woody strode interview

Even in his later films, like Vigilante (1982) and Jungle Warriors (1984), the 70 year-old Strode looks That means everything, working with a man like that." Tarzans Deadly Silence (1970), Ciakmull Luuomo della vendetta (1970) The picture was about, oh, more than halfway finished. 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. Spartacus is probably Strodes most famous role as the warrior Kirk Douglas refuses to kill. Ive done everything but play an Anglo-Saxon. 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). Im so glad you searched for the facts and came across my article. 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. 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. Thanks for reading, James. Winterhawk (1975) Thanks for your kind words, and for reading! Strode praised Ford in a 1960 interview. Michael Munns dangerous habit of mixing truth with exaggeration and fallacy calls his alleged interview with. Weve dissected the fallacies behind the rumor that Jimmy Stewart was a racist. Period. Pork Chop Hill (1959) Two teammates at UCLA were Jackie Robinson and Kenny Washington. > Canadian Hall of Fame As a black man I should know better by now, and am glad that I decided to look further into the matter. 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. 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.). Apr 1: WWE WrestleMania Pete Thodos would score shortly thereafter to seal a 12-7 Calgary win. Mar 5: AEW Revolution 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. He had not a problem with a white guy playing the police officer giving Jimmys character a tongue-lashing. So glad that Mr. Stewart was not a racist. Strode also played the powerful gladiator who does battle with Kirk Douglas in Spartacus (1960)." Played . 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. Speaking of Woody not being the most socially aware person in the world, look no further than his lack of understanding when it comes to chat speak as yet another example of that fact. At MGM there was a separate entrance and lunchroom for the black laborers and maids. If we are to take Michael Munns 1976 interview with Woody Strode as fact, then Munns alleged interview with Lee Marvin, another Liberty Valance star, should also be considered. 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. Reviews. Thanks for commenting Rich! 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. 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.. Tarzan and the Perils of Charity Jones (1967) And late Hollywood legend James Stewart got to watch their dynamic up close. Aka: Black Jesus Washington and Strode? The spiritual leader of an oriental country is dying. 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. Ford had to accept those terms or not make the film.. Im delighted to put the rumors about him to rest. 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.. (1969) Spartacus (1991) Thanks so much for your kind words, and for reading! A small donation would help us keep this available to all. Not many sports historians report, No one is more deserving than Frank Manchel, Emeritus Professor of English and Film at the University of Vermont, to be recognized by Film & History as a pioneer in film studies. 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. It was the dark side of the American dream.. 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. Lets go behind the origin of the rumor that Jimmy Stewart was racist, and the evidence that refutes it. Aka: The Last Warrior 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.. A footnote in the life of a great man. How much did Woody Strode weigh when playing? 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. His own words and actions, and the words of those who knew him, prove that Jimmy Stewart was not racist. Strode was in City Beneath the Sea (1953) directed by Budd Boetticher, and The Royal African Rifles. 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. May he forever RIP. In 1939 he played for one of UCLA's greatest football teams ever, alongside future baseball legend Jackie Robinson. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. Woody Strode weighed 205 lbs (92 kg) when playing. And yet, it's impossible to get enough of him, even when he crosses every line and oversteps every boundary. Since 1964-when he, Examinations of masculinity in John Ford's film The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) tend to revolve around the two leading male protagonists played by John Wayne and James Stewart (Tom Doniphon, By clicking accept or continuing to use the site, you agree to the terms outlined in our. And when we lost, we cried like babies.. They were married in 1940 in Las Vegas. Afterwards, Lee Marvin remembered seeing both. debut in 1941 in Henry Hathaway' s Sundown. Unfortunately, anger at Jimmy Stewart is also the takeaway of less engaged readers of Michael Munns book. How tall was Woody Strode? 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. Blacks usually sat at the back of the bus. Was Vera-Ellen Anorexic in White Christmas? Your donation is fully tax-deductible. Tarzans Fight for Life (1958) He lives in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, with his wife and son. In the interview, Marvin relates an incident where Jimmy Stewart actively opposed the racist behavior of another actor on set. But Woody's own behaviors raise plenty of questions about his intentions, including his admission that he's "been playing with dead things since [he] was a toddler.". That was one of the great days in my life and I can remember it very clearly, Strode told the Toronto Stars George Gamester in 1977. Hal Kanter is our only primary source to say that Jimmy had an issue with the casting of Hal Williams. 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. It changed my outlook on many other things and renewed my faith in mankind, thank you. Aka: The Million Dollar Fire 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. 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. I have watched his films since I was a teenager and hoped that this rumor was untrue. The answer is no. 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. Strode made a successful transition from sports hero to the movie screen, though Hollywood seemed more predisposed to his magnificent physique and gallant stride than his acting ability. 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 . In this, the last interview Strode ever gave, he expresses only respect for Jimmy Stewart, calling Jim one of the screens greatest actors.. link] that first sparked rumors about the beloved stars beliefs. As already mentioned, Woody has a real hard time knowing when to keep from over sharing. 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. Thanks to the passionate insistence of director Otto Preminger, the controversial scene stayed in the film [aff. He's a baffling combination of crass and innocent, and all of his interactions with every member of the series' primary cast are always guaranteed to bring a laugh. Your email address will not be published. La collina degli stivali (1969) She's been living in a galaxy far, far away since she was 11 years old, though she makes the occasional stop in Themyscira, Hawkins, and Westeros - and she wouldn't have it any other way. 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.. End of story. He is wearing cowboy. In addition to his WWII record, Jimmy was a member of The American Brotherhood of Christians and Jews, which he encouraged others to join. Excellent points Dennis, thanks for commenting! 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. Jungle Gents (1954) 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.. Storyville (1992) At many times throughout the stressful saga, Woody is also fearing for his life, even pleading desperately with his captor and the episode's villain. But that's what makes him such a great character. He played in the Pacific Coast Football League for the Hollywood Bears prior to enlisting in the US Air Force during World War II. Breakout (TV) (1970) He shared a story from the set of The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Fords 1962 film about an attorney (Stewart) who, robbed and left for dead by a notorious outlaw, is saved by a rancher (Wayne) and has to start over from scratch. 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. Woody Strode was born in California on July 25, 1914. Buruuba (1955) Hi Cheryl, thanks for reading! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. Or taken out of the script altogether. The episode "Last Night Gus" isn't just a real highlight for Psych but for Woody's character and his bizarre humor, too. Despite these flaws, Kanters anecdote is cited as evidence that Jimmy Stewart was racist. As James Stewart explained it, Woody Strode, the actor who was playing Waynes characters best friend, was part of the scene. Never thought of them as brothers though. Yet it was this famous athleteturned-actor who, with the great running back Kenny Washington, overcame the segregation hurdle in professional football when they signed with the Los Angeles Rams in the National Football League in 1946. Shawn and Gus have been the best of friends ever since they were children, and maybe even since they were infants. Watch Jim and Duke at the piano in the scene below: Sharing hotel, meals, and a piano jam session on and off film with Duke Ellington. In comparison, Ford had made combat documentaries for the Office of Strategic Services and had been wounded at the Battle of Midway, while Ranse star Stewart had been a bomber pilot who served with distinction. Jamie Greer joined LWOPW in 2015 and was the site's Managing Editor from 2016 through 2020. 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. The same year he broke into pro wrestling, he also got his start in Hollywood, making his debut in the 1941 filmSundown. He often offers his opinions and most candid thoughts at the least appropriate moments. Thats my take. Jimmy Stewart voiced his support for this goal in a 16 second radio campaign that played the week of February 16-23, 1947. 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. Of course, their football rhythm had been broken up by World War II. 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. I can go back to my original thought, that he wasnt racist. Strode gave the Hollywood establishment what they demanded and appeared in some of the best and the worst of what they offered him. In the interview, Marvin relates an incident where Jimmy Stewart actively opposed the racist behavior of another actor on set. In fact I dont think he even likes Negroes.. Forego a bottle of soda and donate its cost to us for the information you just learned, and feel good about helping to make it available to everyone. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. 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. If she's not ranting about characters who deserved better or typing away at one of her many fan fiction epics, she's probably asleep. Strode appeared in at least 90 films, from Sunrise in 1941 to his last, The Quick and the Dead, released in 1995. you have laid my thoughts about him to rest, and that he truly was a good, good man. Its such a disheartening rumor, and Im so glad you did your own research and came across my article. 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. He made more than sixty movies including his last film, The Quick and The Dead [1995]. In 1946, Jimmy Stewart led a small group of stars who vocalized their support for brotherhood among all Americans. Well, perhaps desperately isn't the right word. 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 . He competed in track and field and played football as a tight-end at UCLA. BlackPast.org is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and our EIN is 26-1625373. When we won, we all got drunk. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. Jimmy Stewart has deserved an article like this for a long time. > Collectibles Genghis Khan (1965) Strode played college football for the UCLA Bruins, the most integrated collegiate team in the nation in 1939, which included future NFL running back Kenny Washington and future Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Jackie Robinson. It needed to be done. In 1962, he retired from pro wrestling to concentrate on his film career, which exploded after his role in John Fords Sergeant Rutledge, and then his first starring role in the Western The Professionalsthat starred Lee Marvin and Burt Lancaster in 1966.