Period. Jimmy Stewart was a remarkable man who loved all his fellowman. In the trailer, Jim, Van Johnson, Shirley Temple, Eddie Cantor, Jennifer Jones, Ingrid Bergman, Walter Pidgeon, Katharine Hepburn, and Edward G. Robinson encouraged Americans to stand together in support of freedom for all, a message particularly relevant in the wake of World War II. All Rights Reserved. Woody Strode, Black Representation and John Ford's SERGEANT RUTLEDGE - YouTube John Ford wasn't afraid to explore bigotry in his films, but Sergeant Rutledge is a standout and the first. Jim hit it off particularly well with Duke Ellington during filming of 1959s Anatomy of a Murder, for which Ellington made history as the first black musician to compose the score for a major Hollywood production. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. Then, when the steeds had halted, he tried to pick a punch up with his younger co-star. She has been in love with all things film and television since she saw her first movie in theatres at 2.5 years old (Muppet Treasure Island, in case you were wondering). Sundown (1941). Electric streetcars went everywhere. He lives in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, with his wife and son. Part African American and part Native American, Strodes first big break was in 1960s Spartacus, as the Ethiopian gladiator whose death sparks a rebellion. Id play a Viking with blue contact lenses and a blond wig if I could. (Proving the point: In Androcles and the Lion, Strode actually dressed as the lion.). Woody Strode - Wikipedia His own words and actions, and the words of those who knew him, prove that Jimmy Stewart was not racist. Though he was a conservative unlike his friend Henry Fonda who was a liberal and despised racism, I doubt if their life long friendship wouldve lasted if Fonda discovered he had racist views. His fellow Gold Dust Gang member Jackie Robinson would break the color barrier in Major League Baseball a year later in 1947. Woody Strode. He majored in history and education. One of the most memorable episodes ofPsych is "Last Night Gus," which allows the series to payhomage toThe Hangover. But I could tell he preferred to be around Lee Marvin or [John] Wayne than me., Also in the Munn interview, Strode relates an incident in whichLiberty Valance director, John Ford, asked Jim what he thought of Woodys costume, which consisted of old overalls an equally old hat. I refer you back to my section on The Jimmy Stewart Show for the facts behind the casting of Hal Williams. Jimmy Stewart Was Not Racist. Here's Why. - Vanguard of Hollywood As James Stewart explained it, Woody Strode, the actor who was playing Wayne's character's best friend, was part of the scene. Jimmy Stewart voiced his support for this goal in a 16 second radio campaign that played the week of February 16-23, 1947. However Dewes book was published early in 1996 when Stewart was still alive. The Man Who Made The Stars Shine Brighter: An Interview with Woody Strode. Kanters interview includes his overwhelmingly positive insights on both Jim and working on The Jimmy Stewart Show (1971-1972). Wrestling: Shocking Stories from the Squared Circle; Benoit: Wrestling with the Horror That Destroyed a Family and Crippled a Sport (with Steven Johnson, Heath McCoy and Irv Muchnick); He can be emailed at goliver845@gmail.com, you can follow him on Twitter @gregmep, and visit www.oliverbooks.ca. Producer Julian Blaustein, who produced Jims 1950 film, Jim spoke of his Hollywood career in a series of interviews with. But Ford had a cruel streak, PBS reports, and it emerged on the set of his movies. Woody Strode was born in Los Angeles, CA. John Wayne 'was really p***ed off': The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance There are different takes over why, including that he thought it was a better medium. As James Stewart explained it, Woody Strode, the actor who was playing Waynes characters best friend, was part of the scene. An athlete turned actor, Strode was a top-notch decathlete and a football star at UCLA. In 1939 Woody, Jackie Robinson and Kenny Washington led UCLA to its first undefeated football season. I refer you back to the section in my article about The Jimmy Stewart Show for the facts behind the casting of Hal Williams on the show. Pompey actor Woody Strode remembered that Ford "kept needling Duke about his failure to make it as a football player", comparing him to Strode who was a former NFL player. Woody eventually becomes a major player in the world ofPsych, but he's also clearly not part of the main friendship group for most of the series' run. Its such a disheartening rumor, and Im so glad you did your own research and came across my article. Woody Strode, the football player turned actor who had supporting roles in John Wayne films and costume period epics such as "Spartacus" and "The Ten Commandments," has died at age 80. John Wayne was a supporter of Israel, but is known to have made several anti-Semitic remarks. Woody Strode Career Stats | NFL.com At the time Ford yelled: Dont hit him Woody! Cuibul salamandrelor (1976) Tarzan is summoned to protect him and he must face three tests of strength. 1936 Strode posed for one of two paintings commissioned by Adolf Hitler for the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. Was Hal Williams ever contacted regarding the contriversy kanter mentioned? In the interview, Marvin relates an incident where Jimmy Stewart actively opposed the racist behavior of another actor on set. Jamie Greer joined LWOPW in 2015 and was the site's Managing Editor from 2016 through 2020. I would have lost that role if I hadnt been in shape, and if I hadnt had a lot of experience as a wrestler, Strode told the Pittsburgh Courier in 1961. Apr 16: Impact Rebellion Woody Strode - actor - biography, photo, best movies and TV shows Woody Strode was born in California on July 25, 1914. Strode would play two more seasons in Calgary before an injury ended his football life. Yet it was this famous athleteturned-actor who, with the great running back Kenny Washington, overcame the segregation hurdle in professional football when they signed with the Los Angeles Rams in the National Football League in 1946. Donald Bogle, Toms, Coons, Mulattoes, Mammies & Bucks (New York: Continuum, 1992); Internet Movie Data Base (IMDB) title search by key word; Woody Strode,; The Timeout Film Guide, edited by Tom Milne, Penguin Books, 3rd Edition, 1992. Theyre like father and son.. He's a baffling combination of crass and innocent, and all of his interactions with every member of the series' primary cast are always guaranteed to bring a laugh. Two teammates at UCLA were Jackie Robinson and Kenny Washington. Semantic Scholar is a free, AI-powered research tool for scientific literature, based at the Allen Institute for AI. Barbara Payton - what a waste. Historian Alan Royle Ive done everything but play an Anglo-Saxon. It changed my outlook on many other things and renewed my faith in mankind, thank you. And Duke came up to me one day and said, Hows it come that youve gone through this whole thing and youve never been at the bottom of the list? Jims daughter, Kelly Stewart Harcourt, also knew her father was not racist: There were not a lot of black people in Dads life, but he was not a racist.. Though well into middle-age in films like Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) and The Deserter (1971), Strode still looks extraordinarily vital, fitter than most men half his age. (1979) No freeways. Saturday, 4th March 2023See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive. Spartacus (1960) Thanks so much for your kind words, and for reading! According to Woody, he's even less in control of himself, and all of his faculties, when tickling is involved. Amazon.com: Kingdom of the Spiders [Blu-ray] : William Shatner, Woody Whether that labels him a racist or not is irrelevant. It would be interesting to hear Janes thoughts. Id do that if I could. In his role as the Coroner (and later Assistant Coroner) for the Santa Barbara Police Department, Woody often gets far too involved and far too close for comfort with all of the dead bodies that come his way. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. This article looks at Woody Strode, an early African-American and Native American star who left pro wrestling in the early 1960s to become an actor in Hollywood for decades. As a black man I should know better by now, and am glad that I decided to look further into the matter. Con Jock Mahoney, Woody Strode, Tsu Kobayashi, Earl Cameron. I have watched his films since I was a teenager and hoped that this rumor was untrue. Aka: Scipio the African Euer Weg fhrt durch die Hlle (1984) While Bill Fryes comment cannot be used as evidence that Jimmy Stewart was uncomfortable with racial advancement and equality, theres abundant evidence that Jim was not racist. The Ravagers, The Professionals) Fall victim to a spider attack, entomologist Diane Ashley (Tiffany Bolling, Wild Party) arrives and tries to help Rack deal with the crisis. Jungle Gents (1954) Youd never see them in the big department stores. Thanks again for reading Brice, and for your kind comment! Pork Chop Hill (1959) It was on the set of 1959s Pork Chop Hill, a Korean War film, that Strode met John Ford (though Ford was not the director; Lewis Milestone and star Gregory Peck shared the credit). Additionally, the director kept mocking Wayne for not enlisting in World War II, which made the star feel guilty in his later years. Ford discovered Wayne, then Marion Morrison, when the latter was a University of Southern California student with a summer job on a studio lot. Thanks for reading David! Hi Cheryl, thanks for reading! Sounds pretty racist to me. Thanks for reading, James. Horror Safari (1982) In Liberty Valance, a picture I did with Duke, Stewart recounted. Woody Strode; Ex-Athlete, Character Actor in Movies In addition to the testaments of people who knew him, Jimmy Stewarts own words and actions prove he was not racist. Frye admits as much at the end of the quote. Shalako (1968) Jim and Duke upset distributors of the film for a scene in which the two are seated next to each other on a piano bench, jamming at the piano of a bar filled with dancers. Afterwards, Lee Marvin remembered seeing both John Wayne and Jimmy Stewart lunge for the offending actor. The leader's evil brother is plotting to prevent the youthful heir from assuming his rightful position. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. I read that Stewart was a racist a few weeks ago and fell for it hook line and sinker. The Black Stallion Returns (1983) Lets go behind the origin of the rumor that Jimmy Stewart was racist, and the evidence that refutes it. According to the Munn interview, it took Woody Strode years to realize that it was John Fords cruel maneuverings, not anything Jimmy Stewart actually said, that created the tension Strode felt on the. Lets not allow an unsubstantiated rumor to tarnish the reputation of one of the few Hollywood stars worthy of our complete respect and admiration. BlackPast.org is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and our EIN is 26-1625373. He and Kenny Washington integrated the National Football League (NFL), and Strode played for the Los Angeles Rams in 1946 before moving to the Canadian Football League in 1948. you have laid my thoughts about him to rest, and that he truly was a good, good man. He had not a problem with a white guy playing the police officer giving Jimmys character a tongue-lashing. Jim replied that he thought the costume made Strode look a bit too much like Uncle Remus.. I do believe he love life and all Gods creations. How many games did . But it still doesn't make a whole lot of sense for him to make his first logical leap either. > Obituary Archive
Hulk Hogan peaked with his first entry inRocky III, while Jesse The Body Ventura became a reliable sideman in films like PredatorandThe Running Man, as well as other wrestlers like Diamond Dallas Page, Edge, John Morrison, and many more. The Legend of Woody Strode - Museum of the Moving Image This story first appeared in the Nov. 3 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. His last film was The Quick and the Dead, which starred Sharon Stone. I wanted to set the record straight, for Jim and all of us who admire his remarkable work and life. I was lucky enough this time to have John Ford as my director. > WrestleMania, Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Hockey injury led to wrestling for Karl Von Stroheim. All I heard was Ford saying that Stewart didnt like Negroes, and that made me mad at Stewart, and Stewart was just even more uncomfortable around me.. African Treasure (1952) An athlete turned actor, Strode was a top-notch decathlete and a football star at UCLA. With a bizarre range of habits and tendencies, Woody would be a lot to handle if he were either a real person, or the series' main character. He was a good man deserving of the love and admiration that so many of us have for him. Its a trip McQueens wife insists never happened, but nonetheless forms the basis of Munns biography on McQueen, which critics have called preposterous. And when David Nivens son asked for the tapes that Munn swears he recorded of Nivens deathbed confessions, Munn ultimately admitted that his tape recorder had, conveniently, chewed them up years ago. Williams has never addressed Kanters allegations, nor has he said that Jimmy mistreated him. Strode was a gladiator in Demetrius and the Gladiators (1954) and was in Jungle Man-Eaters (1954), a Jungle . Jul 1: Money in the Bank Woody Strode Took on West in John Ford's 'Sergeant Rutledge' in 1960 Buruuba (1955) Youre so right, Jims own words and actions prove that he was not racist. In 1946, Jimmy Stewart led a small group of stars who vocalized their support for brotherhood among all Americans. Michael Munns dangerous habit of mixing truth with exaggeration and fallacy calls his alleged interview with. For terms and use, please refer to our Terms and Conditions That year, he would head to Canada to work for Stu Hart in his Klondike Wrestling promotion in Calgary, Alberta (later renamed Stampede Wrestling), before returning to the US to work for his hometown NWA Los Angeles. For Jimmy Stewart, Duke Ellington was responsible for the best part of each evening: [Duke] played for us in the dining room at night, until ten, eleven, which was great fun for us.. Woodrow Wilson Woolwine "Woody" Strode (July 25, 1914 - December 31, 1994) born in Los Angeles, was a football and track star at UCLA, playing alongside Jackie Robinson on the Bruins squad. as a Black American, years ago, I read that Jimmy was racist. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Interesting to see that there are actually people out there who are hell-bent on believing that Jimmy was racist. This is Jimmy Stewart reminding you that this is Brotherhood week; a week reminding us all that the world of the future must be built on the recognition of the rights of each individual, whatever his color, creed, or national background. RELATED:10 Witty Buddy Comedies To Watch If You Love 'Psych'. They were married in 1940 in Las Vegas. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It is known that Stewart made racist remarks about people in Vietnam, and he also strongly campaigned for Barry Goldwater in 1964 after the senator had voted against the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Your email address will not be published. Jaguar Lives! The Pioneers is an on-going series looking at some of the earliest pioneers of professional wrestling as we know it, from the wrestlers to promoters to trainers who helped shape professional wrestling around the world. At many times throughout the stressful saga, Woody is also fearing for his life, even pleading desperately with his captor and the episode's villain. Strode, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, died of lung cancer in Los Angeles in 1994 at the age of 80. Woody Strode Took on West in John Ford's 'Sergeant Rutledge' in 1960 Thanks for reading Brian! But in the early 1960s, it was Woody Strode who really broke the mold for professional wrestlers to appear in Hollywood films without just portraying pro wrestlers. Strode was in City Beneath the Sea (1953) directed by Budd Boetticher, and The Royal African Rifles. Woody Strode? He Wasn't the Star But He Stole the Movie' After being cut by the Rams after just a season, Strode headed north to Canada, where he suited up for the Calgary Stampeders. Bow Wow Set To Train With Rikishi To Become A Wrestler, Preview: AEW Dark (02/16/21) Jon Moxley headlines a 12 match card. Was Jimmy Stewart Racist? Colpo in canna (1975) Woody Strode has not been elected into the Hall of Fame. Among other dubious claims, Munn insists that at age 17, he and Ava Gardner became lovers, not long after George Raft ran Munn over with his Rolls Royce, at which point they became close. Cuba Crossing (1980) Jimmy Stewart voiced his support for this goal in a 16 second radio campaign that played the week of February 16-23, 1947. It took skill to do that fight scene without actually hurting myself or hurting Douglas., Kirk Douglas faces off with Woody Strode in Spartacus, He left for Italy in 1969, frustrated with the lack of meaty roles as an African-American. A Los Angeles native, he excelled in athletics at UCLA in the late 1930s, where he was explosive as a decathlete as well as part of the college football team that also included Jackie Robinson he, Robinson, and future NFL starKenny Washington made up three of the four backfields and were dubbed the Gold Dust Gang by the press. Sergeant Rutledge - Wikipedia He died the following year at age 80. In the alleged interview, Woody Strode never uses the word racist to describe Jimmy Stewart. Storyville (1992) In a heated confrontation toward the end of the film with one of the movie's villains, Woody identifies himself: "I'm the assistant coroner, b*tch! LUltimo guerriero (1984) He's also written for Pro Wrestling Illustrated, WrestleZone, The Windsor Star, and other publications. The show keeps things as PG as it can when it comes to his involvement with the cadavers he analyzes. In 1962, he retired from pro wrestling to concentrate on his film career, which exploded after his role in John Fords Sergeant Rutledge, and then his first starring role in the Western The Professionalsthat starred Lee Marvin and Burt Lancaster in 1966. Er verffentlichte theologische und philosophische Schriften, Arbeiten zur Musik, insbesondere zu Johann Sebastian Bach, sowie autobiographische Schriften in zahlreichen und vielbeachteten Werken.. As a 70 year old black man who grew up watching and loving Jimmy Stewart i can only hope he wasnt a racist like so many Americans of his era ! Perhaps, Henry Fondas daughter Ms Jane Fonda would be perfect to obtain a definitive comment. Strode also played the powerful gladiator who does battle with Kirk Douglas in Spartacus (1960)." She has a passion for character-driven stories with dynamic but flawed leads, and a special weakness for all things 1980s. The same year he broke into pro wrestling, he also got his start in Hollywood, making his debut in the 1941 filmSundown. Los tres desafos de Tarzn: Dirigido por Robert Day. Hal Kanter is our only primary source to say that Jimmy had an issue with the casting of Hal Williams. I just started to do it full-time in 1951.. Strode served in the Air Force from 1942 to 1946, including time in Guam and the Marianas where he unloaded bombs. Blacks usually sat at the back of the bus. Vigilante (1983) Its such a demoralizing rumor. Hi Pete, thanks for your comment. By the late 1960s, he moved to Europe and became a regular in the Italian (Spaghetti) Western genre. Halfway through filming, Duke even asked Stewart why he wasnt being targeted by Fords insults too, which other members of the cast and crew had noticed. The Quick & The Dead (1995) Bit of a game changer." Though Woody usually means well, he's not always the . It was Ford who cast Strode in the lead role in Sergeant Rutledge. Decathlete who also played football professionally in the CFL, and enjoyed a successful acting career. Well written, thank you. While his pro wrestling career lasted two decades from the 1940s to 1960s, his impact not only on the NFL and in Hollywood was a groundbreaker, making him a pioneer in many genres outside of the squared ring. Angkor: Cambodia Express (1982) Afterwards, Lee Marvin remembered seeing both. Strode played as an End with the Rams in 1946, playing in 10 games that season. A recently posed question casts a shadow on the otherwise pristine legacy of Jimmy Stewart. Great Movies Collections TV/Streaming Interviews Movie Reviews Chaz's Journal Contributors Cast and Crew Woody Strode Find on IMDB. Even Munns publisher, Jeromy Robson of JR Books, admits to having seen only a few of Munns interview reference materials, and that for the most part, he must trust Munns good memory for dialogue as the only proof that any of these alleged interviews occurred. Once Upon A Time in the West (1968) Speaking of Woody not being the most socially aware person in the world, look no further than his lack of understanding when it comes to chat speak as yet another example of that fact. But Kanter says that Jimmy mixed up the roles: he explained to Jim that Hal Williams had not been cast as a police officer, but as an FBI agent in a different episode. Seduto alla sua destra (1968) Thanks for setting me straight. The Stampeder supporters invaded Toronto and a national party was created. Stay tuned to theLast Word on Pro Wrestlingfor more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. The fame he had built through football and movies helped open up wrestling as well, and Strode wrestled white grapplers in Texas in the early 50s. 10 Witty Buddy Comedies To Watch If You Love 'Psych', Psych: Ranking The Main Characters By Intelligence. but i had also read the story of him sticking up for Strode, so I didnt know what to believe.