Henry Fonda and Jimmy Stewart are beloved icons of Hollywood’s Golden Age, with careers that spanned decades and movies that still hold up today. They also were best friends who enjoyed spending time together, away from the glitter of their very public lives. With each other, they were simply Hank and Jim, two guys who flew kites, built model airplanes, played elaborate practical jokes on occasion, and didn’t find it necessary to talk about making movies, women, or the world war they both served in.
In his fine book, Hank and Jim: The Fifty Year Friendship of Henry Fonda and Jimmy Stewart, biographer Scott Eyman chronicles the long relationship between the two men and also offers an intimate and lively look at Hollywood during its heyday. In many respects, Fonda and Stewart were very different from each other – but in each other’s company they were finally able to relax and have fun.
Mr. Eyman is the author of 15 books, including The New York Times bestseller John Wayne: The Life and Legend. He was the 2014 recipient of the National Board of Review William K. Everson Award for Film History for his body of work, and he has written for many national publications, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and the Chicago Tribune.
