Stewart is acting at times, I think he really was George Bailey. When you realize he was a recently returned Vet suffering from PTSD and depression it makes it almost too real imo. Plus the guilt from his bombing missions as squadron commander because he knew he had killed civilians in Berlin and Nazi occupied Europe. He was a true patriot imo, imagine leaving your comfy life as a movie start to put your life on the line in 20+ combat missions. I can't imagine any in Hollywood today even dreaming of having that kind of courage.