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Strode lived in Italy for five years and made 12 films there. As Kanter recalled, Jim didnt like the idea of a black police officer lecturing him on television, and threatened to use his casting approval to get Hal Williams out of the show. Working with quarterback Keith Spaith, he excelled as a receiver, and did double duty on the defensive side as an end as the Stamps compiled an unbeaten record. Strode played as an End with the Rams in 1946, playing in 10 games that season. Born in Los Angeles on July 28, 1914, with his mother a full-blooded Blackfoot, Woodrow Wilson Woolwine Strode grew into a solid 6-foot-4-1/2, 220-pound stud. 10 Witty Buddy Comedies To Watch If You Love 'Psych', Psych: Ranking The Main Characters By Intelligence. Which is sort of remarkable, because they love each other. 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. Was Jimmy Stewart Racist? 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. 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. 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. One of the most memorable episodes ofPsych is "Last Night Gus," which allows the series to payhomage toThe Hangover. The show keeps things as PG as it can when it comes to his involvement with the cadavers he analyzes. And he said loudly, We have an actor here who objects to the costume on Woody Strode. He then proceeded to suggest that Stewart was prejudiced Strode, who also has since died, was African-American and added that he just wanted to share Stewarts objection to Strodes costume with the whole cast. Tha Gatling Gun (1973) As an African American, the rumor was disturbing which is why I searched for the facts behind the rumor. 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. The Alleged Woody Strode Interview Michael Munn's dangerous habit of mixing truth with exaggeration and fallacy calls his alleged interview with Woody Strode into question. Thanks for reading, James. Aka: Black Kingpin Part African American and part Native American, Strodes first big break was in 1960s Spartacus, as the Ethiopian gladiator whose death sparks a rebellion. Saturday, 4th March 2023See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive. Actor: Spartacus. Ford had to accept those terms or not make the film.. So thank you for this I really really appreciate it. Pete Thodos would score shortly thereafter to seal a 12-7 Calgary win. best of friends ever since they were children, Psych 2: Lassie Come Home: 10 Easter Eggs You Totally Missed. Actually, I had been rassling in the off-season anyhow, Strode told the late, great Canadian newspaper columnist Jim Proudfoot. 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. 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. His wrestling career? Or taken out of the script altogether. 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. Shalako (1968) Michael Munns integrity as a biographer has been questioned. God bless. Razza violenta (1984) As expertly portrayed by the comically gifted Kurt Fuller, Woody is a character who is always too much at all times. Required fields are marked *. Spartacus (1991) Woody Strode's extraordinary career led him from football field to wrestling ring to Hollywood. Con Jock Mahoney, Woody Strode, Tsu Kobayashi, Earl Cameron. Euer Weg fhrt durch die Hlle (1984) Horror Safari (1982) Born July 28, 1914, in Los Angeles, California, Woody Strode (Woodrow Wilson Woolwine Strode) was first of the star football athletes to become a successful film actor. I wanted to set the record straight, for Jim and all of us who admire his remarkable work and life. link], Goal Dusta book that accurately presents Strodes words and thoughtshe never calls Jimmy Stewart a racist, neither does he relate any of the incidents about Jim described in Munns book. Jimmy Stewart was not racist. 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.. Of course, Robinson would go on to break major league baseballs colour barrier in 1947. Producer Julian Blaustein, who produced Jims 1950 film, Jim spoke of his Hollywood career in a series of interviews with. Thanks to the passionate insistence of director Otto Preminger, the controversial scene stayed in the film [aff. Jimmy Stewart was a remarkable man who loved all his fellowman. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Jimmy Stewart voiced his support for this goal in a 16 second radio campaign that played the week of February 16-23, 1947. Well researched! Thank you for bringing the evidence together. It needed to be done. Jan. 3, 1995 12 AM PT. He was always magnificent with a no-nonsense style and quiet intellect that no athlete-turned actor has ever surpassed. As James Stewart explained it, Woody Strode, the actor who was playing Waynes characters best friend, was part of the scene. In fact, Woody was already calling someone on his cell phone: Shawn. All the while, he continued to work in often uncredited roles in Hollywood films in minor roles, before landing the role of the King of Ethiopia in the 1956 film The Ten Commandments featuring Charleton Heston. Its such a demoralizing rumor. Interesting to see that there are actually people out there who are hell-bent on believing that Jimmy was racist. Aka: Boot Hill 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. Thanks for clearing that up. LUltimo guerriero (1984) No Time for Love (1943) Angkor: Cambodia Express (1982) 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. Ford discovered Wayne, then Marion Morrison, when the latter was a University of Southern California student with a summer job on a studio lot. But that's what makes him such a great character. Caribbean (1952) 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 ! Mar 5: AEW Revolution 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." 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. Strode also had a brief career as a professional gridiron football player and was among the first African . And, as my article highlights, Hal Williams was not in fact fired from The Jimmy Stewart Show, and he does play a police officer in episode 6. RELATED:10 Witty Buddy Comedies To Watch If You Love 'Psych'. Additionally, the director kept mocking Wayne for not enlisting in World War II, which made the star feel guilty in his later years. His fellow Gold Dust Gang member Jackie Robinson would break the color barrier in Major League Baseball a year later in 1947. In response, Ford said: Whats wrong with Uncle Remus? The director then called the crews attention and shouted: One of ourplayersdoesn't like Woody's costume. A Gathering of Old Men (TV) (1987) Strode gave the Hollywood establishment what they demanded and appeared in some of the best and the worst of what they offered him. Despite these flaws, Kanters anecdote is cited as evidence that Jimmy Stewart was racist. 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). link]. He also did professional wrestling and reportedly tussled with the renowned Gorgeous George. Tarzan and the Perils of Charity Jones (1967) Your email address will not be published. Thanks for your kind words, and for reading Damon! 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. No freeways. Producer Julian Blaustein, who produced Jims 1950 film, Broken Arrow, also knew that Jimmy Stewart was not racist: I never knew Jimmy to do or say anything that was racist.. Six decades later, the film continues to attract attention because it was one of the first mainstream films in the U.S. to treat racism frankly and to give a starring role to an African-American actor. (A small role in 1941s Sundown marked his actual debut.) 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. I was a big James Stewart fan until I read he was racist. Lets not allow an unsubstantiated rumor to tarnish the reputation of one of the few Hollywood stars worthy of our complete respect and admiration. If she's not ranting about characters who deserved better or typing away at one of her many fan fiction epics, she's probably asleep. > Obituary Archive According to Strode, John Ford then called the whole cast and crew over, and twisted the comment into something Jimmy Stewart never said. 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Pompey actor Woody Strode remembered that Ford kept needling Duke about his failure to make it as afootballplayer, comparing him to Strode who was a former NFL player. It was Ford who cast Strode in the lead role in Sergeant Rutledge. I am so glad that I read this article. as a Black American, years ago, I read that Jimmy was racist. There's no easier way to put it: Woody is weird. Noi non siamo angeli (1975) Shawn and Gus try to convince Woody to keep quiet, but Woody warns them that he will tell anyone who he comes across. Released in 1960, when the U.S. was in the early stages of the Civil Rights Movement, the film confronted racial injustice head on. The Last Rebel (1971) Thankfully, the show never subjected Woody - or viewers - to that possibility. 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. That was one of the great days in my life and I can remember it very clearly, Strode told the Toronto Stars George Gamester in 1977. Michael Munns integrity as a biographer has been questioned. 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. Aka: Black Jesus He was a decathlete and football star who was one of the first Black American players in the National Football League in the postwar era. City Beneath the Sea (1953) How much did Woody Strode weigh when playing? Then, when the steeds had halted, he tried to pick a punch up with his younger co-star. So it's not entirely out of the ordinary for Woody to believe that they're siblings. 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. I once played a part written for an Irish prize fighter. Great Movies Collections TV/Streaming Interviews Movie Reviews Chaz's Journal Contributors Cast and Crew Woody Strode Find on IMDB. Strode was in City Beneath the Sea (1953) directed by Budd Boetticher, and The Royal African Rifles. Thank you for reading! 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. Pork Chop Hill (1959) As they were preparing to shoot, Ford came up to Stewart and asked, What do you think of Woodys costume?. 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). I read an article a few weeks ago about him being racist and I couldnt believe it. > Music 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. The Harder They Fall, the Black Western in theaters now and on Netflix on Nov. 3, owes a tip of the Stetson to Woody Strode, one of the NFLs first Black players (he signed briefly with the Los Angeles Rams in 1946), who later found a niche playing strong, silent types in Westerns. However Dewes book was published early in 1996 when Stewart was still alive. I really cried for days because hes one of my favorite actors and I am African-American. Terrible rumors about Jimmy Stewarts beliefs have sprung from an interview that possibly never occurred. Stewart was a political conservative and product of his time and had issues with racial advancement and equality. Jim and Duke got to know each other during filming in Marquette County, Michigan, where the entire company stayed at the same hotel and shared meals. She has a passion for character-driven stories with dynamic but flawed leads, and a special weakness for all things 1980s. Im so glad that you decided to do your own research, and that you came across my article. Thank you for more information for understanding. African Treasure (1952) BlackPast.org is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and our EIN is 26-1625373. Smith Goes to Washington, did not escape Fords sadism unscathed. Im glad that it clears up that rumor about him. In addition to his WWII record, Jimmy was a member of The American Brotherhood of Christians and Jews, which he encouraged others to join. They were married in 1940 in Las Vegas. According to Peter Fonda, the sheer fact that Jimmy Stewart was best friends with Peters father, Henry Fonda, proves that Jim was not racist. It is like when people try to pretend John Wayne and Winston Churchill were not racist. What is it whats the idea? And I said, I dont know!, And I didnt know, Stewart added. That means everything, working with a man like that. Ford and Strode would also work together on Two Rode Together, and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. (1969) The season eight episode "Someone's Got A Woody" finds poor Woody being held captive in the morgue, even as he works to help prove his abductor's innocence. Che! According to Peter Fonda, the sheer fact that Jimmy Stewart was best friends with Peters father. How many games did . If Jim would never say it that way, then Bill Frye should not say it that way for him. Whether that labels him a racist or not is irrelevant. Then he asked someone to blow a whistle, which they did, and he called out, Everybody, would you please gather around? So they did. A rumor casts a shadow on the legacy of Jimmy Stewart. "I know Gus well." "Shawn." "Him too. But only Woody could think up this "footwear mullet," and that's what makes it great. The same year he broke into pro wrestling, he also got his start in Hollywood, making his debut in the 1941 filmSundown. 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. WOODY STRODE TRIBUTE SPANISH FILMS 11K views James Caan on John Wayne filmSCHOOLarchive 2.4M views Jimmy Stewart is Delightfully Funny, FULL Interview on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show 1989. Otherwise, we would have been inMonument ValleyorBrackettvilleand we would have had colour stock. Though Woody usually means well, he's not always the most aware of what's going on in the world around him. In addition to the testaments of people who knew him, Jimmy Stewarts own words and actions prove he was not racist. Strode was a black cavalry officer on trial for rape and murder, and during the court-martial his story is recounted in flashback. Born July 28, 1914, in Los Angeles, California, Woody Strode (Woodrow Wilson Woolwine Strode) was first of the star football athletes to become a successful film actor. Regarding your claim that Jimmy expressed mildly anti-Semitic views: Ive never found any evidence to support this, either. He was not racist, and your essay more than demonstrates this. Strode praised Ford in a 1960 interview. Strode was a college track and football star at UCLA, one of the first Blacks to integrate the NFL, a professional wrestler, a Golden Globe nominated actor, and a WWII veteran. Strode worked in B-movies through the 70s and 80s and acted as the narrator for Mario Van Peebles Black Western Posse in 1993. 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. > Video 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. So glad that Mr. Stewart was not a racist. He would retire from pro football after that first season. 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. Spartacus (1960) Woody acknowledges that he has a daughter he's worried about, but it's really the "43 Twitter followers who depend on" him that cross his mind when he's worried this might be it for him. Woody Strode was a Black Indian (his grandmother was Black Cherokee and his grandfather was Black Muscogee) and an outstanding athlete. Jaguar Lives! from the bottom of my heart, thank you so much. As a black man I should know better by now, and am glad that I decided to look further into the matter. In Liberty Valance, a picture I did with Duke, Stewart recounted. > Career Records La collina degli stivali (1969) In fact I dont think he even likes Negroes.. May he forever RIP. Michael Munns dangerous habit of mixing truth with exaggeration and fallacy calls his alleged interview with Woody Strode into question. He made more than sixty movies including his last film, The Quick and The Dead [1995]. Here's why. Hi Pete, thanks for your comment. but i had also read the story of him sticking up for Strode, so I didnt know what to believe. But Ford had a cruel streak, PBS reports, and it emerged on the set of his movies. Woody Strode was 6-3 (190 cm) tall. An athlete turned actor, Strode was a top-notch decathlete and a football star at UCLA. The Stampeder supporters invaded Toronto and a national party was created. Find on Wikipedia. ), Wrestling was next on his resume. I refer you back to my section on The Jimmy Stewart Show for the facts behind the casting of Hal Williams. There is no FBI agent in the 24 episodes of, In the dozens of interviews Hal Kanter gave about, Hal Williams also never called Jimmy Stewart a racist, or said that Jim mistreated him on. Strode almost singlehandedly won the 1948 Grey Cup for the team. No smog because few people could afford cars in those days. In 1946, Jimmy Stewart led a small group of stars who vocalized their support for brotherhood among all Americans. It was his enduring appeal in Western films that lead to him being immortalized in tribute by Pixar films the Tom Hanks voiced cowboy toy Woody in theToy Storyseries was named Woody after Woody Strode. > Gaming In 1990, Strodes autobiography, Goal Dust, was published. Thanks again for reading Brice, and for your kind comment! Key West (TV) (1973) In 1939 Woody, Jackie Robinson and Kenny Washington led UCLA to its first undefeated football season. 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? Its further worth noting that in his 1990 autobiography [ aff. Also Stewart even stayed up late much to director Premingers chagrin during Anatomy Of A Murder to play with Duke Ellington. Thats my take. Thanks for reading Tracy! Stewart said that he didnt like it. An athlete turned actor, Strode was a top-notch decathlete and a football star at UCLA. For Jims take on working with John Ford and the Uncle Remus incident, listen to his 1969 account below. Thanks so much for your kind words, and for reading! The official source for NFL news, video highlights, fantasy football, game-day coverage, schedules, stats, scores and more. I do believe he love life and all Gods creations. Released two years before To Kill a Mockingbird, Rutledge is one of the first mainstream Hollywood films to address racism frankly. Under coach Les Lear, the young team made it to the Grey Cup, November 27, 1948, set to face the Ottawa Roughriders. Michael Munns 2005 biography, Jimmy Stewart: The Truth Behind the Legend[aff. I can find no evidence to suggest that Jimmys support of Barry Goldwater in the 1964 presidential election was based on Goldwaters civil rights voting record. Sergeant Rutledge is a 1960 American Technicolor Western film directed by John Ford and starring Jeffrey Hunter, Constance Towers, Woody Strode and Billie Burke.

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