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Youre so right, Jims own words and actions prove that he was not racist. Thanks again for reading, and thanks so much for commenting! Seduto alla sua destra (1968) After being cut by the Rams after just a season, Strode headed north to Canada, where he suited up for the Calgary Stampeders. Thank you for reading! As James Stewart explained it, Woody Strode, the actor who was playing Wayne's character's best friend, was part of the scene. No Time for Love (1943) Spartacus (1991) I dont know if Stewart was a racist but he was a staunch supporter of Nixon, Reagan and the illegal US invasion of Vietnam. No freeways. A hilarious subplot within the episode finds Woody and Carlton "Lassie" Lassiter waking up snuggled up together, and left to wonder exactly what transpired between the two of them the night before. NWA USA: Tag team main event is full of SVGS, SmackDown: Rhodes and Reigns lay WrestleMania goals, Mat Matters: Forecasting the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2023, Drago and Aero Star showcasing lucha libre abroad. In director John Fords Sergeant Rutledge (1960), a western where he depicted a soldier on trial for two murders and the rape of a white woman, when Strode bared his chest to a white woman (actress Constance Towers), even the movie audiences gasped. If Michael Munns interview with Woody Strode did take place, its craftily presented, with Munns own words inserted in key places to suggest that Jimmy Stewart was a racist. When we won, we all got drunk. Star Spangled Rhythm (1942) How many games did . Given his love of talking too much, and going entirely too in depth on the worst subjects, that's not a surprise at all. Jamie Greer joined LWOPW in 2015 and was the site's Managing Editor from 2016 through 2020. Is Woody Strode in the Hall of Fame? Race is not a factor in the world market, he said in a 1982 interview with the Globe and Mail. It changed my outlook on many other things and renewed my faith in mankind, thank you. She has a passion for character-driven stories with dynamic but flawed leads, and a special weakness for all things 1980s. link] that first sparked rumors about the beloved stars beliefs. Much in the same vein as Phil Dunphy ofModern Family failing to understand what "WTF" stands for, Woody apparently believes "TMI" means "Tell More Information." Strode lived in Italy for five years and made 12 films there. Not many sports historians report, No one is more deserving than Frank Manchel, Emeritus Professor of English and Film at the University of Vermont, to be recognized by Film & History as a pioneer in film studies. It was Ford who cast Strode in the lead role in Sergeant Rutledge. Ford discovered Wayne, then Marion Morrison, when the latter was a University of Southern California student with a summer job on a studio lot. A recently posed question casts a shadow on the otherwise pristine legacy of Jimmy Stewart. An athlete turned actor, Strode was a top-notch decathlete and a football star at UCLA. you have laid my thoughts about him to rest, and that he truly was a good, good man. Hi James, thanks for commenting. 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. Another reliable source for Woody Strodes feelings towards Jimmy Stewart is a, If we are to take Michael Munns 1976 interview with Woody Strode as fact, then Munns alleged interview with. His words, actions, and moral code prove the fallacy of any rumor to the contrary. If we are to take Michael Munns 1976 interview with Woody Strode as fact, then Munns alleged interview with Lee Marvin, another Liberty Valance star, should also be considered. According to Peter Fonda, the sheer fact that Jimmy Stewart was best friends with Peters father. Jim was a good man through and through. 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. Your email address will not be published. Well, perhaps desperately isn't the right word. Jimmy Stewart worked with several black actors and entertainers throughout his career, including Hal Williams, Woody Strode, Lillian Randolph, Louis Armstrong, and Duke Ellington. RELATED:Psych: Ranking The Main Characters By Intelligence. 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. He shared a story from the set of The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Fords 1962 film about an attorney (Stewart) who, robbed and left for dead by a notorious outlaw, is saved by a rancher (Wayne) and has to start over from scratch. The Stampeder supporters invaded Toronto and a national party was created. This man was the definition of a renaissance man, keep reading this article and you will understand exactly why. Strodes family came from New Orleans and he was Black Indian many Southern Native American tribes had welcomed slaves and free folk into their communities in the 1800s. 1936 Strode posed for one of two paintings commissioned by Adolf Hitler for the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. Sergeant Rutledge is a 1960 American Technicolor Western film directed by John Ford and starring Jeffrey Hunter, Constance Towers, Woody Strode and Billie Burke. Strode was a star in Italy, where he lived between 1969 and 1973. However, cinematographer William H Clothier later said: There was one reason and one reason only Paramount was cutting costs. Aka: Black Kingpin I read that Stewart was a racist a few weeks ago and fell for it hook line and sinker. As they were preparing to shoot, Ford came up to Stewart and asked, "What do you think of Woody's costume?" Stewart said that he didn't like it. Regarding your claim that the FBI agent character was written out of The Jimmy Stewart Show after Stewart objected to NBC: in my extensive research on the subject, Ive never found any evidence to support this. An Interview with Woody Strode INTRODUCTION by Frank Manchei interview is with Woody Strode, called by JET magazine, "the Jackie Robinson of cinema." Strode made his film debut in 1941 in Henry Hathaway' s Sundown. Winterhawk (1975) The official source for NFL news, video highlights, fantasy football, game-day coverage, schedules, stats, scores and more. His fellow Gold Dust Gang member Jackie Robinson would break the color barrier in Major League Baseball a year later in 1947. Additionally, the director kept mocking Wayne for not enlisting in World War II, which made the star feel guilty in his later years. Demetrius and the Gladiators (1954) He was a good man deserving of the love and admiration that so many of us have for him. Despite his romance with Dinah Shore in the 1940s Stewart was also known to express some mildly anti-Semitic views during the counterculture movement. It was the dark side of the American dream.. Holmes. The Revengers (1972) 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. Shalako (1968) Wayne and Stewart felt Johnson had destroyed the United States with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. I encourage you to read my full article for further insights into the character of Jimmy Stewart. Click here to subscribe. Tarzan and the Perils of Charity Jones (1967) Released in 1960, when the U.S. was in the early stages of the Civil Rights Movement, the film confronted racial injustice head on. In addition to the testaments of people who knew him, Jimmy Stewarts own words and actions prove he was not racist. Razza violenta (1984) In a gold-yielding town under a gang's reign of terror, an unusual alliance is forming -- between the townspeople, gunmen, and circus performers.1969 Spaghet. 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 ! Thank you for more information for understanding. TIMES STAFF WRITER. For nearly two decades he remained a pioneer against racism in the film and television industry. He became part of Hollywood lore after meeting director John Ford and becoming a part of the Ford "family," appearing in four Ford motion pictures. An athlete turned actor, Strode was a top-notch decathlete and a football star at UCLA. I do believe he love life and all Gods creations. Sergeant Rutledge (1960) Also, he appeared in several episodes of the 1952-1954 television series Ramar of the Jungle, where he portrayed an African warrior. Hal Kanter is our only primary source to say that Jimmy had an issue with the casting of Hal Williams. He competed in track and field and played football as a tight-end at UCLA. I have watched his films since I was a teenager and hoped that this rumor was untrue. And late Hollywood legend James Stewart got to watch their dynamic up close. That doesnt sound like a racist! But its possible the interview never occurred. Michael Munns 2005 biography, Jimmy Stewart: The Truth Behind the Legend[aff. "I was lucky enough this time to have John Ford as my director. 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. Santa Barbara Coroner Woodrow "Woody" Strode may have been a late addition to the world ofPsych, but there's no denying that he's arguably one of the series' weirdest and most memorable characters. > The Artist Canvas They broke the NFLs modern colour barrier the year before, suiting up for the Los Angeles Rams. Forego a bottle of soda and donate its cost to us for the information you just learned, and feel good about helping to make it available to everyone. Racism comes in different shapes and forms, as does the label racist. Your article doesnt refute Kanters supposed claim that Stewarts character, even though he may have confused roles, was nonetheless uncomfortable about being lectured by a black character. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. Thanks to the passionate insistence of director Otto Preminger, the controversial scene stayed in the film [aff. As an actor, Strode is forever tied to John Ford (see our Pepper Martin biography for some stories that involve both Strode and Ford). City Beneath the Sea (1953) 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. Ford proceeded to announce to the entire company that: One of the actors here doesnt like Uncle Remus. Period. And really, that says everything someone needs to know about Woody. He would find several extras roles over the decade, before turning to pro wrestling on a more full-time basis in 1949. According to Strode, John Ford then called the whole cast and crew over, and twisted the comment into something Jimmy Stewart never said. All Rights Reserved. Cuba Crossing (1980) But when it came to shooting 1962s The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance with Duke and Jimmy Stewart on the Paramount lot, the director opted for black and white instead. Due to the intense love and fandom ofPsych fans (known as Psych-os) all around the world,Psych has evolved from being a series to being a franchise that shows no sign of slowing down. Strode also played the powerful gladiator who does battle with Kirk Douglas in Spartacus (1960)." Regarding your claim that Jimmy made racist remarks about people in Vietnam: in my extensive research, Ive never found any evidence to support this. I am so glad that I can watch his movies again! Shawn and Gus have been the best of friends ever since they were children, and maybe even since they were infants. Stewart said that he didnt like it. 7 Women (1966) LUltimo guerriero (1984) Watch Jim and Duke at the piano in the scene below: Sharing hotel, meals, and a piano jam session on and off film with Duke Ellington. > Books Strode played as an End with the Rams in 1946, playing in 10 games that season. Once Upon A Time in the West (1968) In the interview, Marvin relates an incident where Jimmy Stewart actively opposed the racist behavior of another actor on set. 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? link], repeats The Jimmy Stewart Show casting misunderstanding, citing it as evidence of, in Munns own words, Jims racist spirit. Munn also claims that a 1976 interview he conducted with black actor Woody Strode, Jims co-star in 1962s The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, further proves that Jimmy Stewart was a racist. Stewart was of the same opinion. Jimmy Stewart was not racist. The Man Who Made The Stars Shine Brighter: An Interview with Woody Strode. Strode played college football for the UCLA Bruins, the most integrated collegiate team in the nation in 1939, which included future NFL running back Kenny Washington and future Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Jackie Robinson. So, Stewart didnt ask that the part be re-written. The evidence proves that Jim was not racist. 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. During the episode, the main group of guys find themselves unable to remember what they did the night before, only to find themselves involved in a murder investigation. Your email address will not be published. The two became friends, and Ford later gave Wayne his breakthrough role in Stagecoach, the film that launched Wayne to Hollywood stardom. Strode continued acting for decades his final film was as Charlie Moonlight in the 1995 film,The Quick and the Deadthat also featured Leonardo Di Caprio, Sharon Stone, and Gene Hackman sadly, Strode passed away from lung cancer in late 1994 before the film was released and the film was dedicated to him upon release. Im so glad you found my article, and Im beyond happy to hear that you can enjoy Jimmys films once more. 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. As an African American, the rumor was disturbing which is why I searched for the facts behind the rumor. Lust in the Dust (1985) Apr 2: WWE WrestleMania The spiritual leader of an oriental country is dying. Besides Ford, Strode also worked with storied directors Cecil B. Required fields are marked *. 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 Liberty Valance set: I was too young at the time to realize Ford was using me to get at Stewart. Never had so much fun as I did in Canada. He made more than sixty movies including his last film, The Quick and The Dead [1995]. > WrestleMania, Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Hockey injury led to wrestling for Karl Von Stroheim. And why was he cast as Lieutenant Quigley? So glad that Mr. Stewart was not a racist. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Katerina is a List Writer here at Screen Rant with a background in literary criticism and creative writing. Strode praised Ford in a 1960 interview. Strode worked in B-movies through the 70s and 80s and acted as the narrator for Mario Van Peebles Black Western Posse in 1993. By 1960, he was starting to garner more attention from Hollywood producers, and after roles inPork Chop Hill (1959), The Last Voyage (1960), andSpartacus(1960), Hollywood deemed he was no longer an extra and deserved more attention. Afterwards, Lee Marvin remembered seeing both. Find on Wikipedia. In addition to his WWII record, Jimmy was a member of The American Brotherhood of Christians and Jews, which he encouraged others to join. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. Woody Strode. (He never forgot Calgary, however, and returned to the city in 1986 to aid fundraising for the financially-ailing team. During the interview, when we are alone, Strode is relaxed and easy to talk with almost as if he had discovered a long lost relative and was eager to reconstruct the past. Noi non siamo angeli (1975) > Music Terrible rumors about Jimmy Stewarts beliefs have sprung from an interview that possibly never occurred. When Strode tried to help him, Duke knocked his co-star away. Aka: The Last Warrior Thanks so much for your kind words, and for reading! Freedom, brotherhood, and equality were issues Jimmy Stewart clearly felt strongly about, for he returned to headline American Brotherhood Week the following year. The Black Scholar Your email address will not be published. Im glad that it clears up that rumor about him. Before judging Jimmy Stewarts character by the recollections of one man 25 years after an alleged conversation occurred, consider the facts that can be confirmed: Based on the facts that can be confirmed, Hal Kanters anecdote cannot be used as evidence that Jimmy Stewart was racist. It needed to be done. Its such a disheartening rumor, and Im so glad you did your own research and came across my article. Sundown (1941). I almost fell for that rumor , but to just listen to Mr. Stewarts interview i know in my heart that he was not a racist. They were married in 1940 in Las Vegas. In the alleged interview, Woody Strode never uses the word racist to describe Jimmy Stewart. best of friends ever since they were children, Psych 2: Lassie Come Home: 10 Easter Eggs You Totally Missed. Warner Bros. wanted Sidney Poitier, but Ford pushed back, saying he wasnt tough enough to play Rutledge. 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. Thanks for reading, Luke. In 1941, he began working as a professional wrestler, and in 1946, he and Washington became the first two African-American football players to play in the NFL, when they signed with the Los Angeles Rams. We dont know why Jimmy turned down Mockingbird. (Episode 6). But Ford had a cruel streak, PBS reports, and it emerged on the set of his movies. Jan. 3, 1995 12 AM PT. Aka: We Are No Angels Scream (1985) For Jims take on working with John Ford and the Uncle Remus incident, listen to his 1969 account below. Munn insists that he was the confidant of nearly every great Classic Hollywood Star, a declaration he made only after all of these stars passed. Munn claims that he and Laurence Olivier were great friends, and that Olivier nicknamed him Eminem decades before rapper Marshall Mathers adopted the moniker. Williams has never addressed Kanters allegations, nor has he said that Jimmy mistreated him. After handing over ME duties to Alex Richards, he remains a frequent contributor to the site. Jaguar Lives! Woody Strode. La collina degli stivali (1969) 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. In comparison, Ford had made combat documentaries for the Office of Strategic Services and had been wounded at the Battle of Midway, while Ranse star Stewart had been a bomber pilot who served with distinction. 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). Jimmy Stewart voiced his support for this goal in a 16 second radio campaign that played the week of February 16-23, 1947. At MGM there was a separate entrance and lunchroom for the black laborers and maids. This unnamed actor used the n word to refer to Woody Strode. Im so glad that you decided to do your own research, and that you came across my article. Thanks for reading, James.