A Corner in Wheat (1909)

A greedy tycoon decides, on a whim, to corner the world market in wheat. This doubles the price of bread, forcing the grain's producers into charity lines and further into poverty. The film... See full summary »

Director:

D.W. Griffith

Writers:

D.W. Griffith, Frank Norris (novel),

Stars:

Frank Powell, Grace Henderson, James Kirkwood

1 win.

Cast

Credited cast:
Frank Powell	...	The Wheat King
Grace Henderson	...	The Wheat King's Wife
James Kirkwood	...	Farmer
Linda Arvidson	...	Farmer's Wife
W. Chrystie Miller	...	Farmer's Father
Gladys Egan	...	Farmer's Little Daughter
Henry B. Walthall	...	Wheat King's Assistant
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kate Bruce	...	In Store
William J. Butler	...	Ruined Wheat Trader
Charles Craig	...	On the Floor of the Exchange / Banquet Invitee
Edward Dillon
Frank Evans	...	On the Floor of the Exchange / Banquet Invitee / Grain Elevator Attendant
Edith Haldeman	...	In Store
Robert Harron	...	On the Floor of the Exchange
Ruth Hart	...	In Store

Storyline

A greedy tycoon decides, on a whim, to corner the world market in wheat. This doubles the price of bread, forcing the grain's producers into charity lines and further into poverty. The film continues to contrast the ironic differences between the lives of those who work to grow the wheat and the life of the man who dabbles in its sale for profit.

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Plot Keywords:

farm | class struggle | morality | social issues | based on novel

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Genres:

Short | Drama

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 December 1909 (USA)

Also Known As:

A gabonatőzsde spekulánsai

Filming Locations:

Biograph Studio, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Biograph Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

14 min 14 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of the first films that Griffith used the technique of parallel editing on (a technique he pioneered). It was used to create the effects in the wheat suffocating scene.

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Connections

Featured in The Nostalgia Critic: To Boldly Flee: Part VII (2012)

User Reviews

A Powerful Ending

Even if you miss the first minutes of this film, don't miss the very last. A Corner in Wheat comes off as a comical drama that seems to lead nowhere. That is until the very end when we see a powerful image end the film to give the audience a message to take with them. The final shot is a man plants wheat in his fields in hope of a better life. A simple shot, a simple movement, a giant message!