It was Donald Deweys 1997 biography of Jimmy Stewart [aff. Reviews. That means everything, working with a man like that." Thanks for commenting! 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. 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. The episode "Last Night Gus" isn't just a real highlight for Psych but for Woody's character and his bizarre humor, too. The Stampeder supporters invaded Toronto and a national party was created. The spiritual leader of an oriental country is dying. Washington and Strode? 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. It is like when people try to pretend John Wayne and Winston Churchill were not racist. Strode appeared in at least 90 films, from Sunrise in 1941 to his last, The Quick and the Dead, released in 1995. Thank you for reading! Weve dissected the fallacies behind the rumor that Jimmy Stewart was a racist. Strode worked in B-movies through the 70s and 80s and acted as the narrator for Mario Van Peebles Black Western Posse in 1993. (See The American Creed video in my article above.). 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. I just started to do it full-time in 1951.. Aka: Jungle Warriors In fact, Woody was already calling someone on his cell phone: Shawn. Woody has appeared in key roles in bothPsych the Movie andPsych 2: Lassie Come Home, but it's one particular moment in the first film that ranks at the top of the list when it comes to his best quotes. Williams has never addressed Kanters allegations, nor has he said that Jimmy mistreated him. Aka: The Last Warrior I really cried for days because hes one of my favorite actors and I am African-American. According to Strode, John Ford then called the whole cast and crew over, and twisted the comment into something Jimmy Stewart never said. Lee Marvin was impressed by Jimmys impassioned response: I liked Jimmy before that incident, but after it, I liked him a whole lot more.. And he was dressed in blue overalls, a blue work shirt and boots. I encourage you to read my full article for further insights into the character of Jimmy Stewart. In 1992, he was honored by the Cauliflower Alley Club with wrestlings top award, the Iron Mike Mazurki Award. Strode also had a brief career as a professional gridiron football player and was among the first African . I'm glad you made it.. Released two years before To Kill a Mockingbird, Rutledge is one of the first mainstream Hollywood films to address racism frankly. Thankfully, the show never subjected Woody - or viewers - to that possibility. In 1939 he played for one of UCLA's greatest football teams ever, alongside future baseball legend Jackie Robinson. The official source for NFL news, video highlights, fantasy football, game-day coverage, schedules, stats, scores and more. He wrestled for NWA Los Angeles and Stu Hart throughout the 1950s and even wrestled arguably the top draw in pro wrestling in the 1950s, Gorgeous George. Feb 11 Mar 6, 2022. Woody Strode was born in Los Angeles, CA. 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. Jungle Man-Eaters (1954) Michael Munns dangerous habit of mixing truth with exaggeration and fallacy calls his alleged interview with. Strode worked in B-movies through the '70s and '80s and acted as the narrator for Mario Van Peebles' Black. What is it whats the idea? And I said, I dont know!, And I didnt know, Stewart added. 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. I was lucky enough this time to have John Ford as my director. Stewart was of the same opinion. 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. I can go back to my original thought, that he wasnt racist. The answer is no. 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. 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. Greg Oliver has been writing about pro wrestling since 1985, and is the author of wrestling books: The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Storytellers (with Steven Johnson), The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: Heroes & Icons (with Steven Johnson and Mike Mooneyham); The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Heels (with Steven Johnson); The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Tag Teams (also with Johnson); The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Canadians; SLAM! Deweys book was published early in 1996 when Stewart was still alive. Also, his agent Bill Frye, in Jimmy Stewart: A Biography, says that Stewart turned down the role of Atticus Finch in Mockingbird because he was uncomfortable with the liberal racial tone (though without using those words). The Cotton Club (1984) Freedom, brotherhood, and equality were issues Jimmy Stewart clearly felt strongly about, for he returned to headline American Brotherhood Week the following year. As a black man I should know better by now, and am glad that I decided to look further into the matter. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Its further worth noting that in his 1990 autobiography [ aff. The show keeps things as PG as it can when it comes to his involvement with the cadavers he analyzes. 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. Posse (1993) Michael Munns integrity as a biographer has been questioned. Colpo in canna (1975) Was Vera-Ellen Anorexic in White Christmas? Actually, I had been rassling in the off-season anyhow, Strode told the late, great Canadian newspaper columnist Jim Proudfoot. Tarzan and the Perils of Charity Jones (1967) In 1946, Jimmy Stewart led a small group of stars who vocalized their support for brotherhood among all Americans. Required fields are marked *. He was the African antagonist in Tarzan Fights for Life (1958) and an Apache chief who took on Sean Connery in the western, Shalako (1968). Jim was boiling mad as he grabbed the actor by the shirt and threatened to beat him to an unrecognizable pulp if he ever used the word around Jim again. African Treasure (1952) > Obituary Archive 20072023 Blackpast.org. Lust in the Dust (1985) > Books Saturday, 4th March 2023See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive. And according to the actor, Ford froze, then walked away. At one point in their conversations, Jim shared that his 1934 arrival in Los Angeles was marred only by the obvious mistreatment of the black community. And I agree, it would be illogical to assume that Jimmy Stewart was racist based on his support of Nixon, Reagan, and US troops in Vietnam. (After she died in 1980, Strode would marry Tina in 1982, and they were together until his death.). Im delighted to put the rumors about him to rest. 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. Frye admits as much at the end of the quote. Apr 1: WWE WrestleMania Its such a disheartening rumor thats unfortunately made its way across the internet. Woody Strode, byname of Woodrow Wilson Woolwine Strode, (born July 28, 1914, Los Angeles, California, U.S.died December 31, 1994, Glendora, California), American character actor who was part of director John Ford's "family" of actors, appearing in nearly a dozen of Ford's films. I wanted to crawl into a mouse hole, Stewart recalled. 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 ! John Wayne was a supporter of Israel, but is known to have made several anti-Semitic remarks. Perhaps, Henry Fondas daughter Ms Jane Fonda would be perfect to obtain a definitive comment. At the time Ford yelled: Dont hit him Woody! For nearly two decades he remained a pioneer against racism in the film and television industry. 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City Beneath the Sea (1953) It would be interesting to hear Janes thoughts. Kanters interview includes his overwhelmingly positive insights on both Jim and working on The Jimmy Stewart Show (1971-1972). I refer you back to my section on The Jimmy Stewart Show for the facts behind the casting of Hal Williams. Even in his later films, like Vigilante (1982) and Jungle Warriors (1984), the 70 year-old Strode looks Hi Pete, thanks for your comment. He is wearing cowboy. I read that Stewart was a racist a few weeks ago and fell for it hook line and sinker. Strode praised Ford in a 1960 interview. > The Artist Canvas He wasnt just an athlete on a scholarship at UCLA, he was an academic. Woody's whispered warning - "Don't pick up" - is easily one of the series' best line deliveries. Storyville (1992) (A small role in 1941s Sundown marked his actual debut.) 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. We dont know why Jimmy turned down Mockingbird. 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. Bit of a game changer." Though Woody usually means well, he's not always the . Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. James Stewart Once Described What It Was Like Working with a Frequent John Wayne Collaborator, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5mcU74rHGM, James Stewart on what it was like to work with John Ford (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5mcU74rHGM). Besides marking Calgarys first Grey Cup championship, the 1948 game proved to be a turning point in Grey Cup lore as well. For nearly two decades he remained a pio- neer against racism in the film and television industry. Key West (TV) (1973) 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. Part African American and part Native American, Strodes first big break was in 1960s Spartacus, as the Ethiopian gladiator whose death sparks a rebellion. I am so glad that I can watch his movies again! Los tres desafos de Tarzn: Dirigido por Robert Day. 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. Jim was a good man through and through. Sundown (1941). Ford was so impressed with Strode, he gave him the starring role in 1960s Sergeant Rutledge, a Technicolor Western about a U.S. Cavalry sergeant falsely accused of raping a white woman and killing her father. 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. In 1946, Jimmy Stewart led a small group of stars who vocalized their support for brotherhood among all Americans. Your email address will not be published. I am an African American woman who had stopped watching his films when I heard about his overt racism. He served as a caregiver to Ford in his final years and was at Fords deathbed in 1973. All Rights Reserved. At MGM there was a separate entrance and lunchroom for the black laborers and maids. American actor Woody Strode on the set of Sergeant Rutledge, directed by John Ford. Strode lived in Italy for five years and made 12 films there. 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. 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? Ravagers (1979) According to Woody, he's even less in control of himself, and all of his faculties, when tickling is involved. One of the most memorable episodes ofPsych is "Last Night Gus," which allows the series to payhomage toThe Hangover. > Career Records Seduto alla sua destra (1968) 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. Ive updated the section to include more facts specific to the show. Strode gave the Hollywood establishment what they demanded and appeared in some of the best and the worst of what they offered him. 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. (1969) In Liberty Valance, a picture I did with Duke, Stewart recounted. Shalako (1968) The Sins of Rachel Cade (1961) Aka: Boot Hill As already mentioned, Woody has a real hard time knowing when to keep from over sharing. Woody Strode has not been elected into the Hall of Fame. Period. In an interview given before he died, Stewart once described the toll that Fords meanness took on Wayne. > Canadian Hall of Fame Afterwards, Lee Marvin remembered seeing both. A recently posed question casts a shadow on the otherwise pristine legacy of. Tarzan is summoned to protect him and he must face three tests of strength. Michael Munns books are unreliable. The Ten Commandments (1956) Caribbean (1952) Well written, thank you. Jan. 3, 1995 12 AM PT. According to Kanter, Jim erroneously believed that black actor Hal Williams had been cast as a police officer in an episode where there would be a cop lashing into the professor [Jimmys] character.. Spartacus (1991) In the Grey Cup game, Strode grabbed a misplayed lateral pass by Ottawa quarterback Peter Karpuk off the ground, and lumbered almost to the end zone. 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. 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. Aka: Chuck Moll 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 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. He had a problem with a black guy doing that. From Andre the Giant inThe Princess Brideto Roddy Piper inThey Livesto the expanding resumes of Dwayne The Rock Johnson and Dave Bautista to John Cena, pro wrestlers have found a way to transition to cinema. God bless. 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.. 7 Women (1966) 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. In the absence of evidence to support your various claims about Jimmy Stewart, they cannot be taken as fact. A decorated football player at UCLA before joining teammate Kenny Washington in breaking the NFL's color barrier in 1946, Strode eventually drew the attention of . Unfortunately, anger at Jimmy Stewart is also the takeaway of less engaged readers of Michael Munns book. How many games did . 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. See SERGEANT RUTLEDGE (60) on 7/31 at 10:45pm ET as we continue our spotlight Directed by John Ford.Look for this films on Watch TCM at http://tcm.com/watch.Connect with Turner Classic Movies:Visit TCM WEBSITE: http://myt.cm/TCMwebsiteFollow TCM on INSTAGRAM: http://myt.cm/TCMinstagramLike TCM on FACEBOOK: http://myt.cm/TCMfacebookFollow TCM on TWITTER: http://myt.cm/TCMtwitterSubscribe now to watch more classic film content from TCM http://spr.ly/6017cTBT I might have to kill you. He appeared in any number of other films, among them The Ten Commandments (1956). (He never forgot Calgary, however, and returned to the city in 1986 to aid fundraising for the financially-ailing team. 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. Strode was born in Los Angeles on July 25, 1914, the son . The Last Voyage (1960 We need him!, In the end, Wayne told Strode: We gotta work together. 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. (1979) A footnote in the life of a great man. 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. 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.. And late Hollywood legend James Stewart got to watch their dynamic up close. Im glad that it clears up that rumor about him. I was a big James Stewart fan until I read he was racist. Thanks for commenting. Woody Strode. 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. RELATED:10 Witty Buddy Comedies To Watch If You Love 'Psych'. Tarzans Three Challenges (1963) ", NEXT:Psych 2: Lassie Come Home: 10 Easter Eggs You Totally Missed. Race is not a factor in the world market, he said in a 1982 interview with the Globe and Mail. Strode also played the powerful gladiator who does battle with Kirk Douglas in Spartacus (1960)." Played . 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! Once Upon A Time in the West (1968) Where was Woody Strode born? For his book, Dewey interviewed the producer of Jimmys 1971 television show, writer Hal Kanter. Jims plea underscores his belief in peace, freedom, and equality for all: 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. And really, that says everything someone needs to know about Woody. After World War II Woody and Kenny Washington became the first blacks to play in the NFL. I am a black American who was heartbroken when I heard this aweful rumor. Jim spoke of his Hollywood career in a series of interviews with journalist James Bawden between 1971 and 1983 [aff. 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. John Ford wasnt afraid to explore bigotry in his films, but Sergeant Rutledge is a standout and the first big-budget Western to feature a black man as the hero played by Woody Strode. American Brotherhood Week, sponsored by the National Conference of Christians and Jews, was meant to encourage not just religious tolerance, but acceptance and equality for all races and nationalities. Apr 2: WWE WrestleMania How much did Woody Strode weigh when playing? Woody Strode's extraordinary career led him from football field to wrestling ring to Hollywood. > Photo Galleries 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. Two Rode Together (1961) > WrestleMania, Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Hockey injury led to wrestling for Karl Von Stroheim. Woody Strode. > Music Scream (1985) Thanks to the passionate insistence of director Otto Preminger, the controversial scene stayed in the film [aff. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. Cowboysan (1977) 1995 Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 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. Holmes. 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. Actor: Spartacus. Michael Munns dangerous habit of mixing truth with exaggeration and fallacy calls his alleged interview with Woody Strode into question. 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. Your email address will not be published. Thanks again for reading, and thanks so much for commenting! And strangely enough, Duke Wayne who, over the years, you know, has made lots of pictures with Ford Duke Wayne has been at the bottom of the list, in the barrel, more than anybody else. Its such a disheartening rumor, and Im so glad you did your own research and came across my article. link]. I once played a part written for an Irish prize fighter. 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. Jul 1: Money in the Bank Unlike Robinson, however, neither played much. Androcoles and the Lion (1952) If Jim would never say it that way, then Bill Frye should not say it that way for him. In its pages African American studies intellectuals, community activists, and national and international political leaders come to grips with basic issues confronting black America and Africa. And I went on, and it went around the company: Stewart has never, hes always right up there., The day before the movie finished shooting, the cast was preparing to do the funeral scene.