The Wheel (1923)

Sisif, a railwayman, and his son Elie fall in love with the beautiful Norma (who Sisif rescued from a train crash when a baby and raised as his daughter), with tragic results. Originally ... See full summary »

Director:

Abel Gance

Writer:

Abel Gance

Stars:

Gabriel de Gravone, Pierre Magnier, Georges Térof

Cast

Credited cast:
Gabriel de Gravone	...	Elie
Pierre Magnier	...	Jacques de Hersan
Georges Térof	...	Mâchefer
Séverin-Mars	...	Sisif
Ivy Close	...	Norma
Max Maxudian	...	Le minéralogiste Kalatikascopoulos
Gil Clary	...	Dalilah (as Mme. Gil-Clary)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Géo Dugast	...	Le cheminot Jacobin

Storyline

Sisif, a railwayman, and his son Elie fall in love with the beautiful Norma (who Sisif rescued from a train crash when a baby and raised as his daughter), with tragic results. Originally running nine hours, this epic tragedy is notable for the way it foreshadows Gance's later 'Napoleon' in its use of innovative cinematic devices, particularly rapid cutting.

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Plot Keywords:

reference to victor hugo | railwayman | train | impressionism | mont blanc | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Akira Kurosawa stated this was the film that made the greatest impression on him before he began working in the film industry.

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Goofs

When Sisif is running in front of the locomotive, the first shot has the locomotive numbered 475. In subsequent shots, the number on the loco is 2013.

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Quotes

Title Card: There are shames that must be silenced! - - - OEDIPUS REX

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Alternate Versions

The restored version to its initial intended 7 hour state is shown in 2019 in two parts of 3 hours 47' (La rose du rail) and 3 hours 10' (La tragédie de Sisif), along with Arthur Honegger's restored original music score. The restored version is first shown during the Lumière Film festival in Lyon on 19th and 20th October 2019, then on the French-German television channel Arte on 28th October and 4th November.

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Connections

Featured in The Story of Film: An Odyssey: The Golden Age of World Cinema (2011)

User Reviews

awesome

Just saw in Paris Fondation Jérome Seydoux-Pathé the newly restored version

Details

Country:

France

Language:

None French English

Release Date:

17 February 1923 (France)

Also Known As:

The Wheel

Filming Locations:

Gare Saint-Lazare, Paris 8, Paris, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Films Abel Gance

Technical Specs

Runtime:

418 min 274 min (2008) (cut) 418 min (restored)

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1