Part African American and part Native American, Strodes first big break was in 1960s Spartacus, as the Ethiopian gladiator whose death sparks a rebellion. His own words and actions, and the words of those who knew him, prove that Jimmy Stewart was not racist. I find a lot of this evidence unconvincing. He served as a caregiver to Ford in his final years and was at Fords deathbed in 1973. The season seven episode "Office Space" is another memorable episode in the series' run. This story first appeared in the Nov. 3 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Strode praised Ford in a 1960 interview. Strode died in his sleep at his home in Glendora, California of lung cancer on December 31, 1994. He went on to play in the Canadian Football League before becoming a prolific Hollywood actor,. End of story. 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. 10 Witty Buddy Comedies To Watch If You Love 'Psych', Psych: Ranking The Main Characters By Intelligence. Well, perhaps desperately isn't the right word. He wasnt just an athlete on a scholarship at UCLA, he was an academic. The Quest: The Longest Drive (TV) (1976) 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.. Im glad you made it.. Weve dissected the fallacies behind the rumor that Jimmy Stewart was a racist. 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. "I know Gus well." "Shawn." "Him too. 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. So this week, lets resolve to live in harmony with our fellow man.. Aug 5: WWE SummerSlam, > Archives Regarding your claim that Jimmy made racist remarks about people in Vietnam: in my extensive research, Ive never found any evidence to support this. There are different takes over why, including that he thought it was a better medium. Thank you for more information for understanding. 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. Thanks for commenting. According to Peter Fonda, the sheer fact that Jimmy Stewart was best friends with Peters father. > Movies & TV 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. Thanks again for reading! The answer is no. I just started to do it full-time in 1951.. 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. I wanted to crawl into a mouse hole, Stewart recalled. His last film was The Quick and the Dead, which starred Sharon Stone. > Obituary Archive The Man Who Made The Stars Shine Brighter: An Interview with Woody Strode. 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. All Rights Reserved. Unlike Robinson, however, neither played much. So glad that Mr. Stewart was not a racist. Stewart said that he didnt like it. In addition to the testaments of people who knew him, Jimmy Stewarts own words and actions prove he was not racist. 1936 Strode posed for one of two paintings commissioned by Adolf Hitler for the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. (Episode 6). 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. Race is not a factor in the world market, he said in a 1982 interview with the Globe and Mail. > The Artist Canvas 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. Required fields are marked *. 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. Stewart was never rude to mehe was never rude to anyone. Im delighted that you took the time too elaborate on its origins. Blacks usually sat at the back of the bus. I want to thank you for your research into one of my favorite actors. The Black Stallion Returns (1983) I am so glad that I can watch his movies again! 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. 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. 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. But after reading your entire article I know Mr. Stewart was a decent human being and my admiration for him has grown after reading your article. 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. Bow Wow Set To Train With Rikishi To Become A Wrestler, Preview: AEW Dark (02/16/21) Jon Moxley headlines a 12 match card. 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. He died the following year at age 80. Was Hal Williams ever contacted regarding the contriversy kanter mentioned? Thankfully, the show never subjected Woody - or viewers - to that possibility. Hi Rosemary, Thanks for reading! 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. 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. 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. Donald Deweys 1997 biography of Jimmy Stewart, journalist James Bawden between 1971 and 1983, Thanks to the passionate insistence of director Otto Preminger. 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. Strode was born in Los Angeles on July 25, 1914, the son . 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. Sergeant Rutledge (1960) 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. Also Stewart even stayed up late much to director Premingers chagrin during Anatomy Of A Murder to play with Duke Ellington. Posse (1993) 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 ! TIMES STAFF WRITER. 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. Thanks again for reading Brice, and for your kind comment! 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! Thank you for bringing the evidence together. 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. Woody Strode 22 languages View history Woodrow Wilson Woolwine Strode (July 25, 1914 - December 31, 1994) was an American athlete and actor. Strode served in the Air Force from 1942 to 1946, including time in Guam and the Marianas where he unloaded bombs. Strode was in City Beneath the Sea (1953) directed by Budd Boetticher, and The Royal African Rifles. 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). In 1992, he was honored by the Cauliflower Alley Club with wrestlings top award, the Iron Mike Mazurki Award. In 1946, Jimmy Stewart led a small group of stars who vocalized their support for brotherhood among all Americans. > Video And I looked at Duke Wayne, and he was beaming like a cat that had just eaten the mouse And Duke came over, and said, Well, welcome to the club. 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. He was a good man deserving of the love and admiration that so many of us have for him. Sharing hotel, meals, and a piano jam session on and off film with Duke Ellington. Seduto alla sua destra (1968) I was too young at the time to realize Ford was using me to get at Stewart. An athlete turned actor, Strode was a top-notch decathlete and a football star at UCLA. Breakout (TV) (1970) Munn says Frank Sinatra made him an honorary member of the Rat Pack after the two sang duets together for a laugh. Munn says he regrets turning down a marriage proposal from the beautiful Lynne Frederick, the tortured widow of Peter Sellers, and that Steve McQueen opened up to him on a secret four day motorcycle off-roading excursion. 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]. 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). Hal Kanter is our only primary source to say that Jimmy had an issue with the casting of Hal Williams. Tha Gatling Gun (1973) When we won, we all got drunk. It was Ford who cast Strode in the lead role in Sergeant Rutledge. African American History: Research Guides & Websites, Global African History: Research Guides & Websites, African American Scientists and Technicians of the Manhattan Project, Envoys, Diplomatic Ministers, & Ambassadors, Education - Historically Black Colleges (HBCU), Political Activists - Radicals and Marxists, Foundation, Organization, and Corporate Supporters. Apr 16: Impact Rebellion One of the most memorable episodes ofPsych is "Last Night Gus," which allows the series to payhomage toThe Hangover. You could smell the orange blossoms. All Rights Reserved. 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. Scipione detto anche lafricano (1971) Deweys book was published early in 1996 when Stewart was still alive. He lives in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, with his wife and son. 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. However, cinematographer William H Clothier later said: There was one reason and one reason only Paramount was cutting costs. Even Munns publisher, Jeromy Robson of JR Books, admits to having seen only a few of Munns interview reference materials, and that for the most part, he must trust Munns good memory for dialogue as the only proof that any of these alleged interviews occurred. Con Jock Mahoney, Woody Strode, Tsu Kobayashi, Earl Cameron. 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. You can unsubscribe at any time. After World War II Woody and Kenny Washington became the first blacks to play in the NFL. Its such a disheartening rumor thats unfortunately made its way across the internet. Michael Munns books are unreliable. Perhaps, Henry Fondas daughter Ms Jane Fonda would be perfect to obtain a definitive comment. 1995 Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 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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.. He also did professional wrestling and reportedly tussled with the renowned Gorgeous George. 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. As an actor, Strode is forever tied to John Ford (see our Pepper Martin biography for some stories that involve both Strode and Ford). Im so glad you found my article, and Im beyond happy to hear that you can enjoy Jimmys films once more. 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. I have watched his films since I was a teenager and hoped that this rumor was untrue. 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. There's no easier way to put it: Woody is weird. 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. La mala ordina (1972) 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. Additionally, the. Film historian and author Donald Bogle explains Fords handling of race in the film compared to his previous work and the representation of the real life Buffalo Soldiers of the Old West. Its such a disheartening rumor, and Im so glad you did your own research and came across my article. Spartacus (1960) Shawn and Gus have been the best of friends ever since they were children, and maybe even since they were infants. And when we lost, we cried like babies.. I almost died inside when I heard he was a racist. > WrestleMania, Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Hockey injury led to wrestling for Karl Von Stroheim. 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. Hi Cheryl, thanks for reading! 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. For Jims take on working with John Ford and the Uncle Remus incident, listen to his 1969 account below. Thanks again for reading, and thanks so much for commenting! This article looks at Woody Strode, an early African-American and Native American star who left pro wrestling in the early 1960s to become an actor in Hollywood for decades. Jim replied that he thought the costume made Strode look a bit too much like Uncle Remus.. I refer you back to my section on The Jimmy Stewart Show for the facts behind the casting of Hal Williams. Aka: Boot Hill Well researched! Buruuba (1955) 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. In the interview, Marvin relates an incident where Jimmy Stewart actively opposed the racist behavior of another actor on set.
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