World's Championship Football Game (Cleveland Browns at Detroit Lions, 1953)

detroithistori...
2022.055.002
16mm black and white film "World's Championship Football Game," containing highlights from the December 27, 1953 National Football League Championship Game between the Detroit Lions and the Cleveland Browns in Briggs Stadium in Detroit. The film was produced by Tel Ra Productions for the Miller Brewing Company. Earl Gillespie provides narration. The game footage is shot both from overhead, as well as from the sidelines, and occasionally makes use of slow-motion.
The reel opens with title cards and a voice over stating the film is presented by Miller High Life. Earl Gillespie is then shown seated at a desk in front of a Miller High Life logo where he introduces the film.
The footage from the day of the game begins with exterior shots of Briggs Stadium, including crowds, traffic, and a row of taxi cabs on Michigan Avenue, as well as a shot of a man selling pennants.
The action then moves into the stadium, with shots introducing the Browns' starters as they take the field--Abraham "Abe" Gibron (64), Charles "Charlie" Noll (65), Lou Groza (76), John "Johnny" Sandusky (78), Darrel "Pete" Brewster (88), Dante Lavelli (86), Otto Graham (14), Ray Renfro (26), William "Dub" Jones (40), and Harry "Chick" Jagade (32). The Lions' starters are then introduced over shots of them already on field--Charley Ane (50), Harley Sewell (66), Dick Stanfel (63), Oliver Spencer (78), Lou Creekmur (76), Leon Hart (82), Dorne Dibble (87), Robert "Bobby" Layne (22), Doak Walker (37), Gene Gedman (26), and Bob "Hunchy" Hoernschemeyer (14). The coin toss is followed by a brief shot of the crowd, and then the kickoff by Bobby Layne.
Among the highlights that follow in the first half are Doak Walker's touchdown and subsequent conversion early in the game, the Browns' field goal in the second quarter, Jim Doran's touchback, Jimmy David's 37-yard gain following an intercepted pass, an ineligible touchdown by Bobby Layne, Doak Walker's field goal, and Harry Jagade's 29-yard gain.
In a brief shot during the intermission, "colorful local Detroit high school bands" are shown performing in a formation which spells out "Lions" on the field
The highlights in the second half of the game include Harry Jagade helping the Browns to catch up with a touchdown, Lou Groza's conversion which ties the game, Lou Groza's field goal in the third quarter which puts the Browns into the lead, Doak Walker catching a pass from Bobby Layne then getting tackled immediately in front of the camera on the sidelines, Harry Jagade's 30-yard run, Lou Groza scoring yet another field goal, Bobby Layne's 33-yard pass to Jim Doran in the end zone which ties the game in the final minutes, and Doak Walker's conversion which gives the Lions the lead.
The film closes by returning to Earl Gillespie at the desk.
The film is housed in a grey metal tin hand-labeled, "1953 Lions vs Browns Champ Game," which in turn is within an olive mailing carton.