Johnny and Tonto Fistfight in Hollywood
November 17th, 2008 by Carole Levine
Native moms don’t want their sons to be Tonto.
A demeaning caricature of what mainstream America thinks of “Indians”—obedient, inarticulate and always subservient to the more clever white man. Tonto is Native America’s Aunt Jemima, Uncle Ben and Stepin Fetchit; a non-threatening, real life cartoon.
You would reasonably assume that Hollywood, that bastion of all things socially, politically and culturally correct, would bury his image in the celluloid graveyard. Yes, you would assume that, but you would be so wrong. Tonto keeps coming back to life on the big and little screen; in each reincarnation he gets better looking, more spiritual (translation: new age) and smarter.
Gee, thanks…I guess. But to paraphrase our incoming President, isn’t that a bit like putting lipstick on a pig?
Sure is. Nevertheless, there’s a new pig in town, and he’s looking damn hot in his lipstick.
Jerry Bruckheimer, the mega producer of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, C.S.I., Top Gun and Flashdance, is undertaking a remake of The Lone Ranger. Whereas the actor taking on the title role has yet to be confirmed, the part of our fave Native flunkey is being played by Johnny Depp.
Johnny Depp. As Tonto.
Think about it—arguably Hollywood's most versatile actor who claims a smackrel of Cherokee and Navajo lineage assuming the role of Native America’s most controversial film character. The buzz in the mainstream media is ecstatic; the buzz in the Native press has been a mix of muted enthusiasm and derisiveness. Tonto, many implore, that’s bad enough…but having a white dude play him? That’s even worse.
Then again, maybe not. Maybe, just maybe the powerhouse duo of Bruckheimer and Depp will redefine Tonto in the public psyche the same way Jack Sparrow redefined pirates—witty and drop-dead sexy, a bona fide STAR. If they do, the image of Native America’s Aunt Jemima, Uncle Ben and Stepin Fetchit will never be the same.
Fair argument, but why didn’t Bruckheimer pick from the flourishing crop of talented Native actors? Seriously, does anyone believe that a non-black actor would ever be chosen to portray an African American icon?
Indeed, the idea that well into the 21st century Hollywood is casting “red-face” is disconcerting. Yet, let’s be honest, there isn’t an actor of any ethnicity who could add the savoir-faire to the patently uncool Tonto that Depp can. And lest we forget, he is of Native blood and has always proudly acknowledged this.
So I’m taking a leap of faith and trust the A-team will do right and not create a big-budget Indian minstrel show. It’s a gamble, but consider the potential…
Johnny Depp. As Tonto.
No, I don’t much like Tonto, but I sure in the hell like Johnny. And if anyone can drop kick this sorry stereotype into the ashcan of history it will be Depp and Bruckheimer.
Don’t let me down, dudes. A lot of Native moms and their sons will be watching.
Wait, wait, wait a minute…
So, Johnny Depp get a frickin’ pass because he’s "a bona-fide star"? Come on!
Say that to the thousands of Native actors out there right now, "Sorry, you have no right to represent YOUR OWN ETHNICITY because, you’re NOT FAMOUS ENOUGH."
I am disappointed, Carol. With the "Twilight" kid you lept down his throat with both feet. How is this different? Because it’s Depp? It is that acceptence that has kept Native actors from playing Native roles for so long. In "Running Brave" the Native actor up for the role of Billy Mills lost out to Robby Benson for the same reason. He ended up playing the S. African runner who loses!
I guess Depp’s 1/4th Native heritage gives him every right to play what is believed to be a full-blooded Native. So, my 1/16th white heritage must ALLOW me the right to play The Lone Ranger, right? Where do I sign?
(By the way, my great grandmother was a European Princess.)
Comment by ronin-redshade — November 18, 2008 @ 4:30 pm
There are Natives that are stars that could have portrayed this character. What about Rodney A. Grant? What about Eddie Spears?, and what if "unknown" isn’t that how most actors got started? There are a number of our people that could have portrayed "tonto"which in spanish means "idiot". THis is why our people go unheard,we do not speak up. (but then again who wants to portray an "idiot"?)Isn’t it funny how many actors suddently have "native" blood in them when it comes to portaying a Native American.He is a great actor,but just not right for this part.
Comment by oodhamwoman — November 18, 2008 @ 11:08 pm
Thank you both for your comments! You might find this strange, but I agree with your arguments–with a caveat. No question, there are dozens of Native actors who could do a great job in this role. Nathaniel Arcand, for starters (who played Tonto in the television version and saved that otherwise sorry production) is one person I’d recommend wholeheartedly.
Having acknowledged this, however, my overarching point is that unfortunately no Native actor working today has the power that Depp does to get the attention of the mainstream audience and press. With this kind of influence, he can take this deeply entrenched image and alter it in the public perception. It’s a risk, no doubt, having Disney’s fingers in this production, but it will be interesting…
Comment by Carole Levine — November 19, 2008 @ 8:10 am
"…no Native actor working today has the power that Depp does to get the attention of the mainstream audience and press."
But that IS ALWAYS the justification for freezing Native actors out of Native roles. "Dances with Wolves" got the mainstream attention, "Chief Illiniwek" is supposed to be respectful and a way to get mainstream attention, otherwise we’re the vanishing race, right? But it continues to be the only excuse for not hiring Native actors or actresses for Native roles. The line needs to be drawn and they need to start casting Native for Native.
They should either let a complete non-Native play him (since Tonto is a Non-Native creation), or simply let a Native play him. No middle ground, because no matter how much attention it brings, Depp’s casting is another way of letting Hollywood off the hook for wronging Native actors, again. And making us all fall for the dupe that it actually is some kind of step forward.
Comment by ronin-redshade — November 19, 2008 @ 9:58 pm
I have to agree with ronin. Additionally, saying that we need Depp because he is sexy is to say Indians are not? Or more importantly that he is witty? Hell, the one thing Indians have going for them is their wit! Tell Gary Farmer to play Tonto like Johnny Depp would, now that would bust stereotypes. Beside we have a long history of "stars" playing ’skins, and look were we are today… Still struggling to get Indians on screen. Now they can’t even get the Indian roles. We are going backwards. Johnny Depp is just the flavor of the month. There has been Burt Lancaster playing Jim Thorpe. Burt Reynolds played an Apache. Then there is the white Indians like Richard Harris and Kevin Costner. Screw this we need Depp, where has he been for the Indian people over the years? Proud of his heritage is easy to say, but there is action that has to happen to make it real.And to defend pirates, witty and sexy was already defined by Errol Flynn. Learn your film history, those that don’t know history are doomed to repeat it.
Comment by NDNHumor — November 23, 2008 @ 4:21 am
I agree with Ronin-Redshade also. You can see my thoughts on Carole’s posting at: http://www.bluecorncomics.com/2008/11/johnny-depp-to-redefine-tonto.html
Comment by robschmidt — November 25, 2008 @ 10:38 pm
Just hearing that this remake of the tv show will be made is a turn off. I thought Johnny Depp knew better than to play the character of Tonto again. When will it be BETTER concerning mainstream feature films with Native American characters and story lines. Hardly not any contemporary pieces, films/videos out there being made, which includes an Indian woman protagonist. It’s what I wish. When will it ever advance. Back to Hanto Yo. I’m sorry. It’s too much.
Comment by Squarecat — December 11, 2008 @ 11:35 pm
Helllllllllllllllo, anyone speak Spanish!??????? Does anyone realize what Tonto means in Spanish? It means Idiot!!!!!!!!!!!
I am all for Native people portraying Native Americans in films, that’s how it should be, obviously. But, and here’s a really big but, excuse the punn, why the HE DOUBLE L, would any Native American person want to play the roll of a person name Tonto(remember, that’s IDIOT!)?
The Character Tonto is stupified in the Lone Ranger, and his name represents exactly what he was meant to be as the sidekick of the Lone Ranger, an Idiot.
So let an Idiot play an Idiot! i.e. Weirdo Johnnny Depp, he suits the role of an idiot quite well.
Comment by CherokeeRose — January 25, 2009 @ 12:45 am
Great topic!Depp is terrific, but maybe a little over exposed by now.Any thoughts on his costar in Public Enemies, French actress Marion Cotillard? She plays half French, half native Billie Frechette, John Dillinger’s girlfriend in the last year of his life. so I guess there are no half native half European actresses, eh?
Comment by sophie jensen — July 3, 2009 @ 3:00 pm
i realy dont know what 2 say there is many 1/4 blacks hew play there black from slavery days an there is 1/4 whites that play thy are full blooded Europeans an there is 1/4 Asians that play thy are from china so why not a 1/4 native American playing an native Indian ~~ now i can understand if he was a 1/4 native with blond hair ,blue eyes,black skin ,white skined or other anomilys that would give him a far off from native look would be verry in-salting but as we see he is passible ~~ remember from the1600’s threw the 1800’s there was hundereds of mixed bloods an most dident know the different’s between them an a full blood pluse all the full blooded Europiens hew were intergrarted into da tribes threw out the years hew were treated no different then any other native an killed an reservated by da Americans only the select few ones hew thy could spot out were taken back by da Americans an most of them died wanting 2 return 2 there tribes~~ now i can see this being a big issue if thy were trying 2 pore-tray before 1492 an using a bunch of 1/4 native indians ~~~ an tryind 2 say there was no 1/4 indians an europiens an blacks in da tribes is like saying there was no jews in hitler an there was no jews in his army or like saying there was no native indians hew lived in america life style in the 1600’s-1800’s ~~ so what im saying is is 2 have one non full blooded actor is more real then 2 have all full blooded actors the same an it is not real id you have no full blooded actors ~~~ i think it be better if thy picked a 1/4 actor with blond hair off of da rez then one that looks native on the American side so we least know some of the money go 2 helping da rez.~~~ i know my words arnt popular but i must speak the truth out side of my self an not what i myself wants 2 happen ~~~~ you are welcome 2 e-mail me if you like at crazycoyotie70@yahoo.com
Comment by crazycoyotie — January 9, 2010 @ 5:59 pm