Released in 1960, when the U.S. was in the early stages of the Civil Rights Movement, the film confronted racial injustice head on. (After she died in 1980, Strode would marry Tina in 1982, and they were together until his death.). Once Upon A Time in the West (1968) In the absence of evidence to support your various claims about Jimmy Stewart, they cannot be taken as fact. The sheer fact that he shares the anecdote is evidence that Jim did not have any racist behavior to hide. So thank you for this I really really appreciate it. Spartacus is probably Strodes most famous role as the warrior Kirk Douglas refuses to kill. Michael Munns books are unreliable. According to Strode: Stewart was never rude to mehe was never rude to anyone. But that's what makes him such a great character. Next James Bond: Tom Hardy leapfrogged by 007 outsider, Robert Shaw Harrison Ford fury on Force 10 From Navarone 'total bull', John Wayne was really p***ed off: The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance was miserable shoot, John Wayne was constantly mocked by John Ford and even Jimmy Stewart was attacked too, Rio Bravo: Angie Dickinson on cute John Wayne being so different', Pompey star Woody Strode on John Wayne's left, John Wayne felt he couldn't hit back at John Ford since the director made him a star, John Wayne: The Searchers set revelation that saw John Ford speechless, How the West Was Won: Idiot drunk producer, near-death and more, John Wayne: Why Elvis turned down Dukes offer to co-star in Western, John Wayne: She Wore a Yellow Ribbon set feud that led to best scene, John Waynes final movie was NOT The Shootist Duke was in Star Wars, John Wayne never learnt his lesson over Hollywood roles. Michael Munns 2005 biography, Jimmy Stewart: The Truth Behind the Legend[aff. The Black Stallion Returns (1983) He was a good man deserving of the love and admiration that so many of us have for him. 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. 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. (A small role in 1941s Sundown marked his actual debut.) 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]. In USA Network's Psych, Coroner Woody Strode is easily the weirdest character, but he also has some of the series' funniest quotes. 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 further worth noting that in his 1990 autobiography [ aff. Demetrius and the Gladiators (1954) 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. He went on to play in the Canadian Football League before becoming a prolific Hollywood actor,. According to Woody, he's even less in control of himself, and all of his faculties, when tickling is involved. Well researched! (Episode 6). Sergeant Rutledge (1960) Ive updated the section to include more facts specific to the show. Michael Munns dangerous habit of mixing truth with exaggeration and fallacy calls his alleged interview with Woody Strode into question. 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. Aka: Black Jesus 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. She has a passion for character-driven stories with dynamic but flawed leads, and a special weakness for all things 1980s. Jimmy Stewart was a remarkable man who loved all his fellowman. Semantic Scholar is a free, AI-powered research tool for scientific literature, based at the Allen Institute for AI. It is like when people try to pretend John Wayne and Winston Churchill were not racist. He made more than sixty movies including his last film, The Quick and The Dead [1995]. Thanks for commenting Rich! RELATED:Psych: 10 Best Gus Nicknames, Ranked. Posse (1993) His wrestling career lasted until 1960, but by 1952, Strode had started getting movie parts. Jungle Gents (1954) Strode played as an End with the Rams in 1946, playing in 10 games that season. In the interview, Marvin relates an incident where Jimmy Stewart actively opposed the racist behavior of another actor on set. ", NEXT:Psych 2: Lassie Come Home: 10 Easter Eggs You Totally Missed. Lets not allow an unsubstantiated rumor to tarnish the reputation of one of the few Hollywood stars worthy of our complete respect and admiration. 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. Strode was born in Los Angeles on July 25, 1914, the son . His last film was The Quick and the Dead, which starred Sharon Stone. Thanks again for reading Brice, and for your kind comment! As a black man I should know better by now, and am glad that I decided to look further into the matter. According to Peter Fonda, the sheer fact that Jimmy Stewart was best friends with Peters father. 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. > Sporting Connection I want to thank you for your research into one of my favorite actors. Scream (1985) Jimmys words and actions prove that he was not racist. LUltimo guerriero (1984) Jimmy Stewart voiced his support for this goal in a 16 second radio campaign that played the week of February 16-23, 1947. 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. Western icon John Wayne had a legendary collaboration with director John Ford that lasted five decades and transformed both mens careers. We both gotta be professionals. 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. The FBI agent character was written out of The Jimmy Stewart Show after Stewart objected to NBC. Two teammates at UCLA were Jackie Robinson and Kenny Washington. 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. Im so happy you came across my article. For terms and use, please refer to our Terms and Conditions Strode, 32 when he signed, never got a chance to prove himself and was released after one season. Jimmy Stewart voiced his support for this goal in a 16 second radio campaign that played the week of February 16-23, 1947. 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. 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. Strode was a gladiator in Demetrius and the Gladiators (1954) and was in Jungle Man-Eaters (1954), a Jungle . Woody Strode, the square-jawed, muscular former UCLA athlete who became a character actor with supporting roles in films for nearly a half century, has . In 1939 Woody, Jackie Robinson and Kenny Washington led UCLA to its first undefeated football season. And why was he cast as Lieutenant Quigley? Aka: We Are No Angels Strode also played the powerful gladiator who does battle with Kirk Douglas in Spartacus (1960)." Played . La spina dorsale del diavolo (1971) For Jims take on working with John Ford and the Uncle Remus incident, listen to his 1969 account below. He is wearing cowboy. 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.. We dont know why Jimmy turned down Mockingbird. Id do that if I could. Jimmy Stewart has deserved an article like this for a long time. 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. He was always magnificent with a no-nonsense style and quiet intellect that no athlete-turned actor has ever surpassed. A rumor casts a shadow on the legacy of Jimmy Stewart. Thankfully, the show never subjected Woody - or viewers - to that possibility. Jungle Man-Eaters (1954) Well, perhaps desperately isn't the right word. Of course, their football rhythm had been broken up by World War II. But one anecdote Kanter shared has since been used as evidence that Jimmy Stewart was racist. 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. As already mentioned, Woody has a real hard time knowing when to keep from over sharing. It was Ford who cast Strode in the lead role in Sergeant Rutledge. Hi James, thanks for commenting. It was on the set of 1959s Pork Chop Hill, a Korean War film, that Strode met John Ford (though Ford was not the director; Lewis Milestone and star Gregory Peck shared the credit). 20072023 Blackpast.org. 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. Deweys book was published early in 1996 when Stewart was still alive. Afterwards, Lee Marvin remembered seeing both. Additionally, the director kept mocking Wayne for not enlisting in World War II, which made the star feel guilty in his later years. Smith Goes to Washington, did not escape Fords sadism unscathed. 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. For his book, Dewey interviewed the producer of Jimmys 1971 television show, writer Hal Kanter. Ravagers (1979) Cutting Her Down to Size? What is it whats the idea? And I said, I dont know!, And I didnt know, Stewart added. Woody Strode was 6-3 (190 cm) tall. Never had so much fun as I did in Canada. After handing over ME duties to Alex Richards, he remains a frequent contributor to the site. Mar 5: AEW Revolution But Stewart, an Oscar winner known for such timeless hits as The Philadelphia Story, Vertigo and Mr. A recently posed question casts a shadow on the otherwise pristine legacy of Jimmy Stewart. A recently posed question casts a shadow on the otherwise pristine legacy of. 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. THRs review of Sergeant Rutledge on April 8, 1960, Stephanie Hsu Hopes Breakthrough Indie Spirit Award Will Protect That Freak Flag, Roald Dahl Publisher Bends to Controversy, Will Release Classic Version of Controversial Kids Books, Andrea Riseborough: Oscars Most Talked-About Nominee Breaks Her Silence, Film Independent Spirit Awards: Winners List (Updating Live), Spirit Awards: Everything Everywhere All at Once Starts With a Bang, The Bear Wins First TV Award, Spirit Awards: Ke Huy Quan Thanks His Everything Everywhere All at Once Family in Best Supporting Performance Acceptance Speech, Spirit Awards: Hasan Minhaj Pokes Fun at IFC for Not Broadcasting Ceremony, How to Watch the 2023 Film Independent Spirit Awards Livestream, Star Hairstylist Jen Atkin Reveals Must-Have Hair Tools, Tutorials and Pro Tips In New MasterClass, Rihannas Puma x Fenty Is Coming Back Heres Where You Can Still Buy Those Cult-Fave Creepers, The Best Bridesmaid Dresses for Every Budget, From Under-$100 Gowns to Hollywood-Inspired Classics, BTS Army: Heres When and Where Legos Dynamite-Inspired Set Arrives Online and In Stores, The Big Lebowski Turns 25: People Didnt Get It, Jeff Bridges Recalls, How the Landscape of Native-Led Stories Has Changed Between Avatars: Were Flexing Our Sovereignty, The Definitive Voice of Entertainment News. In 1992, he was honored by the Cauliflower Alley Club with wrestlings top award, the Iron Mike Mazurki Award. > The Artist Canvas as a Black American, years ago, I read that Jimmy was racist. Which is sort of remarkable, because they love each other. RELATED:Psych: Ranking The Main Characters By Intelligence. The Stampeder supporters invaded Toronto and a national party was created. 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. As James Stewart explained it, Woody Strode, the actor who was playing Waynes characters best friend, was part of the scene. Thank you thank you thank you dear for this story, I am so so grateful for this. According to Jimmy Stewart, Los Angeles in 1934 was: Magical! 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. 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. They broke the NFLs modern colour barrier the year before, suiting up for the Los Angeles Rams. Strode praised Ford in a 1960 interview. Find on Wikipedia. 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. Where was Woody Strode born? Jimmy Stewart was not racist. Unlike Robinson, however, neither played much. To promote Brotherhood Week, Jimmy Stewart opened and closed a 3 minute trailer that played before feature films at theaters across the United States. Frye admits as much at the end of the quote. Tarzans Deadly Silence (1970), Ciakmull Luuomo della vendetta (1970) 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.. So, Stewart didnt ask that the part be re-written. Horror Safari (1982) The Last Voyage (1960 Producer Julian Blaustein, who produced Jims 1950 film, Broken Arrow, also knew that Jimmy Stewart was not racist: I never knew Jimmy to do or say anything that was racist.. American actor Woody Strode on the set of Sergeant Rutledge, directed by John Ford. How tall was Woody Strode? Buruuba (1955) That never happens in a more hilarious manner than during a conversation with Henry Spencer about his sonwho Woody believes is Gus. Aka: The Last Warrior Thanks so much for your kind words, and for reading! As Kanter recalled, Jim didnt like the idea of a black police officer lecturing him on television, and threatened to use his casting approval to get Hal Williams out of the show. This unnamed actor used the n word to refer to Woody Strode. The two became friends, and Ford later gave Wayne his breakthrough role in Stagecoach, the film that launched Wayne to Hollywood stardom. A footnote in the life of a great man. Actor: Spartacus. 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). Just ask fans of the Calgary Stampeders. Im so glad you found my article, and Im beyond happy to hear that you can enjoy Jimmys films once more. To answer your question: Hal Kanter is the only primary source to say that Jimmy had issue with the casting of Hal Williams. While at UCLA, he met his future wife when the football team was playing the University of Hawaii in Honolulu Hawaiian princess Luukialunan Kalaeloa. 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. 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. 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." Hi Rosemary, Thanks for reading! 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. Aka: Boot Hill His wrestling career? The Quest: The Longest Drive (TV) (1976) Was Jimmy Stewart Racist? 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. Strode lived in Italy for five years and made 12 films there. Kingdom of the Spiders (1977) 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. 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. This story first appeared in the Nov. 3 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine.