In modern society’s ever-evolving information age, where fame is as fleeting as the latest technology, becoming, and maintaining the ability to be, a fearless pioneer can be a daunting task. But world-renowned track and field athlete, Jesse Owens, powerfully captivated audiences during the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games by defying racial tensions and becoming a four-time gold medalist. To celebrate the 80th anniversary of the runner’s journey as he became a worldwide champion, and how he remains one of a handful of Olympic heroes whose image is still an enduring part of modern cultural heritage, Focus Features is set to release the first feature film based on his life, ‘Race,’ in nationwide theaters on Friday. Stephen Hopkins directed the biographical sports drama, which features Stephan James depicting the esteemed athlete.
‘Race’ follows the journey of James Cleveland “Jesse” Owens (James), the legendary athletic who’s determined to become the greatest track and field athlete in history. As a student and athlete in Depression-era America, Jesse bears the weight of family expectations, racial tension at his college, Ohio State University, and his own high standards for competition. While attending college, Jesse makes an unfaltering friend in his understanding coach, Larry Snyder (Jason Sudeikis). Also encouraged by the love and support of his girlfriend, Ruth Solomon (Shanice Banton), with whom he has a young daughter, Jesse’s winning ways in intercollegiate competitions earn him a place on the 1936 U.S. Olympics team
However, there’s uncertainty over whether or not the American Olympic committee will allow its athletes to attend the Games, which are set to be held in Berlin, or boycott in protest against Adolf Hitler and his vision of Aryan supremacy. Committee president Jeremiah Mahoney (William Hurt) and millionaire industrialist Avery Brundage (Jeremy Irons) debate the issue, the latter of whom ultimately prevails and secures U.S. participation in the Games. As a result, Jesse enters a new racial and political minefield after he arrives in Berlin with his fellow athletes.
Once Jesse and the other athletes arrive in Germany, the celebrated American runner reaffirms his determination to compete with excellence and honor. With the world watching, he overcomes his own country’s history of racism, as well as the Hitler regime’s oppressiveness. Forever defining what an athlete can accomplish, Jesse races into history as an inspiration to millions.
James generously took the time recently to talk about portraying Owens in ‘Race’ during an exclusive interview over the phone. Among other things, the actor discussed how he was drawn to the role because he’s inspired by the track and field champion’s accomplishments on and off the track, and views him as a hero. The performer also described how helpful it was not only read the books Owens had written, as well as watch interview clips with the athlete, but also speak with his three daughters, to gain a better understanding of his experiences as an Olympic hero.
ShockYa (SY): You play Jesse Owens, the legendary athletic superstar whose quest to become the greatest track and field athlete in history thrusts him onto the world stage of the 1936 Olympics, in the upcoming biographical drama, ‘Race.’ What interested you in playing the award-winning track star, and how did you become involved in the film?
Stephan James (SJ): Well, I think this being as big of a story as it is, I was immediately drawn to the role. Looking at Jesse, I’m always reminded of all the incredible things he had done back in 1936. Despite being the fastest man alive and this huge athlete, he was essentially a hero. He’s a guy who I have really looked up to as a human being. So I was ecstatic to have the opportunity to even audition for the part.
SY: Once you signed on to play Jesse, what type of research did you do to help you better connect with, and understand, the track star’s emotions and motivations?
SJ: Well, Jesse had written a couple of books (including 1972’s ‘I Have Changed’), so I read them in order to understand his take on what his life was like. I particularly wanted to see what his running life was like, especially when he was in Berlin during the 1936 Olympics.
There were only so many YouTube clips that I could find of him running and giving interviews back in 1936. But I definitely watched those I found, and used what was available to me.
His daughters were a big part of that process, as well. Being able to talk to his family, and get whatever information I needed from them, was invaluable to me during the whole process.
SY: Since the drama was made with the cooperation of the Jesse Owens Foundation and the Owens family, like you just mentioned what was your experience like for collaborating with his relatives, notably his daughters, Marlene Owens Rankin, Beverly Owens Prather and Gloria Owens Hemphill?
SJ: Like I said, they were very helpful from the beginning of the whole filmmaking process, starting with the script-writing stage. There were a lot of things that they adjusted, in order to help us tell the truth and portray their father in the right way. They also visited the set in Berlin to watch us shoot, and I spent a fair amount of time with them, up until now. It was really helpful to me to really be embraced by them the way that I have been.
SY: How did you physically prepare to portray Jesse in ‘Race,’ particularly for the scenes which show him preparing for, and running in, his competitions?
SJ: Well, two months before I started shooting, when I first found out that I had gotten the role, I started training in Atlanta with the track coaches at Georgia Tech. They not only helped me on conditioning, but also made sure that I was accurately doing things the way Jesse would have done as a runner. We worked on such things as his strides and how he finished his races. Those were the kinds of things that I had to get comfortable doing before I started filming.
SY: What was your experience of working with ‘Race’s director, Stephen Hopkins, on bringing Jesse’s legacy to the screen?
SJ: Stephen’s been great since the beginning. He really helped paint a picture of what that time was like, including the 1930s in Ohio and then in Germany. For me, he’s been invaluable to the whole process. He’s been able to give me the space I need to be able to portray Jesse. He’s been very open with me while we have worked on the film.
SY: How did you also build your collaboration swith your co-stars on the biopic, including Jason Sudeikis, who played Jesse’s coach at Ohio State University, Larry Snyder?
SJ: Those relationships have been incredible. We have some great artists who have been a part of this film. I worked closely with Jason on the movie, which was great. I grew up watching guys like Jeremy Irons and William Hurt, so having the opportunity to also share the screen with them has been mind-blowing. There are things you can take away from working with actors of that caliber. I tried to have fun while I was making the film, while also learning from my collaborations with them.
SY: ‘Race’ was partially shot at the Berlin Olympic Stadium, which is where Jesse won four gold medals during the 1936 Games, while the U.S. scenes were shot in and around Montreal. What was the experience of filming the sports drama on location, particularly where Jesse won his Olympic medals?
SJ: That experience was incredible. Being able to go to Berlin, and finally see these things that I have only read and heard about before, was incredible. The history of East and West Berlin is still preserved there, and they don’t shy away from that time.
Walking up to the Olympic stadium for the first time allowed me to fell as though I was really connecting with Jesse. I walked up there by myself, much like I’m sure he did. You have a moment where you really feel what he may have felt, or at least a fraction of what he was experiencing. So that was helpful for me.
They very much celebrate Jesse over there, too. His face is all over, and there’s even a Jesse Owens lounge at, the stadium. He’s very much loved there. So to be able to go there and gain that perspective meant a lot to me.
SY: Besides physically preparing for the role of Jesse and the races he competed in, how did the overall physicality of the character, including the costumes and make-up you wore, help you connect with him as you were filming?
SJ: Yes, that all certainly helped, as well. I had to cut my hair like Jesse’s hair, because my hairline is different than his. Ever since I did that, it really forced me to look at myself in the mirror, and allowed me to really start to see him. That really helped me connect with him, as did the make-up and set design. Those sorts of things help bring you into the world of the 1930s that he was living in. It was a credit to our whole team that everyone was able to create this environment.
SY: The biopic goes beyond the boundaries of a typical sports film, onto a broader social and political canvas. Why do you feel it was important to also give the audience background and history on society during the Berlin Games, so that they could appreciate the enormity of Jesse’s accomplishments?
SJ: Of course-we didn’t want to sugarcoat anything. We wanted to show the very real America that Jesse was living in, as well as Nazi Germany that he experienced when he went to Berlin. It’s important to show people not only about Jesse’s life, but also what the world was like at that time. It’s essential to show them how far we’ve come, and how we can’t afford to take any steps backwards.
SY: Besides ‘Race,’ are you interested in continuing to act in culturally important films that are based on real-life stories?
SJ: I just want to tell great stories and play great characters, whether they’re based on real people or completely fictional. The films that I have been a part of have told great stories. I’m a storyteller and an artist, so I look forward to playing many different types of characters.
Photo Credit: Focus Features
Written by: Karen Benardello