The Silver Screen Oasis

I ask this because everytime we watch Tom Hanks my husband always says 'He's the James Stewart of our generation'. I can see why he says that, I can see Tom Hanks playing in It's a Wonderful Life, The Shopworn Angel, Harvey but I can't see Tom Hanks in Vertigo, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance or any of the Anthony Mann westerns. I like Tom Hanks but think comapring him to James Stewart is perhaps too much of a compliment. I may be wrong though.

That's true. I do like Ewan MacGregor although I'm not sure he could manage both genres like Stewart.

It's difficult to think of a contemporary actor who could convincingly do both Harvey and Winchester '73.

I think Matt Damon could pull it off.

Matt Damon probably could.

I nominate Johnny Depp. I think he can do anything.

I had in mind that Richard Gere is the new Cary Grant.

I like Richard Gere, I can see the similarities.

Tom Hanks = Todays James Stewart Richard Gere = Todays Cary Grant - I shudder to think of it.

Sounds Interesting.
I can see Hanks playing Stewart ...

There is only one James Stewart and There is only one Tom Hanks.

I can see Hanks doing some Stewart's remakes - but rather not Hollywood to do that; because it will ruin all classics that James Stewart did in his lifetime. It will tarnish it. I can see the similarities - of course Hanks can pull it off doing all the Stewart's classics - but, my new friends - it is better to leave things like it is for the preservation of cinematic history.

Well, it won't ruin them but it will make younger people stay away from them. The beauty of film is that we still have the originals.

I'm not so sure Hanks would be all that interested in doing them. Just my guess.

No, I don't think he would. He seems to be an actor who likes a challenge and to remake some of Stewart's classic comedies would be playing too close to the popular perception of him. It would be more interesting to see him doing a role like Vertigo, not that I would ever want that perfect film remade by anyone but that kind of role might be more of a challenge for Tom Hanks.

The one film I am surprised has never been remade is It's a Wonderful LIfe, it is cinematic perfection but TV companies do like slushy remakes.