A Corner in Wheat (1909)

Director:

D.W. Griffith

Writers:

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

Release Date:

13 December 1909 (USA)

Genre:

Short | Drama

Plot:

A greedy tycoon decides, on a whim, to corner the world market in wheat. This doubles the price of bread...

Plot Keywords:

Morality | Farm | Social Issues | Based On Novel

Awards:

1 win

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 Guest
Edward Dillon
Frank Evans	...	On the Floor of the Exchange / Banquet Guest / Grain Elevator Attendant
Edith Haldeman	...	In Store
Robert Harron	...	On the Floor of the Exchange
Ruth Hart	...	In Store
Arthur V. Johnson	...	Wheat Trader in Bowler Hat / Banquet Guest
Henry Lehrman	...	On the Floor of the Exchange (unconfirmed)
Jeanie Macpherson	...	Banquet Guest / Visitor to the Grain Elevator
Charles Hill Mailes
Owen Moore	...	On the Floor of the Exchange / Banquet Guest
George Nichols	...	On the Floor of the Exchange
Anthony O'Sullivan	...	On the Floor of the Exchange
Billy Quirk	...	On the Floor of the Exchange / Banquet Guest
Gertrude Robinson	...	In Store
Mack Sennett	...	On the Floor of the Exchange
Blanche Sweet	...	Woman in White Hat / Visitor to the Grain Elevator
Dorothy West	...	Visitor to the Grain Elevator

Runtime:

14 min (18 fps)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Certification:

USA:G

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Biograph Company

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.

Movie Connections:

Featured in WALL·E (2008)

An odd little Economics and Civics lesson from D. W. Griffith!

This was just an okay short by D. W. Griffith from 1909. While the scene of the man in the mill towards the end is really exciting to watch, the film, in general, just seems awfully preachy and overly melodramatic. That's mostly because it is a not very subtle film about the evils of greed and crop speculation. The film, unnecessarily starts by focusing on the farmers who grow the wheat. Then it switches to a Board of Trade-type location as a tycoon is trying to corner the market on wheat. He's thrilled with all the money and is oblivious to the harm this causes to the poor (another not too relevant scene about po' folks not being able to buy bread was included). However, despite this antiquated film style and its heavy-handed lesson on Civics, the movie does end well--with a very, very unique scene that makes it worth watching all 14 minutes. Come on, it's only 14 minutes--it's probably worth your time to try it. At worst, you're only out 14 minutes out of your life!!!

By the way, later in his career, Griffith was a staunch anti-Communist. I wonder if he STILL would have made such a Populist-centered type of film at that time? A CORNER OF WHEAT could be seen as a possible plea for Socialism or even Communism!