The Vernon Johns Story (1994)

This inspirational saga follows the life of controversial pastor Vernon Johns - now known as the father of the civil rights movement.

Director:

Kenneth Fink

Writers:

Leslie Lee (story), Kevin Arkadie (story)

Stars:

James Earl Jones, Mary Alice, Joe Seneca

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
James Earl Jones	...	Vernon Johns
Mary Alice	...	Altona
Joe Seneca	...	Deacon Wilkes
Tommy Hollis	...	Coach Hill
Nicolle Rochelle	...	Baby Dee (as Nicole Leach)
Ashanti Nailah Blaize	...	Enid
Lashayla Logan	...	Jeanne
Clifton James	...	Judge Blake
Shelby Ware	...	Janet Whitcomb
Cissy Houston	...	Rose
Moses Gibson	...	Deacon Henderson
Billie Allen	...	Ida Rawlins
Michael Howell	...	Reverend Abernathy
Justin Young	...	White Teenager
Garland Bunting	...	Counterman

Storyline

Vernon Johns, a brilliant man coupled with an eloquent speaker, upsets his community through his radical ideas on social change and economic independence of blacks. From his pulpit, he attacks the white power and denounces police brutality towards his brother race. His biggest enemy is nonetheless his own congregation who hesitates to mobilize behind him.

---

Plot Keywords:

character name as title | four word title | vernon johns character | pulpit | police brutality | 

---

Genres:

Biography | Drama

---

Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

The story was based on an unpublished biography by Henry W. Powell of The Vernon Johns Society.

---

Goofs

After one of his parishioners is raped, Rev. Johns has his daughter post his Sunday Sermon announcement on the church sign. The sign shows the name of the church, Sunday Service 11:00 AM, and "Dr. Vernon Johns, Pastor", and between the service time and Johns name is 'WHEN THE RAPIST IS WHITE', with single quote marks before and after. In the next scene, Johns is called to see a judge, who shows Johns a picture of the sign with the Sunday Sermon announcement, except the picture shows "WHEN THE RAPIST IS WHITE" with double quote marks before and after, and with the Sermon announcement above the service time, and instead of 'Dr. Vernon Johns, Pastor', it reads 'Rev. Dr. Vernon Johns' with 'Pastor' on a separate line below his name.

---

Quotes

Vernon Johns: This boy lived a trifling and worthless life. He went around Montgomery daring someone to cut his throat. Saturday night somebody obliged him. He lived like a dog; he died like a dog. Undertaker, claim the body. Choir, sing.

---

Crazy Credits

The Producers acknowledge the significant contribution of author, Taylor Branch, to the public awareness of the life of Reverend Vernon Johns.

---

Connections

Features The Dentist (1932)

User Reviews

Well done portrayal of The Founder of the civil rights movement in the U.S.

This film was a surprise in that it tells, and tells extraordinarily well, Reverend Vernon Johns' courage and conviction and struggle for equality in America in the Alabama of the 1960's just prior to the arrival of Dr. Martin King Jr. on the scene.

James Earl Jones is thoroughly convincing in the role and he delivers the performance of his career in this true story.

He breaches the barriers of white prejudice and tells it like it is for the white power that existed then, and alas, at times today. Jones is ably supported by a great cast and intelligent script and direction. I loved the freeze frames fading to black and white.

Well done, all! 8 out of 10.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 January 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Road to Freedom: The Vernon Johns Story

Company Credits

Production Co:

Big Apple Films, Laurel Entertainment Inc., Tribune Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1