The World Moves On

A will read in the 1800s links the fortunes of two prominent New Orleans families represented by Carroll and Tone. Their wealth grows, leading to expansion in both France and Germany, but WW I and the market plunge of the 1920s destroy the families' empire. However, Carroll and Tone survive the debacle and begin anew. A strong antiwar statement, this includes some striking battle footage culled from an earlier French feature, CROSSES OF WOOD. Dramatic war scenes of this sort would become a staple of John Ford's later films. THE WORLD MOVES ON also included the first performance by Carroll in a U.S. production.