Woody Strode, Black Representation and John Ford’s SERGEANT RUTLEDGE

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4 жыл бұрын

John Ford wasn’t 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. Released in 1960, when the U.S. was in the early stages of the Civil Rights Movement, the film confronted racial injustice head on.
Film historian and author Donald Bogle explains Ford’s handling of race in the film compared to his previous work and the representation of the real life Buffalo Soldiers of the Old West. See SERGEANT RUTLEDGE (’60) on 7/31 at 10:45pm ET as we continue our spotlight Directed by John Ford.
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Пікірлер: 48

@janettamcgee8124 3 жыл бұрын

As a child in the 1960's, I remember my father trying to explain to me why this movie was so important. I couldn't comprehend. I just knew that it had horses, cowboys and Monument Valley and that was enough for me. Decades later I got cable and saw that this was going to be shown. Then, I finally understood and the movie just made my heart hurt. Wow, John Ford took a chance and Woody was simply magnificent. I noticed something else: Woody was plain, flat gorgeous. What a man.

@brutus4013 2 жыл бұрын

Great movie. First watched it on tv in the late sixties. Resonated very deeply with me even though I was only about 10 at the time. Huge Woody Strode fan.

@freddy8479 10 ай бұрын

As a Black man to this day, it gives me CHILLS to see "Brother Woody" as "Sgt. Rutledge" marched into that courtroom and said: "First Sergeant Braxton Rutledge, "C. Troop, 9th United States Cavalry!!" (1:50-2:00)

@marcusjustice6165 3 жыл бұрын

First Sergeant George Jordan (1847 to 1904) Troop K 9th U.S. Cavalry Regiment. The only Buffalo Soldier to be awarded both The Medal of Honor and The Certificate of Merit today's Distinguished Service Cross DSC. First Sergeant-Top Soldier, Captain Buffalo, The First Shirt-U.S. Army.

@hawkenrifles 3 жыл бұрын

On this film I did my Doctoral Thesis in Philosophy, defended in the University of Oviedo in January of 2009. It obtained the maximum qualification. It has the title "Sergeant Rutledge, de John Ford, como mito filosófico ("Sergeant Rutledge, by John Ford, as a philosophical myth"). It is published like book in Spain in the Editorial Eikasia, Oviedo, 2011. If any University of the United States is interested in my philosophical book on this film I can send it to you. I would also like to give some lecture on this important film. But I would have to give it in Spanish

@615855 2 жыл бұрын

Sergeant Rutledge is a great western with a terrific performance from Woody Strode and also Jeffrey Hunter. Don't think John Ford ever let us down with his western genre films.

@TheWonderfuldre 4 жыл бұрын

If memory serves me correctly, the movie Buck and the Preacher (Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte) cites the percentage of black cowboys in the beginning of the movie.

@jasonraschen1109 4 жыл бұрын

Wow, now that was a conversation on race and cinema. Thank you TCM for posting this.

@jayonnaj18 2 жыл бұрын

I bought a DVD of Sargeant Rutledge several years ago, for, although Woody Strode seems to be ignored by white Americans, he was a big hero to us black Americans! Most black Americans I know deeply resent being labeled as AFRICAN! We are AMERICANS, those of us who were and are BORN HERE no matter the color of one's skin! Besides a race is something one RUNS!!!

@ricardojoseleivamachado3056 Жыл бұрын

Essa PRAGA DE CLASSIFICAÇÃO também Virou Moda no Brasil, os Negros Afro-brasileiros são ANTES DE TUDO: "BRASILEIROS" e é isso que deveria Importar, mas nós Consumimos Servilmente "Conceitos" Americanos e depois nos queixamos de que eles nos chamam de "macaquitos"...

@alibabakano4612 10 ай бұрын

Any Black American who resents being called African American is ignorant of his/her Origin and History . U can't Hates a root of a Tree and end up loving a tree . That's a pure self Hates and rejection of One Ancestry . There are Irish Americans , German Americans , Mexican Americans , Chinese Americans etc all are happy and proud to be Called and leveled that way . Why can't we be level to the Origin of our ANCESTORS..? I'm and we're absolutely delighted to be Called African Americans..? If you're not Natives Americans, you have an Origin where u or ur ancestors came from.

@mtman2 6 ай бұрын

@@alibabakano4612 No hardly = people don't go around listing ancestry so yes WE are all Americans Esp. in light of many with different ancestory origins makes it even more ludicrous + meaningless... Obviously a black American by pigmentation originated from Africa historically sometime in the past... My parents fled a Communist takeover in Europe and became Americans 1st and only as do I without a prefix...

@nancybarber5008 2 жыл бұрын

This man portrays strength, just look at him!! Wow great job!! No wonder John Ford, John Wayne, and kirk Douglas wanted him in movies!

@freddy8479 10 ай бұрын

"Racist A$$ John Wayne" was JEALOUS AND RESENTFUL towards Woody for his Athleticism. The MF felt the same way towards Jim Brown as well!!!

@kiltmanm60 3 жыл бұрын

Greatest Athlete Actor of all time!! General "Black Jack" Pershing would have loved this film. He was proud to lead his Soldiers and would have loved and admired the example Woody portrayed in this film!

@outinsider 4 жыл бұрын

Great discussion. It really does a good job of centering Woody Strode and other Black voices in talking about this movie. Also, in light of a previous commenter, Donald Bogle has been on TCM for years analyzing Black people in film. This is nothing new but a continued discussion that TCM has allowed relative safety to have, but is becoming more intentional about, and that is what I applaud.

@maximusvonce1381 Жыл бұрын

Woody strode was a legend. My dad always liked Strode cause he played for Los angelos Rams at one time

@kidmack1121 3 жыл бұрын

My favorite Woody Strode performance was as "Meslar" in "The Black Stallion Returns" (1983)

@JonnyQuest787 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your comments and partial ensite into the possible thoughts of Ford. This has been one of my favorite movies for years. My view on Ford's vision is of a Hollywood director that walked the line of placating the bigoted and racist Hollywood and America with a movie that hints at the reality of someone that is different from the majority. He gave a way to allow the majority to route for and admire an ethnic hero within the vale of routing for the white man in charge of blacks. He showed in living "color" that the white man and woman had nothing to fear from blacks. I can pretty much assure that there were more than a few that realized what they were viewing and walked away from the theaters of America with doubts of their beliefs.

@daveconleyportfolio5192 2 жыл бұрын

Stepin Fetchit is criticized, but Samuel L. Jackson recycles a similar stereotype over and over again for the consumption of people who think they are so much more progressive than the past. It's a lie. A self-flattering lie.

@michaelharrington7656 2 жыл бұрын

An outstanding movie that deserved a much better result than it got at the time. Now can see it and give Ford and Woody Strode the credit that is due to them. To some degree---but only some---it makes up for the horrible paternalism of The Sun Shines Bright with Stepin Fechit . Woody Strode worked with Ford again in the Two Rode Together, a kind of semi-comic parody of The Searchers, and The Man Who Shot Liberty Vallance which is one of the classics of the Western genre.

@robinlacue3431 2 жыл бұрын

The Buffalo Solders got their name from their Afro hair; watch reminded the American Indians of the mane on the buffalo.

@theylied1776 4 жыл бұрын

As a kid when I would read John Stewart Green Lantern Comics to me the John Stewart character always always looked like Woody Strode.

@isammolina4842 4 жыл бұрын

Muy buen actor y que notable presencia !!👀👍🌹🍃🌹🍃🌹🌠💎🌠💎🌠

@christineroberts4018 2 жыл бұрын

Mucho mucho mucho

@elizabethstinson1152 5 ай бұрын

Excellent movie showing relationships between black/white Calvary soldiers out West, dealing with Apaches and racism.

@daveconleyportfolio5192 2 жыл бұрын

Watch all the John Ford cavalry movies, and at one point or another you'll see something unexpected and honest. About the Irish, African-Americans, aboriginal Indians, displaced confederate soldiers putting on the uniform of their former enemy. Taken as a whole, they are worthier and more constructive than all the woke cliches and insincerities churned out by today's media.

@charleslennonbaker 6 ай бұрын

I hope they never re-make this classic. Let it stand as is!

@afusake 3 жыл бұрын

Great material, thanl you. Greetings from PL

@maureendiver8970 Жыл бұрын

That was a Great! movie . I Loved It . Wish those actors and actresses were still here. There will NEVER be another movie like those again!

@JrJVintage1956 Жыл бұрын

Woody Strode = Hero

@vickiebonner4181 Жыл бұрын

He has that great Leo ♌️ pride and leadership in everything he plays. Check him out in "Posse" with Sally Richardson, Melvin Van Peebles and Pam Grier Blair Underwood Kool Moe ??

@Brazbraz601 Ай бұрын

Marvellous movie Perfect

@annedwyer797 2 ай бұрын

Great discussion by Mankewiz and Bogle! I'll admit I'm not a big fan of John Ford's movies, but "Sergent Rutledge" is a masterpiece. To make a film with this subject matter, a cast of black and white characters of equal importance to the plot, and for the hero to be a black man, was a bold move. Woody Strode is magnificent in "Rutledge", and his screen presence is amazing, not to mention he was a very handsome man. It almost feels to me as though "Rutledge" was made as the anti "The Searchers", which is an exercise in Hollywood portrayals of racism. I've never thought much of John Wayne's acting skills (he's pretty wooden, IMO), and his character is such an extreme racist in "Searchers" that I can't really stomach it.

@user-nc2bf9vx5y 6 ай бұрын

If I heard correctly,"The Sun Shines Bright" was made in 1954,the rape allegations portrayed in this film possibly was a warning of things to come(I.E) the Emmet Till murder which was the torch to send the Civil Rights Movement into overtime in the right way. Just an observation from a professional history educator/museum professional who had family members on both sides of the Civil Rights Movement.

@Sulmusic5421 2 жыл бұрын

We all know white ranch workers were called RANCH HANDS, whence commeth the cow-boy ??? This word has double NEGATIVE connections …. COW, this word is still considered an insult today !! BOY….., I’m sure no white man would accept that name . IMO The singing , sharpshooting, sharpdressing, athletic hero was a black man, the cowboy, until his attributes became so gallant, the name been assimilated and possessed by white American culture.

@MarvinHicks-dd7qb Ай бұрын

💜💜💜💜💜

@roderickrayrutledge2740 4 ай бұрын

👍👍👍

@carolynkingsley4421 4 жыл бұрын

A good film, but a little too ahead of its time. Today it would be more accepted.

@Madbandit77 3 жыл бұрын

Movies that are ahead of their time are brilliant.

@MarvinHicks-dd7qb Ай бұрын

💎💎💎💎💎

@MarvinHicks-dd7qb Ай бұрын

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

@cousinbilly1259 Ай бұрын

Captain Buffalo…woody was a fine man.

@charold3 10 ай бұрын

An okay movie, far from Ford’s best. I wish they’d found someone other than Jeffrey Hunter for the main role. He’s weak. Constance Towers is pretty good. Woody Strode gets better as the movie goes along. He has presence, and what a physique. Ford was a bit of a tyrant, but he didn’t have to make a film sympathetic to a strong black character. Some of the scenery in/around Monument Valley is pretty stunning and in color.