As the World Rolls On
As the World Rolls On, also known by its working title The Heart of Jack Johnson,[1] is a 1921 drama film starring Jack Johnson.[2] It was an Andlauer Productions film.[3][4] It was advertised as featuring an "All-Star Colored Cast". The film features footage of National Negro League baseball games.[5] It is a 7-reel film.[6]
The storyline of the film features Johnson teaching physical fitness to a weak man and an attempt to frame someone for a crime.[7] Newspaper publisher Nelson Crews has a cameo in the film.[1] Filming was done in Kansas City, Missouri where the Andlauer production company was based, as well as St. Joseph, Missouri and Topeka.[1]
Production[edit]
The film was made by William Anthony Andlauer. He was a theater owner, photographer, and cinematographer.[8]
Historical significance[edit]
Up until 2013—when a film clip from 1919 was found in storage at a Georgia plantation—As the World Rolls On was the earliest known film to show African-American baseball players, containing "footage of an all-black Kansas team."[9]
Cast[edit]
- Jack Johnson as himself
- Blanche Thompson as Molly Moran
- Reed Thomas as Joe Walker
- Walter Simpson as Tom Atkins
- Versia Rice
- Sam Crawford as himself
- Bruce Petway as himself
- Rube Foster as himself
- Cristóbal Torriente as himself[1]
See also[edit]
- For His Mother's Sake (another film starring Johnson)
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com.
- ^ ""As the World Rolls On": Complete Story of Feature Picture in Which Jack Johnson Stars". The Chicago Defender. 20 August 1921. p. 7. ProQuest 491912149. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
- ^ Erickson, Hal (March 23, 2016). The Baseball Filmography, 1915 through 2001, 2d ed. McFarland. ISBN 9781476607856 – via Google Books.
- ^ "As the World Rolls On". www.tcm.com.
- ^ "As The World Rolls On". September 8, 2015.
- ^ ""Its a Knockout" (Ad)". The New York Age. 10 September 1921. p. 6. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
- ^ Richards, Larry (September 17, 2015). African American Films Through 1959: A Comprehensive, Illustrated Filmography. McFarland. ISBN 9781476610528 – via Google Books.
- ^ "elmwoodce-a - pafn41 - Generated by Personal Ancestral File". www.elmwoodcem-kc.org.
- ^ Brown, Robbie (30 April 2013). "Antique film of black ballplayers surfaces, and their diamond is a plantation". New York Times. ProQuest 1815066681. Retrieved 22 January 2021.