14. Stewart moved to the western genre and found success
In 1949, Stewart starred in The Stratton Story, based on the life of former Major League pitcher Monty Stratton. Stratton lost his leg in a hunting accident, and wearing a wooden leg later made a comeback with a minor league team. It was for Stewart his biggest success since returning from the war. Stewart then learned that a film version of Harvey was in the works, and he lobbied for the role he had played successfully on Broadway. It was offered conditionally. Stewart was first required to appear in a western, Winchester ’73, a film he initially did not want to do. Lew Wasserman used his client’s hesitation to create an innovative deal.
The studio, Universal, agreed to a contract which gave the actor a percentage of the profits from the film, rather than a salary. It also gave Stewart the right to select the director and approval of the cast. Stewart selected Anthony Mann to direct, and the cast included Rock Hudson, Shelley Winters, and Tony Curtis. The film was an enormous financial success for the time, earning Stewart $60,000, far more than his regular salary at the time. It also garnered high praise from critics, and Stewart went on to mine the lucrative genre of western films in the 1950s. He also received the lead role in Harvey.