Who was Woody Strode, Hollywood star who broke the NFL color barrier 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. 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. > The Artist Canvas Tha Gatling Gun (1973) As James Stewart explained it, Woody Strode, the actor who was playing Wayne's character's best friend, was part of the scene. The Man Who Made The Stars Shine Brighter: An Interview with Woody Strode Martinelli, Outside Man (TV) (1977) The evidence proves that Jim was not racist. 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. Strode played as an End with the Rams in 1946, playing in 10 games that season. 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 his book, Dewey interviewed the producer of Jimmys 1971 television show, writer Hal Kanter. Woody Strode - actor - biography, photo, best movies and TV shows Aka: Black Kingpin (After she died in 1980, Strode would marry Tina in 1982, and they were together until his death.). 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. 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 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 would retire from pro football after that first season. 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.. In response, Ford said: Whats wrong with Uncle Remus? The director then called the crews attention and shouted: One of ourplayersdoesn't like Woody's costume. Woody Strode movie reviews & film summaries | Roger Ebert. Woody Strode was 6-3 (190 cm) tall. After handing over ME duties to Alex Richards, he remains a frequent contributor to the site. 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. 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? It's also one that finds Woody being pulled into the action - albeit not as willingly or successfully as before. > Movies & TV 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. An athlete turned actor, Strode was a top-notch decathlete and a football star at UCLA. Washington and Strode? Your email address will not be published. The Cotton Club (1984) Kanters interview includes his overwhelmingly positive insights on both Jim and working on The Jimmy Stewart Show (1971-1972). And according to the actor, Ford froze, then walked away. The Last Voyage (1960 Key West (TV) (1973) Also, he appeared in several episodes of the 1952-1954 television series Ramar of the Jungle, where he portrayed an African warrior. Aka: Stick Em Up, Darlings Lee Marvin was impressed by Jimmys impassioned response: I liked Jimmy before that incident, but after it, I liked him a whole lot more.. Strode also played the powerful gladiator who does battle with Kirk Douglas in Spartacus (1960)." Played . Id play a Viking with blue contact lenses and a blond wig if I could. (Proving the point: In Androcles and the Lion, Strode actually dressed as the lion.). Aka: Chuck Moll In 1992, he was honored by the Cauliflower Alley Club with wrestlings top award, the Iron Mike Mazurki Award. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.. An athlete turned actor, Strode was a top-notch decathlete and a football star at UCLA. I find a lot of this evidence unconvincing. Vigilante (1983) Hal Kanter is our only primary source to say that Jimmy had an issue with the casting of Hal Williams. In fact, Woody was already calling someone on his cell phone: Shawn. 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. My grandparents were not especially anti-Semitic, but admitted they would not support Jewish political candidates. In addition to the testaments of people who knew him, Jimmy Stewarts own words and actions prove he was not racist. Hal Kanter is our only primary source on the alleged conversation. Noi non siamo angeli (1975) Jungle Gents (1954) After World War II Woody and Kenny Washington became the first blacks to play in the NFL. Reviews. Michael Munns integrity as a biographer has been questioned. For terms and use, please refer to our Terms and Conditions Woody Strode was born in California on July 25, 1914. Jim was a good man through and through. Genghis Khan (1965) To promote Brotherhood Week, Jimmy Stewart opened and closed a 3 minute trailer that played before feature films at theaters across the United States. Besides marking Calgarys first Grey Cup championship, the 1948 game proved to be a turning point in Grey Cup lore as well. 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). Tarzans Three Challenges (1963) Woody Strode and Jimmy Stewart in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962). debut in 1941 in Henry Hathaway' s Sundown. God bless. He was always magnificent with a no-nonsense style and quiet intellect that no athlete-turned actor has ever surpassed. In 1939 Woody, Jackie Robinson and Kenny Washington led UCLA to its first undefeated football season. Sounds pretty racist to me. Woody Strode; Ex-Athlete, Character Actor in Movies Strode worked in B-movies through the '70s and '80s and acted as the narrator for Mario Van Peebles' Black. End of story. No freeways. Jimmys words and actions prove that he was not racist. Michael Munns dangerous habit of mixing truth with exaggeration and fallacy calls his alleged interview with Woody Strode into question. I refer you back to my section on The Jimmy Stewart Show for the facts behind the casting of Hal Williams. 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. Strode was born in Los Angeles on July 25, 1914, the son . Tarzans Fight for Life (1958) Ford was so impressed with Strode, he gave him the starring role in 1960's Sergeant Rutledge, a Technicolor Western about a U.S. Cavalry sergeant falsely accused of raping a white woman and . 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. 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? As the two actors filmed an exterior shot on a horse-drawn cart, Wayne was close to losing control of the horses. 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. Aka: We Are No Angels Was Hal Williams ever contacted regarding the contriversy kanter mentioned? Holmes. Which is sort of remarkable, because they love each other. Colpo in canna (1975) Williams has never addressed Kanters allegations, nor has he said that Jimmy mistreated him. Apr 1: WWE WrestleMania Shawn and Gus try to convince Woody to keep quiet, but Woody warns them that he will tell anyone who he comes across. 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. > Books I was too young at the time to realize Ford was using me to get at Stewart. Woody Strode. The Professionals (1966) As they were preparing to shoot, Ford came up to Stewart and asked, What do you think of Woodys costume?. Lust in the Dust (1985) 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. you have laid my thoughts about him to rest, and that he truly was a good, good man. 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. Katerina is a List Writer here at Screen Rant with a background in literary criticism and creative writing. Woody Strode - MovieMaker Magazine Apr 2: WWE WrestleMania Woody Strode | American actor and athlete | Britannica Your donation is fully tax-deductible. Sharing hotel, meals, and a piano jam session on and off film with Duke Ellington. Cuba Crossing (1980) 7 Women (1966) All Rights Reserved. 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). Frye admits as much at the end of the quote. Bit of a game changer." Though Woody usually means well, he's not always the . 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. Jim hit it off particularly well with Duke Ellington during filming of 1959s Anatomy of a Murder, for which Ellington made history as the first black musician to compose the score for a major Hollywood production. Interesting to see that there are actually people out there who are hell-bent on believing that Jimmy was racist. The episode "Last Night Gus" isn't just a real highlight for Psych but for Woody's character and his bizarre humor, too. Well researched! In the alleged interview, Woody Strode never uses the word racist to describe Jimmy Stewart. Battle scars and violent interludes: Point blank with definitive Woody Strode: A Pioneer In Pro Wrestling, Cinema & The NFL 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.. 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. For Jims take on working with John Ford and the Uncle Remus incident, listen to his 1969 account below. So yes, Woody's idea of the "snoafer" might not be the best concept in the world. Strode appeared in several subsequent Ford films, though never in a starring capacity. 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. Hi Yolanda, it is such a disturbing rumor. 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. Part African American and part Native American, Strodes first big break was in 1960s Spartacus, as the Ethiopian gladiator whose death sparks a rebellion. > WrestleMania, Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Hockey injury led to wrestling for Karl Von Stroheim. Scream (1985) Thanks again for reading Brice, and for your kind comment! For nearly two decades he remained a pio- neer against racism in the film and television industry. Michael Munns 2005 biography, Jimmy Stewart: The Truth Behind the Legend[aff. Spartacus is probably Strodes most famous role as the warrior Kirk Douglas refuses to kill. Once Upon A Time in the West (1968) 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). Jan. 3, 1995 12 AM PT. Aka: The Million Dollar Fire Ive updated the section to include more facts specific to the show. Ford proceeded to announce to the entire company that: One of the actors here doesnt like Uncle Remus. Afterwards, Lee Marvin remembered seeing both John Wayne and Jimmy Stewart lunge for the offending actor. (Episode 6). Thanks for reading, Luke. Strode was in City Beneath the Sea (1953) directed by Budd Boetticher, and The Royal African Rifles. American actor Woody Strode on the set of Sergeant Rutledge, directed by John Ford. Two Rode Together (1961) Jul 1: Money in the Bank 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. And late Hollywood legend James Stewart got to watch their dynamic up close. Aka: The Last Warrior Additionally, the director kept mocking Wayne for not enlisting in World War II, which made the star feel guilty in his later years. He is wearing cowboy. Its further worth noting that in his 1990 autobiography [ aff. 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 It was Donald Deweys 1997 biography of Jimmy Stewart [aff. Strode also played the powerful gladiator who does battle with Kirk Douglas in Spartacus (1960)." Strode served in the Air Force from 1942 to 1946, including time in Guam and the Marianas where he unloaded bombs. 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. Star Spangled Rhythm (1942) LUltimo guerriero (1984) Jimmy Stewart was not racist. So thank you for this I really really appreciate it. Unfortunately, anger at Jimmy Stewart is also the takeaway of less engaged readers of Michael Munns book. Regarding your claim that Jimmy expressed mildly anti-Semitic views: Ive never found any evidence to support this, either.