the humble legend that was Jimmy Stewart.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Jimmy Stewart

Informative and very well narrated by Mark Whitten spoken in the style of Stewart. Book based on interviews conducted with Stewart, wife Gloria and friends during 1970's. Felt some further in-depth information should have been added in order to give greater understanding of very talented actor/human being.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant Jimmy Stewart

Found this by accident, have always loved and watched James Stewart movies and thought I knew about this great actor, but this really helped me get to know the man better - it was over 11 hours long but was left wanting more 😊👍🙏

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

James Stewart

What a fascinating read, I loved this book and didn’t realise how much of a ladies man he was. My favourite movie of his is a wonderful life. Can’t beat it. Brilliant story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The best film star biography I’ve listened to

This is a very special book , written by a man who obviously knew James Stewart, loved and admired him . You really do get a feel for Jimmy as a man and feel you’ve spent time with him and his devoted wife Gloria , I felt bereft when the book finished and know I’ll return to it often to spend time with him again .

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Very Very good!

This is an excellent book. I listened to it in a week of long, dark early morning runs through the countryside and it's gripping from beginning to end. The reading is superb and some of the best I've heard on any audio book and the book itself is perfectly balanced and never long winded. Clearly it helps if you like James Stewart though I don't think it's essential as the biography brings in so many other interesting famous and non famous people and also describes war time and the politics of Hollywood and indeed the USA so well that anyone interested in 20th century Popular culture would enjoy this.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Really enjoyable

Agree or not with his politics, this is the story of a truly memorable actor who gave so many good memories. Simply, an honestly nice man.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!