Hollywood, Then and Now

My wife and brother-in-law were pretty caught up in the Academy Awards show Sunday night, so I ended up watching the last half-hour or so. I try to make it a habit to skip this orgy of pretense and self congratulation, but since so many of the nominations involved movies featuring "controversial political themes," I thought it might be mildly interesting.

I didn't get to see much of Jon Stewart, but heard he was funny. I was most surprised by the total absence of charisma during the speeches of most of the award recipients. I've hadn't seen that many boring, uninspired speeches since those oral reports in my "Anthropology of Ancient South American Indian Society" class in college. Actually, I really liked Reese Witherspoon's acceptance speech-it seemed genuinely grateful. George Looney's speech (which I heard was also pretty good) got a lot of play because of his admission that Hollywood is out of touch with mainstream America. He was actually proud of that fact.

It was refreshing to hear a major Hollywood star admit to being out of the political mainstream. Hollywood types typically sit on their perches like peacocks and preen for the camera as they look down their noses upon those who hold to traditional family values and political conservativism-people they consider modern-day neanderthals.

There was a time when Hollywood wasn't so full of these characters. This post over at Little Green Footballs takes a look back at some of the most famous actors in Hollywood who, sometimes at the apex of their popularity, chose to put their careers on hold and serve their country. Here's a few names you will recognize:

James Stewart entered the Army Air Force as a private and worked his way to the rank of Colonel. During World War II, Stewart served as a bomber pilot, his service record crediting him with leading more than 20 missions over Germany, and taking part in hundreds of air strikes during his tour of duty. Stewart earned the Air Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross, France’s Croix de Guerre, and 7 Battle Stars during World War II. In peace time, Stewart continued to be an active member of the Air Force as a reservist, reaching the rank of Brigadier General before retiring in the late 1950s.

Clark Gable (Mega-Movie Star when war broke out): Although he was beyond the draft age at the time the U.S. entered WW II, Clark Gable enlisted as a private in the AAF on Aug. 12, 1942, at Los Angeles. He attended the Officers’ Candidate School at Miami Beach, Fla. and graduated as a second lieutenant on Oct. 28, 1942. He then attended aerial gunnery school, and in Feb. 1943 he was assigned to the 351st Bomb Group at Polebrook where he flew operational missions over Europe in B-17s. Capt. Gable returned to the U.S. in Oct. 1943 and was relieved from active duty as a major on Jun. 12, 1944, at his own request, since he was over-age for combat.

And, of course:

Audie Murphy, little 5’5“ tall, 110-pound guy from Texas who was the most decorated serviceman of WWII earned: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, 2 Silver Star Medals, Legion of Merit, 2 Bronze Star Medals with ”V", 2 Purple Hearts, U.S. Army Outstanding Civilian Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, 2 Distinguished Unit Emblems, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with One Silver Star, Four Bronze Service Stars (representing nine campaigns) and one Bronze Arrowhead (representing assault landing at Sicily and Southern France) World War II Victory Medal Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar, Expert Badge with Bayonet Bar, French Fourragere in Colors of the Croix de Guerre, French Legion of Honor, Grade of Chevalier, French Croix de Guerre With Silver Star, French Croix de Guerre with Palm, Medal of Liberated France, Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 Palm.

These people put the current crop of clowns to shame.