And when we lost, we cried like babies.. A rumor casts a shadow on the legacy of Jimmy Stewart. 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. You could smell the orange blossoms. He clearly was a conservative, but I can live with that. Producer Julian Blaustein, who produced Jims 1950 film, Jim spoke of his Hollywood career in a series of interviews with. The Stampeder supporters invaded Toronto and a national party was created. Strode appeared in at least 90 films, from Sunrise in 1941 to his last, The Quick and the Dead, released in 1995. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. The Professionals (1966) 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). Strode is perhaps best remembered as the stoic slave gladiator in Spartacus (1960) who tells Kirk Douglas: I dont want to be your friend. His words, actions, and moral code prove the fallacy of any rumor to the contrary. 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. He would find several extras roles over the decade, before turning to pro wrestling on a more full-time basis in 1949. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Over the past several decades, more and more pro wrestlers are capitalizing on their work in pro wrestling to work in Hollywood as bonafide stars in the movie industry. Jungle Gents (1954) Keoma (1976) Despite these flaws, Kanters anecdote is cited as evidence that Jimmy Stewart was racist. 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. He went on to play in the Canadian Football League before becoming a prolific Hollywood actor,. 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. Watch the video below to hear what Jim and the other stars had to say about brotherhood: Freedom, brotherhood, and equality were issues Jimmy Stewart clearly felt strongly about, for he returned to headline American Brotherhood Week the following year. Of course, their football rhythm had been broken up by World War II. Caribbean (1952) When we won, we all got drunk. According to Peter Fonda, the sheer fact that Jimmy Stewart was best friends with Peters father. Your email address will not be published. Im delighted to put the rumors about him to rest. 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. 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. Never had so much fun as I did in Canada. Your donation is fully tax-deductible. In this, the last interview Strode ever gave, he expresses only respect for Jimmy Stewart, calling Jim one of the screens greatest actors.. 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. LUltimo guerriero (1984) Besides Ford, Strode also worked with storied directors Cecil B. And yet, it's impossible to get enough of him, even when he crosses every line and oversteps every boundary. RELATED:10 Witty Buddy Comedies To Watch If You Love 'Psych'. Thanks to the passionate insistence of director Otto Preminger, the controversial scene stayed in the film [aff. Jimmy Stewart worked with several black actors and entertainers throughout his career, including Hal Williams, Woody Strode, Lillian Randolph, Jim hit it off particularly well with Duke Ellington during filming of 1959s. 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. 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. According to Kanter, Jim was chagrined by his mixup. Id do that if I could. Its such a demoralizing rumor. 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. I was a big James Stewart fan until I read he was racist. City Beneath the Sea (1953) debut in 1941 in Henry Hathaway' s Sundown. ), Wrestling was next on his resume. Its why Stewart agreed to campaign strongly for Reagan in 1966, despite feeling the candidate was not conservative enough as he had remained a Democrat until 1962. 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.. Scream (1985) Woody Strode, the six-foot-four pioneering athlete turned movie star, was born in 1914, in South Central Los Angeles, to Black and Native American parents. Sharing hotel, meals, and a piano jam session on and off film with Duke Ellington. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. Storyville (1992) God bless. The Quest: The Longest Drive (TV) (1976) Munn is the author of over 25 books, most of which are built on the intimate and often shocking revelations that, according to Munn, these stars were all anxious to share with 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. We both gotta be professionals. Thanks for clearing that up. Che! 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. Thanks for reading! He also did professional wrestling and reportedly tussled with the renowned Gorgeous George. The picture was about, oh, more than halfway finished. Great Movies Collections TV/Streaming Interviews Movie Reviews Chaz's Journal Contributors Cast and Crew Woody Strode Find on IMDB. His last film was The Quick and the Dead, which starred Sharon Stone. The Quick & The Dead (1995) No freeways. 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. Im delighted that you took the time too elaborate on its origins. The sheer fact that he shares the anecdote is evidence that Jim did not have any racist behavior to hide. (1969) Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. 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. The Ten Commandments (1956) So yes, Woody's idea of the "snoafer" might not be the best concept in the world. Pete Thodos would score shortly thereafter to seal a 12-7 Calgary win. Im glad you made it.. Even in his later films, like Vigilante (1982) and Jungle Warriors (1984), the 70 year-old Strode looks Sounds pretty racist to me. Released in 1960, when the U.S. was in the early stages of the Civil Rights Movement, the film confronted racial injustice head on. Aka: Scipio the African In the absence of evidence to support your various claims about Jimmy Stewart, they cannot be taken as fact. Hi James, thanks for commenting. Stewart said that he didnt like it. Stewart was never rude to mehe was never rude to anyone. > The Artist Canvas According to Strode, John Ford then called the whole cast and crew over, and twisted the comment into something Jimmy Stewart never said. Request Permissions. According to Woody, he's even less in control of himself, and all of his faculties, when tickling is involved. 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. debut in 1941 in Henry Hathaway' s Sundown. Ford discovered Wayne, then Marion Morrison, when the latter was a University of Southern California student with a summer job on a studio lot. Since 1964-when he, Examinations of masculinity in John Ford's film The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) tend to revolve around the two leading male protagonists played by John Wayne and James Stewart (Tom Doniphon, By clicking accept or continuing to use the site, you agree to the terms outlined in our. 1995 Taylor & Francis, Ltd. His wrestling career lasted until 1960, but by 1952, Strode had started getting movie parts. The Lion Hunters (1951) Androcoles and the Lion (1952) Vigilante (1983) The Black Stallion Returns (1983) Michael Munns 2005 biography, Jimmy Stewart: The Truth Behind the Legend[aff. > Movies & TV He majored in history and education. Two teammates at UCLA were Jackie Robinson and Kenny Washington. This unnamed actor used the n word to refer to Woody Strode. Apr 2: WWE WrestleMania Despite his romance with Dinah Shore in the 1940s Stewart was also known to express some mildly anti-Semitic views during the counterculture movement. On top of this, Reese actor Lee Van Clef who went on to star in Clint Eastwood Spaghetti Westerns said that Ford resented the meddling and so would take out his annoyance on Wayne, whose casting as Doniphon was demanded by the studio. Besides marking Calgarys first Grey Cup championship, the 1948 game proved to be a turning point in Grey Cup lore as well. 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. The filmmaker would ask his Western star: How rich did you get while Jimmy was risking his life?, According to Michael Munns John Wayne The Man Behind The Myth, Strode said that the directors constant ridiculing really p***ed Wayne off, but he would never take it out on Ford., The reason being that the filmmakers movies had made him a Hollywood star and the Pompey actor claimed: He ended up taking it out on me.. Razza violenta (1984) It's also one that finds Woody being pulled into the action - albeit not as willingly or successfully as before. DON'T MISSJohn Wayne: The Searchers set revelation that saw John Ford speechless[THE SEARCHERS]How the West Was Won: Idiot drunk producer, near-death and more[HOW THE WEST WAS WON]John Wayne: Why Elvis turned down Dukes offer to co-star in Western[ELVIS]. May he forever RIP. His recollection of several details that are easily checked is inaccurate. When Strode tried to help him, Duke knocked his co-star away. Thank you for bringing the evidence together. 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. For Jims take on working with John Ford and the Uncle Remus incident, listen to his 1969 account below. Los tres desafos de Tarzn: Dirigido por Robert Day. Woody Strode weighed 205 lbs (92 kg) when playing. 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. Hi Wyman! The FBI agent character was written out of The Jimmy Stewart Show after Stewart objected to NBC. Woody Strode. 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. Aka: Black Kingpin Its such a disheartening rumor, and Im so glad you did your own research and came across my article. Michael Munns dangerous habit of mixing truth with exaggeration and fallacy calls his alleged interview with Woody Strode into question. It is like when people try to pretend John Wayne and Winston Churchill were not racist. Il Giustiziere del Bronx (1989) After being cut by the Rams after just a season, Strode headed north to Canada, where he suited up for the Calgary Stampeders. Kanters interview includes his overwhelmingly positive insights on both Jim and working on The Jimmy Stewart Show (1971-1972). Apr 1: WWE WrestleMania 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. Strode also played the powerful gladiator who does battle with Kirk Douglas in Spartacus (1960)." Every day, someone was at the bottom of the list in the barrel, as you say, Stewart said of Fords tendency to take his frustrations out on his underlings. I dont know if Stewart was a racist but he was a staunch supporter of Nixon, Reagan and the illegal US invasion of Vietnam. Strode praised Ford in a 1960 interview. best of friends ever since they were children, Psych 2: Lassie Come Home: 10 Easter Eggs You Totally Missed. Strode, 32 when he signed, never got a chance to prove himself and was released after one season. He played in the Pacific Coast Football League for the Hollywood Bears prior to enlisting in the US Air Force during World War II. Just ask fans of the Calgary Stampeders. 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. After handing over ME duties to Alex Richards, he remains a frequent contributor to the site. Now, I don't know if Mr Stewart has a prejudice against Negroes, but I just wanted you all to know about it., Stewart later said he wanted to crawl into a mouse hole after that and Wayne told him: Well, welcome to the club. 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. He would retire from pro football after that first season. I find a lot of this evidence unconvincing. So, Stewart didnt ask that the part be re-written. RELATED:Psych: Ranking The Main Characters By Intelligence. Stewart was a political conservative and product of his time and had issues with racial advancement and equality. 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. Saturday, 4th March 2023See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive. 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. In Liberty Valance, a picture I did with Duke, Stewart recounted. Hi Pete, thanks for your comment. Williams has never addressed Kanters allegations, nor has he said that Jimmy mistreated him. Its such a disheartening rumor thats unfortunately made its way across the internet. Apr 16: Impact Rebellion Im glad that it clears up that rumor about him. After livestock belonging to Rack's friend Walter Colby (Woody Strode, The Italian connection. Thankfully, the show never subjected Woody - or viewers - to that possibility. Regarding your claim that Jimmy expressed mildly anti-Semitic views: Ive never found any evidence to support this, either. He had a problem with a black guy doing that. Period. Jim was a good man through and through. 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. The Last Voyage (1960 Then he asked someone to blow a whistle, which they did, and he called out, Everybody, would you please gather around? So they did. 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. Hi Rosemary, Thanks for reading! The Man Who Made The Stars Shine Brighter: An Interview with Woody Strode. Strode made a successful transition from sports hero to the movie screen, though Hollywood seemed more predisposed to his magnificent physique and gallant stride than his acting ability. Blacks usually sat at the back of the bus. And he was dressed in blue overalls, a blue work shirt and boots. A footnote in the life of a great man. Apparently, that tendency to over share can get even worse than what viewers are already used to. Tarzans Three Challenges (1963) I encourage you to read my full article for further insights into the character of Jimmy Stewart. If the interview did in fact occur, Munn quotes Strode as saying that, on the set of The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Jimmy Stewart was too decent a person to be a hard-case racist, but that Strode believed Jim was uncomfortable around him. Here's why. Thats my take. You can unsubscribe at any time. Aka: The Million Dollar Fire 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. Terrible rumors about Jimmy Stewarts beliefs have sprung from an interview that possibly never occurred. In fact I dont think he even likes Negroes.. For nearly two decades he remained a pio- neer against racism in the film and television industry. Jimmys words and actions prove that he was not racist. Thanks for commenting Rich! In USA Network's Psych, Coroner Woody Strode is easily the weirdest character, but he also has some of the series' funniest quotes. Every old Hollywood fan should read this. 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. 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. Strode was a black cavalry officer on trial for rape and murder, and during the court-martial his story is recounted in flashback. The same year he broke into pro wrestling, he also got his start in Hollywood, making his debut in the 1941 filmSundown. A small donation would help us keep this available to all. Im so glad you searched for the facts and came across my article. Aka: The Devils Backbone In the interview, Marvin relates an incident where Jimmy Stewart actively opposed the racist behavior of another actor on set. In 1946, Jimmy Stewart led a small group of stars who vocalized their support for brotherhood among all Americans. As the two actors filmed an exterior shot on a horse-drawn cart, Wayne was close to losing control of the horses. But i am so glad to find out it was not true. Michael Munns integrity as a biographer has been questioned. Strode was a star in Italy, where he lived between 1969 and 1973. Woody Strode was born in California on July 25, 1914. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. 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. As they were preparing to shoot, Ford came up to Stewart and asked, What do you think of Woodys costume?. 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. The stated primary focus of the 1947 campaign was: to enroll as many people as possible in the fight against racial intolerance, bigotry, and discrimination.. 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. 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. 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 . Munn claims that he and Laurence Olivier were great friends, and that Olivier nicknamed him Eminem decades before rapper Marshall Mathers adopted the moniker. Martinelli, Outside Man (TV) (1977) 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. 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. Thanks for reading David! I am a black American who was heartbroken when I heard this aweful rumor. And late Hollywood legend James Stewart got to watch their dynamic up close. 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. Strode also played the powerful gladiator who does battle with Kirk Douglas in Spartacus (1960)." Played . Aka: Jungle Warriors link]. Strode gave the Hollywood establishment what they demanded and appeared in some of the best and the worst of what they offered him. Also, he appeared in several episodes of the 1952-1954 television series Ramar of the Jungle, where he portrayed an African warrior. There's no easier way to put it: Woody is weird. Woody Strode was born in Los Angeles, CA. Michael Munns books are unreliable. Im so happy you came across my article. Hal Kanter is our only primary source to say that Jimmy had an issue with the casting of Hal Williams. He was not racist, and your essay more than demonstrates this. John Wayne was a supporter of Israel, but is known to have made several anti-Semitic remarks. (After she died in 1980, Strode would marry Tina in 1982, and they were together until his death.). That tendency to be excluded, either intentionally or unthinkingly, clearly plays a major part in his excitement whenever he's actually looped into any episodic adventure - even if it means the friendship group may have killed someone. What is it whats the idea? And I said, I dont know!, And I didnt know, Stewart added. (He never forgot Calgary, however, and returned to the city in 1986 to aid fundraising for the financially-ailing team. Jimmy Stewart has deserved an article like this for a long time. This story first appeared in the Nov. 3 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Unlike Robinson, however, neither played much. Mar 5: AEW Revolution Ford proceeded to announce to the entire company that: One of the actors here doesnt like Uncle Remus. The Revengers (1972) According to Jimmy Stewart, Los Angeles in 1934 was: Magical! An athlete turned actor, Strode was a top-notch decathlete and a football star at UCLA. According to Strode, John Ford then called the whole cast and crew over, and twisted the comment into something Jimmy Stewart never said. 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. 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.. 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. Hi Yolanda, it is such a disturbing rumor. His fellow Gold Dust Gang member Jackie Robinson would break the color barrier in Major League Baseball a year later in 1947. As expertly portrayed by the comically gifted Kurt Fuller, Woody is a character who is always too much at all times. But I gradually learned L.A. was heavily segregated. They broke the NFLs modern colour barrier the year before, suiting up for the Los Angeles Rams. Hi Cheryl, thanks for reading! A recently posed question casts a shadow on the otherwise pristine legacy of. The answer is no. Ive done everything but play an Anglo-Saxon. Electric streetcars went everywhere. In 2020, Bob Glauber, a Newsday reporter, wanted to write a book about Kenny Washington and Woody Strode, whose signings to the Los Angeles Rams in 1946 broke an effective ban on Black players. Jamie Greer joined LWOPW in 2015 and was the site's Managing Editor from 2016 through 2020. Woody Strode in Spartacus July 1952 found Barbara still impersonating a human ping pong ball as she bounced back - you guessed it - to the ever unreliable Mr Neal. Also in the Munn interview, Strode relates an incident in which. Thanks for reading, Luke. As James Stewart explained it, Woody Strode, the actor who was playing Waynes characters best friend, was part of the scene. 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. The Black Scholar Tarzan is summoned to protect him and he must face three tests of strength. 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. 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). He made more than sixty movies including his last film, The Quick and The Dead [1995]. Im so glad you found my article, and Im beyond happy to hear that you can enjoy Jimmys films once more. I just started to do it full-time in 1951.. Ford had to accept those terms or not make the film.. We need him!, In the end, Wayne told Strode: We gotta work together. 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. But I must say I got a little smug about it. link] that first sparked rumors about the beloved stars beliefs. 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? Freedom, brotherhood, and equality were issues Jimmy Stewart clearly felt strongly about, for he returned to headline American Brotherhood Week the following year. Thanks for commenting! > Music Lets not allow an unsubstantiated rumor to tarnish the reputation of one of the few Hollywood stars worthy of our complete respect and admiration. Lee Marvin was impressed by Jimmys impassioned response: I liked Jimmy before that incident, but after it, I liked him a whole lot more..
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