Editing James Stewart (section)

===Romantic relationships===
[[File:The Shopworn Angel trailer.JPG|thumb|left|Margaret Sullavan and Stewart in ''The Shopworn Angel'' (1938), their second film collaboration.|alt=Stewart and Sullavan sitting close and looking into each other's eyes]]As a friend, mentor, and focus of his early romantic feelings, [[Margaret Sullavan]] had a unique influence on Stewart's life.

They met while they were both performing for the University Players; he was smitten, and invited her on a date.{{sfn|Dewey|1996|pp=23, 97, 105–6}} Unfortunately for Stewart, she regarded him as a close friend and co-worker, so they never began a romantic relationship.{{sfn|Fishgall|1997|pp=82–83}} Though Sullavan was always aware of his feelings, Stewart never directly revealed them.{{sfn|Fishgall|1997|pp=82–83}} Sullavan loved Stewart, but not romantically. Rather, she felt protective and maternal towards him.{{sfn|Quirk|1986|pp=25, 61–63}}

The director of ''The Shopworn Angel'', [[H. C. Potter]], suggested they might have married had Stewart been more forthcoming with his feelings.{{sfn|Quirk|1986|p=93}} Instead, Sullavan became his acting mentor in Hollywood. According to director [[Edward H. Griffith]], she "made [him] a star" by co-starring with him in four films: ''Next Time You Love'' (1936), ''The Shopworn Angel'' (1938), ''The Shop Around the Corner'' (1940) and ''The Mortal Storm'' (1940).{{sfn|Fishgall|1997|p=83}}

Stewart did not marry until his forties, which attracted a significant amount of contemporary media attention; gossip columnist [[Hedda Hopper]] called him the "Great American Bachelor".{{sfn|Eliot|2006|p=232}} Regardless, he had several romantic relationships prior to marriage. After being introduced by [[Henry Fonda]], Stewart and [[Ginger Rogers]] enjoyed a relationship in 1935, while Fonda was dating Rogers' good friend [[Lucille Ball]].{{sfn|Eliot|2006|p=74}}

During production of ''The Shopworn Angel'' (1938), Stewart dated actress [[Norma Shearer]] for six weeks. Afterward, he dated [[Loretta Young]], but she wanted to settle down and Stewart did not.{{Sfn|Fishgall|1997|pp=110, 130}}

While filming ''Destry Rides Again'' (1939), Stewart had an affair with his co-star [[Marlene Dietrich]], who was married at the time.<ref>{{harvnb|Eliot|2006|pp=130, 136–138}}; {{harvnb|Fishgall|1997|pp=130–131}}</ref> Dietrich allegedly became pregnant, but it was quickly terminated.<ref>{{harvnb|Eyman|2017|p=86}}; {{harvnb|Fishgall|1997|p=130}}</ref> Stewart ended their relationship after the filming was completed. Hurt by Stewart's rejection, she barely mentioned him in her memoir and waved him off as a one-time affair.{{sfn|Eliot|2006|pp=130, 136–138}}

He dated [[Olivia de Havilland]] in the late 1930s and early 1940s and even proposed marriage to her, but she rejected the proposal, as she believed he was not ready to settle down. She ended the relationship shortly before he began his military service, as she had fallen in love with director [[John Huston]].{{sfn|Fishgall|1997|pp=138, 148}}