James Stewart, Robert Mitchum: The Two Faces of America

A rather misguided documentary on the life and times of two great actors that has way too much on the times, especially McCarthyism and Vietnam, and not nearly enough on the lives and, more specifically, the body of great work that these two Hollywood legends managed to amass. Shamefully omitted are scenes from such classic Stewart works as "Mr. Smith", "Flight Of The Phoenix", "Anatomy Of A Murder" or any of the revisionist westerns he did with Ford or Mann. As for Mitchum we get none of his finest work, either, movies like "Out Of The Past", "Friends Of Eddie Coyle", "Cape Fear", and "Home From The Hill".

Beyond the above problem is the basic wrongheadedness of the film's thesis which is, as I understand it, that Stewart's films represent the hopeful, lighter part of American culture while Mitchum's embody its dark side. This is, to put it charitably, way too simplistic, especially on Stewart's end.. Any non superficial viewing of films like "Vertigo" (arguably Stewart's greatest role, which here is also given short shrift)), "Naked Spur" and "Phoenix" will show that much of his work, especially post WW2, had a definite, disturbing cast to it. And while Mitchum's movies largely inhabit a negative space there are notable exceptions, works such as "Out Of The Past", "El Dorado" and "Longest Day", none of which are analyzed here, that show that Mitchum was quite comfortable in vulnerable, hopeful or conventionally heroic modes.

So all in all, a less than satisfying documentary. Best thing about it are the subjects TV interviews which reveal large supplies of humor, sensitivity and intelligence that go a long way toward belying the notion that actors are dumb. Give it a C plus.