'Jimmy' Premieres in Fort Worth: a B-24 Flyover, a 'Jimmy Stewart Day' Proclamation, and a War Story That Opens in Theaters Friday

Fort Worth gave a Hollywood premiere a military escort on Wednesday night. Stars, veterans and members of James Stewart's family gathered in Fort Worth for the red-carpet premiere of 'Jimmy,' a biographical drama about the Oscar-winning actor's decision to leave Hollywood at the height of his career and serve as a combat pilot in World War II, The Christian Post reported. The evening featured a military color guard ceremony, a performance of the National Anthem, and a flyover by a B-24 bomber — the type of aircraft Stewart himself flew during the war.

The city made the date official. Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker proclaimed it 'Jimmy Stewart Day,' honoring the actor's service to his country and his contributions to American culture, according to the report. The film is directed by Aaron Burns and stars KJ Apa as Stewart, in a story built around the chapter of Stewart's life that his screen career interrupted: the uniform came first, and the movies waited.

The premiere has a hometown credit line. It was held in conjunction with the Lone Star Film Festival and hosted by Papaian Studios, a faith-oriented entertainment company based in Fort Worth and founded by Hien Papaian, one of the film's executive producers. 'Jimmy' opens in theaters on Friday, November 6 — a Fort Worth premiere, for a Fort Worth-made film, about a man the city chose to honor for the years he spent away from the screen.