Jimmy Hawkins on starring in 'It's A Wonderful Life' and the film's enduring legacy

Actor, producer, and author Jimmy Hawkins shares his experience playing Tommy Bailey in IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946), his thoughts on director Frank Capra and the film's impact, working in the early days of television ('The Ruggles,' 'Annie Oakley,' 'The Donna Reed Show,' 'My Three Sons'), and a recurring nightmare featuring Gene Autry.

In association with The Jimmy Stewart Museum https://jimmy.org/

Podcast artwork: Kristin Baxter
Podcast theme: David Gorham
Special thanks: Janie McKirgan

Transcript

TRANSCRIPT EXCERPT OF TALKING UM … UH … JIMMY STEWART (EPISODE 19) FEATURING ACTOR, PRODUCER, AUTHOR JIMMY HAWKINS:

On Director Frank Capra and It’s A Wonderful Life (1946)-

Jimmy Hawkins: “Everything was exactly the way he wanted it, set the way he wanted it. You just look at it and you go, ‘That is a great movie. It just … everything works.”

 When the movie wasn’t a success, Hawkins feels it must have devastated Capra.

 “I could see him praying to God, ‘What happened?’ And God had His plan. Capra’s plan was ‘Give me the Oscar now. I’m back.’

 ‘No. Wait, Frank. Don’t complain. What ‘til you see what I’ve done for ya.’

 “If it (had) won the Oscar it would be like the picture that won the Oscar. You never hear of it. It’s a great thing … shown every so often … The Best Years of Our Lives … that’s the way It’s A Wonderful Life would have been. 

 But He had something more important. That film had to touch millions of lives for the better. It had to fall into public domain. Those weren’t mistakes. That had to happen in order to have that film become what it was, being played free all the time.”

 On his frequent guest appearances on The Donna Reed Show (1958-1966)—

 Jimmy Hawkins: (At the table read for his first appearance): “Excuse me, Ms. Reed. My name is Jimmy Hawkins. I played your son Tommy Bailey in It’s A Wonderful Life.

She said, ‘Oh, I know! They told me that they signed you … you know what? We had a nickname for you on It’s A Wonderful Life. We used to call you Rip Van Winkle. You were so cute. All this commotion going on and you would fall asleep. And they’d go around doing lighting and doing whatever they had ... and when they were ready to shoot, they’d wake you up and say, ‘Okay, Jimmy. Wake up. We’re going to do it now.’ And you would be bright-eyed and bushy tailed and just do it.’

 So she shared that story and … twelve years after I’d originally done it, here I am playing the boyfriend on her new series. And eight years later I was still doing the show.  I just hit it off great with her. The show turned out great.”

 On his only recurring showbiz nightmare, featuring Gene Autry, executive producer of Annie Oakley (1956)-

“I only have one nightmare, and this was when I was doing the Annie Oakley series. My boss was Gene Autry. When we weren’t shooting, we were doing state and county fairs, home shows, personal appearances … that’s where you make the money … they pay you a lot.

I would go with Gene Autry, like ten weeks at a time during the summer. Going all over … everywhere. So we landed in Omaha and one of Gene’s guys came in and said, ‘Gene wants to talk to you before we go into the airport.’

So I get off the plane and stand on the tarmac and he said, ‘I want you to hold this for me.’  And he took out an envelope—a thick envelope. And I could tell it was full of money. He said, ‘Hold this until we leave. And when we get back on the plane, give it to me.’

So I put it into my coat pocket and walk into the airport and get something while they’re fueling the plane. But I was very intrigued about this envelope (laughs). So I went into the men’s room and went into one of the cubicles and took it out and looked at it … to see the money. 

 My dream is:  I flushed the toilet and it fell out of my hands and went down the drain! And I had that for years and years! (Envisioning the aftermath) What would happen? ‘Mr. Autry … I …!’

So that’s the nightmare. It’s the only nightmare I’ve had about doing something, or a part … or whatever.”


 

Hear the entire interview at: https://jimmy.org/jimmy-stewart-podcast/