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Jimmy Stewart Was Not Racist. Here's Why. - Vanguard of Hollywood Saturday, 4th March 2023See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive. Terrible rumors about Jimmy Stewarts beliefs have sprung from an interview that possibly never occurred. One of the most memorable episodes ofPsych is "Last Night Gus," which allows the series to payhomage toThe Hangover. Though he was a conservative unlike his friend Henry Fonda who was a liberal and despised racism, I doubt if their life long friendship wouldve lasted if Fonda discovered he had racist views. Jan. 3, 1995 12 AM PT. 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. 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. To answer your question: Hal Kanter is the only primary source to say that Jimmy had issue with the casting of Hal Williams. 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. Im so glad that you decided to do your own research, and that you came across my article. best of friends ever since they were children, Psych 2: Lassie Come Home: 10 Easter Eggs You Totally Missed. John Wayne 'was really p***ed off': The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance He was not racist, and your essay more than demonstrates this. 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. Ford discovered Wayne, then Marion Morrison, when the latter was a University of Southern California student with a summer job on a studio lot. Woody Strode Took on West in John Ford's 'Sergeant Rutledge' in 1960 Under coach Les Lear, the young team made it to the Grey Cup, November 27, 1948, set to face the Ottawa Roughriders. They were married in 1940 in Las Vegas. (Episode 6). 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. In USA Network's Psych, Coroner Woody Strode is easily the weirdest character, but he also has some of the series' funniest quotes. Period. Find on Wikipedia. Strode served in the Air Force from 1942 to 1946, including time in Guam and the Marianas where he unloaded bombs. Jungle Man-Eaters (1954) Strode also had a brief career as a professional gridiron football player and was among the first African . What is it whats the idea? And I said, I dont know!, And I didnt know, Stewart added. Thanks again for reading, and thanks so much for commenting! I was too young at the time to realize Ford was using me to get at Stewart. Cuba Crossing (1980) So thank you for this I really really appreciate it. I refer you back to my section on The Jimmy Stewart Show for the facts behind the casting of Hal Williams. Also, he appeared in several episodes of the 1952-1954 television series Ramar of the Jungle, where he portrayed an African warrior. 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. Two teammates at UCLA were Jackie Robinson and Kenny Washington. Ive updated the section to include more facts specific to the show. Interesting to see that there are actually people out there who are hell-bent on believing that Jimmy was racist. Im glad that it clears up that rumor about him. 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. 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. Founded in 1969 and hailed by The New York Times as a journal in which the writings of many of todays finest black thinkers may be viewed, THE BLACK SCHOLAR has firmly established itself as the leading journal of black cultural and political thought in the United States and remains under the editorship of Robert Chrisman, Editor-In-Chief, Robert Allen, Senior Editor, and Maize Woodford, Executive Editor. 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. 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. 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. Scream (1985) More info, The cantankerous and eccentric John Ford had filmed other Westerns with John Wayne in colour from The Searchers to She Wore a Yellow Ribbon. 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. In this, the last interview Strode ever gave, he expresses only respect for Jimmy Stewart, calling Jim one of the screens greatest actors.. His wrestling career? Reviews. But I could tell he preferred to be around Lee Marvin or [John] Wayne than me., Also in the Munn interview, Strode relates an incident in whichLiberty Valance director, John Ford, asked Jim what he thought of Woodys costume, which consisted of old overalls an equally old hat. (See The American Creed video in my article above.). Woody Strode? He Wasn't the Star But He Stole the Movie' Katharine Hepburn & Woman of the Year, Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Chickpeas and Tarragon Tahini. 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. Thanks for reading, Luke. An athlete turned actor, Strode was a top-notch decathlete and a football star at UCLA. 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. Spartacus is probably Strodes most famous role as the warrior Kirk Douglas refuses to kill. City Beneath the Sea (1953) Kanters interview includes his overwhelmingly positive insights on both Jim and working on The Jimmy Stewart Show (1971-1972). 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. Aka: Black Jesus Thank you for reading! 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. 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. Actors Woody Strode and Lee Marvin, who also collaborated four years earlier in "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance," are seen chatting in Death Valley while filming director Richard Brooks . Id do that if I could. 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. 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. Thanks for clearing that up. 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. > WrestleMania, Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Hockey injury led to wrestling for Karl Von Stroheim. His wrestling career lasted until 1960, but by 1952, Strode had started getting movie parts. Well, perhaps desperately isn't the right word. Jungle Gents (1954) But only Woody could think up this "footwear mullet," and that's what makes it great. After livestock belonging to Rack's friend Walter Colby (Woody Strode, The Italian connection. Released two years before To Kill a Mockingbird, Rutledge is one of the first mainstream Hollywood films to address racism frankly. Hal Kanter is our only primary source on the alleged conversation. Race is not a factor in the world market, he said in a 1982 interview with the Globe and Mail. He played in the Pacific Coast Football League for the Hollywood Bears prior to enlisting in the US Air Force during World War II. link]. > Canadian Hall of Fame 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. It is like when people try to pretend John Wayne and Winston Churchill were not racist. Tha Gatling Gun (1973) Woody Strode - Biography - IMDb It needed to be done. Unlike Robinson, however, neither played much. Strode gave the Hollywood establishment what they demanded and appeared in some of the best and the worst of what they offered him. According to Strode: Stewart was never rude to mehe was never rude to anyone. The Buccaneer (1958) But its possible the interview never occurred. Frye admits as much at the end of the quote. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. Goal Dust: The Warm and Candid Memoirs of a Pioneer Black Athlete and 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. This man was the definition of a renaissance man, keep reading this article and you will understand exactly why. Im delighted to put the rumors about him to rest. debut in 1941 in Henry Hathaway' s Sundown. Apparently, that tendency to over share can get even worse than what viewers are already used to. It was Ford who cast Strode in the lead role in Sergeant Rutledge. link] that first sparked rumors about the beloved stars beliefs. Whether that labels him a racist or not is irrelevant. Che! And, as my article highlights, Hal Williams was not fired from The Jimmy Stewart Show. If Jim had an issue with casting a black actor, why was Williams not fired? He died the following year at age 80. Youd never see them in the big department stores. In 1939 he played for one of UCLA's greatest football teams ever, alongside future baseball legend Jackie Robinson. For terms and use, please refer to our Terms and Conditions His words, actions, and moral code prove the fallacy of any rumor to the contrary. I am an African American woman who had stopped watching his films when I heard about his overt racism. I want to thank you for your research into one of my favorite actors. Thanks so much for your kind words, and for reading! Woody Strode - Pro-Football-Reference 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. No freeways. Seduto alla sua destra (1968) I refer you back to the section in my article about The Jimmy Stewart Show for the facts behind the casting of Hal Williams on the show. Winterhawk (1975) Katerina is a List Writer here at Screen Rant with a background in literary criticism and creative writing. Woody Strode was 6-3 (190 cm) tall. Aka: Scipio the African 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. Strode appeared in several subsequent Ford films, though never in a starring capacity. Stewart said: It looks a bit Uncle Remussy to me. This was a reference to the controversial fictional narrator of 19th century African-American folktales, who was later the main character in Disneys 1946 movie Song of the South a film that Disney does not make available today due to its racist stereotyping. I read that Stewart was a racist a few weeks ago and fell for it hook line and sinker. It was the dark side of the American dream.. I wanted to crawl into a mouse hole, Stewart recalled. You could smell the orange blossoms. Lust in the Dust (1985) Great Movies Collections TV/Streaming Interviews Movie Reviews Chaz's Journal Contributors Cast and Crew Woody Strode Find on IMDB. They broke the NFLs modern colour barrier the year before, suiting up for the Los Angeles Rams. Pompey actor Woody Strode remembered that Ford "kept needling Duke about his failure to make it as a football player", comparing him to Strode who was a former NFL player. Warner Bros. wanted Sidney Poitier, but Ford pushed back, saying he wasnt tough enough to play Rutledge. The Last Rebel (1971) He went on to play in the Canadian Football League before becoming a prolific Hollywood actor,. Thanks for reading Brice! Woody Strode: A Pioneer In Pro Wrestling, Cinema & The NFL Which is sort of remarkable, because they love each other. Actually, I had been rassling in the off-season anyhow, Strode told the late, great Canadian newspaper columnist Jim Proudfoot. I almost died inside when I heard he was a racist. A recently posed question casts a shadow on the otherwise pristine legacy of. 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. > Sporting Connection American actor Woody Strode on the set of Sergeant Rutledge, directed by John Ford. 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. Required fields are marked *. 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. Strode lived in Italy for five years and made 12 films there. I was a big James Stewart fan until I read he was racist. His recollection of several details that are easily checked is inaccurate. Keyshawn Johnson Wants the N.F.L. to Remember Its 'Forgotten Four' The spiritual leader of an oriental country is dying. 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. 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. The Cotton Club Encore (2019) Odie Henderson. Due to the intense love and fandom ofPsych fans (known as Psych-os) all around the world,Psych has evolved from being a series to being a franchise that shows no sign of slowing down. Woody Strode - Wikipedia The Sins of Rachel Cade (1961) Strode, 32 when he signed, never got a chance to prove himself and was released after one season. Michael Munns dangerous habit of mixing truth with exaggeration and fallacy calls his alleged interview with Woody Strode into question. Regarding your claim that Jimmy expressed mildly anti-Semitic views: Ive never found any evidence to support this, either. (A small role in 1941s Sundown marked his actual debut.) 'The Harder They Fall' owes a tip of the hat to the pro footballer turned actor, who played the title role in one of the first mainstream films to plainly address racism. Despite his romance with Dinah Shore in the 1940s Stewart was also known to express some mildly anti-Semitic views during the counterculture movement. When Strode tried to help him, Duke knocked his co-star away. (He never forgot Calgary, however, and returned to the city in 1986 to aid fundraising for the financially-ailing team. Every old Hollywood fan should read this. Hi Rosemary, Thanks for reading! Woody Strode, the football player turned actor who had supporting roles in John Wayne films and costume period epics such as "Spartacus" and "The Ten Commandments," has died at age 80. Strode appeared in at least 90 films, from Sunrise in 1941 to his last, The Quick and the Dead, released in 1995. He often offers his opinions and most candid thoughts at the least appropriate moments. but i had also read the story of him sticking up for Strode, so I didnt know what to believe. Dr Albert Schweitzer Full Documentary - YouTube Strode played as an End with the Rams in 1946, playing in 10 games that season. Strode was in City Beneath the Sea (1953) directed by Budd Boetticher, and The Royal African Rifles. Strode is perhaps best remembered as the stoic slave gladiator in Spartacus (1960) who tells Kirk Douglas: I dont want to be your friend. Bill Fryes exact words to biographer Marc Elliot about Jim turning down Mockingbird were: He turned down To Kill a Mockingbird because he felt the racial thing was too controversialtoo liberal really, but he would never say it that way.. Thanks again for reading! Con Jock Mahoney, Woody Strode, Tsu Kobayashi, Earl Cameron. My grandparents were not especially anti-Semitic, but admitted they would not support Jewish political candidates. 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." > Video Jaguar Lives! So, Stewart didnt ask that the part be re-written. Breakout (TV) (1970) Also Stewart even stayed up late much to director Premingers chagrin during Anatomy Of A Murder to play with Duke Ellington. Was Jimmy Stewart Racist? Woody Strode - MovieMaker Magazine > The Artist Canvas Tarzans Fight for Life (1958) Aka: Black Kingpin 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. He had a problem with a black guy doing that. In director John Fords Sergeant Rutledge (1960), a western where he depicted a soldier on trial for two murders and the rape of a white woman, when Strode bared his chest to a white woman (actress Constance Towers), even the movie audiences gasped. The Revengers (1972) 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. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Amazon.com: Kingdom of the Spiders [Blu-ray] : William Shatner, Woody Jimmy Stewart was not racist. 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. 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. Born in Los Angeles in 1914, Woodrow Wilson Woolwine Strode died at age 80 on New Year's Eve 1994. La mala ordina (1972) Barbara Payton - what a waste. Historian Alan Royle I once played a part written for an Irish prize fighter. (1979) In fact, Woody was already calling someone on his cell phone: Shawn. In Liberty Valance, a picture I did with Duke, Stewart recounted. Boot Hill | REMASTERED Full Comedy Movie - YouTube A rumor casts a shadow on the legacy of Jimmy Stewart. Noi non siamo angeli (1975) His last film was The Quick and the Dead, which starred Sharon Stone. 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 | American actor and athlete | Britannica I encourage you to read my full article for further insights into the character of Jimmy Stewart. While at UCLA, he met his future wife when the football team was playing the University of Hawaii in Honolulu Hawaiian princess Luukialunan Kalaeloa. Her brother Peter said that Jimmy Stewart was not racist. By the late 1960s, he moved to Europe and became a regular in the Italian (Spaghetti) Western genre. Your email address will not be published. Bride of the Gorilla (1951) In the trailer, Jim, Van Johnson, Shirley Temple, Eddie Cantor, Jennifer Jones, Ingrid Bergman, Walter Pidgeon, Katharine Hepburn, and Edward G. Robinson encouraged Americans to stand together in support of freedom for all, a message particularly relevant in the wake of World War II. In 1946, Jimmy Stewart led a small group of stars who vocalized their support for brotherhood among all Americans. Though Woody usually means well, he's not always the most aware of what's going on in the world around him. 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. Jul 1: Money in the Bank Regarding your claim that Jimmy made racist remarks about people in Vietnam: in my extensive research, Ive never found any evidence to support this. Androcoles and the Lion (1952) I do believe he love life and all Gods creations. Strodes riveting presence among a trio of hired gunslingers waiting at the train station in the spaghetti western, Once Upon a Time in the West (1968), is unforgettable. Western icon John Wayne had a legendary collaboration with director John Ford that lasted five decades and transformed both mens careers. 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. 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. Sharing hotel, meals, and a piano jam session on and off film with Duke Ellington. Mar 5: AEW Revolution 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.. As an actor, Strode is forever tied to John Ford (see our Pepper Martin biography for some stories that involve both Strode and Ford). Jimmy Stewart voiced his support for this goal in a 16 second radio campaign that played the week of February 16-23, 1947. Tarzan is summoned to protect him and he must face three tests of strength. > Books Jim spoke of his Hollywood career in a series of interviews with journalist James Bawden between 1971 and 1983 [aff. Woody Strode, Black Representation and John Ford's SERGEANT - YouTube The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) Deweys book was published early in 1996 when Stewart was still alive. 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. Michael Munns dangerous habit of mixing truth with exaggeration and fallacy calls his alleged interview with. 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. 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