Blacks usually sat at the back of the bus. It was Donald Deweys 1997 biography of Jimmy Stewart [aff. Aka: Boot Hill This unnamed actor used the n word to refer to Woody Strode. Tha Gatling Gun (1973) And when we lost, we cried like babies.. Holmes. (See The American Creed video in my article above.). Theyre like father and son.. 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. Her brother Peter said that Jimmy Stewart was not racist. Actor: Spartacus. Stewart said that he didnt like it. Strode was a black cavalry officer on trial for rape and murder, and during the court-martial his story is recounted in flashback. In 1941, he began working as a professional wrestler, and in 1946, he and Washington became the first two African-American football players to play in the NFL, when they signed with the Los Angeles Rams. Strode worked in B-movies through the '70s and '80s and acted as the narrator for Mario Van Peebles' Black. 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. 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. 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? When Strode tried to help him, Duke knocked his co-star away. Strode was a star in Italy, where he lived between 1969 and 1973. He majored in history and education. His wrestling career lasted until 1960, but by 1952, Strode had started getting movie parts. Apr 1: WWE WrestleMania Angkor: Cambodia Express (1982) (Episode 6). If Jim would never say it that way, then Bill Frye should not say it that way for him. I am a black American who was heartbroken when I heard this aweful rumor. (After she died in 1980, Strode would marry Tina in 1982, and they were together until his death.). Woody Strode was born in California on July 25, 1914. 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. Interesting to see that there are actually people out there who are hell-bent on believing that Jimmy was racist. I was lucky enough this time to have John Ford as my director. 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. Vigilante (1983) He had a problem with a black guy doing that. The Revengers (1972) After livestock belonging to Rack's friend Walter Colby (Woody Strode, The Italian connection. Ford had to accept those terms or not make the film.. Decathlete who also played football professionally in the CFL, and enjoyed a successful acting career. We dont know why Jimmy turned down Mockingbird. Lust in the Dust (1985) 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. That never happens in a more hilarious manner than during a conversation with Henry Spencer about his sonwho Woody believes is Gus. 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 . Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. Jimmy Stewart was a remarkable man who loved all his fellowman. > Career Records According to Peter Fonda, the sheer fact that Jimmy Stewart was best friends with Peters father. 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. Jim spoke of his Hollywood career in a series of interviews with journalist James Bawden between 1971 and 1983 [aff. but i had also read the story of him sticking up for Strode, so I didnt know what to believe. Id do that if I could. 1936 Strode posed for one of two paintings commissioned by Adolf Hitler for the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. Williams has never addressed Kanters allegations, nor has he said that Jimmy mistreated him. Of course, Robinson would go on to break major league baseballs colour barrier in 1947. Stewart was of the same opinion. That means everything, working with a man like that." Thanks again for reading! The Cotton Club (1984) Jaguar Lives! 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. His own words and actions, and the words of those who knew him, prove that Jimmy Stewart was not racist. In the interview, Marvin relates an incident where Jimmy Stewart actively opposed the racist behavior of another actor on set. 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. The Quick & The Dead (1995) debut in 1941 in Henry Hathaway' s Sundown. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. Jul 1: Money in the Bank 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. 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. Spartacus (1991) Building on two centuries' experience, Taylor & Francis has grown rapidlyover the last two decades to become a leading international academic publisher.The Group publishes over 800 journals and over 1,800 new books each year, coveringa wide variety of subject areas and incorporating the journal imprints of Routledge,Carfax, Spon Press, Psychology Press, Martin Dunitz, and Taylor & Francis.Taylor & Francis is fully committed to the publication and dissemination of scholarly information of the highest quality, and today this remains the primary goal. His fellow Gold Dust Gang member Jackie Robinson would break the color barrier in Major League Baseball a year later in 1947. Munn insists that he was the confidant of nearly every great Classic Hollywood Star, a declaration he made only after all of these stars passed. By the late 1960s, he moved to Europe and became a regular in the Italian (Spaghetti) Western genre. At the time Ford yelled: Dont hit him Woody! Afterwards, Lee Marvin remembered seeing both John Wayne and Jimmy Stewart lunge for the offending actor. Che! 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. 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]. And late Hollywood legend James Stewart got to watch their dynamic up close. Actually, I had been rassling in the off-season anyhow, Strode told the late, great Canadian newspaper columnist Jim Proudfoot. He was a good man deserving of the love and admiration that so many of us have for him. Noi non siamo angeli (1975) Thanks for reading Brian! While at UCLA, he met his future wife when the football team was playing the University of Hawaii in Honolulu Hawaiian princess Luukialunan Kalaeloa. > The Artist Canvas He went on to play in the Canadian Football League before becoming a prolific Hollywood actor,. 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. 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. It changed my outlook on many other things and renewed my faith in mankind, thank you. Once Upon A Time in the West (1968) To promote Brotherhood Week, Jimmy Stewart opened and closed a 3 minute trailer that played before feature films at theaters across the United States. 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! Tarzan and the Perils of Charity Jones (1967) The evidence proves that Jim was not racist. 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. 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). Strode gave the Hollywood establishment what they demanded and appeared in some of the best and the worst of what they offered him. Strode lived in Italy for five years and made 12 films there. As they were preparing to shoot, Ford came up to Stewart and asked, What do you think of Woodys costume?. 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. The Stampeder supporters invaded Toronto and a national party was created. And I went on, and it went around the company: Stewart has never, hes always right up there., The day before the movie finished shooting, the cast was preparing to do the funeral scene. Thank you for reading! We both gotta be professionals. He served as a caregiver to Ford in his final years and was at Fords deathbed in 1973. 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. According to Kanter, Jim was chagrined by his mixup. 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. I read that Stewart was a racist a few weeks ago and fell for it hook line and sinker. ), Wrestling was next on his resume. Sergeant Rutledge is a 1960 American Technicolor Western film directed by John Ford and starring Jeffrey Hunter, Constance Towers, Woody Strode and Billie Burke. Period. Strode worked in B-movies through the 70s and 80s and acted as the narrator for Mario Van Peebles Black Western Posse in 1993. For his book, Dewey interviewed the producer of Jimmys 1971 television show, writer Hal Kanter. 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. But then, towards the end of filming, the director asked the Ranse star what he made of Strodes costume for the beginning and the end of the film when their characters were portrayed as 25 years older. 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.. An athlete turned actor, Strode was a top-notch decathlete and a football star at UCLA. Thanks for commenting. Thanks for commenting Rich! In 1946, Jimmy Stewart led a small group of stars who vocalized their support for brotherhood among all Americans. Thats my take. Thankfully, the show never subjected Woody - or viewers - to that possibility. 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. But it still doesn't make a whole lot of sense for him to make his first logical leap either. It's also one that finds Woody being pulled into the action - albeit not as willingly or successfully as before. 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.