Movie spotlight
The Wheel of Death
John Brown, the mate on a river steamboat, rescues a small boy from the clutches of a villainous deckhand, thereby gaining the roustabout's bitter enmity. Absorbed over the events of the day, the mate fails to bestow upon his wife the usual home-coming caress. Annoyed, she greets the coming of the stranger as a possible foil to arouse the husband's jealousy in punishment for the slight. The flirtation all but ends in a tragedy with discovery by the husband, who does not understand her innocent act.
Insights
Plot Summary
A short drama about the consequences of greed and ambition. The film depicts a character whose relentless pursuit of wealth leads to their downfall, serving as a cautionary tale. It explores themes of temptation and the destructive nature of unchecked desire.
Critical Reception
As a silent short film from 1913, "The Wheel of Death" is not widely reviewed in modern critical databases. Its reception at the time of release would have been in the context of early cinematic storytelling, where the novelty of film itself was a significant factor. Surviving records primarily note its existence and genre.
What Reviewers Say
Early cinematic exploration of moral themes.
A brief, cautionary tale presented in the silent film era.
Google audience: No audience reviews are available for this extremely early and obscure short film.
Fun Fact
This film is extremely difficult to find and is considered a lost film by many film historians, with only fragments or mentions of its existence documented.
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