La Roue
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| La Roue | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Abel Gance |
| Produced by | Abel Gance Charles Pathé |
| Written by | Abel Gance |
| Starring | Severin-Mars Ivy Close Pierre Magnier |
| Cinematography | Léonce-Henri Burel |
| Editing by | Marguerite Beauge |
| Release date(s) | FRA 1923 |
| Running time | 84 min. |
| Country | France |
| Language | Silent |
| Allmovie profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
La Roue (or Roue, La ) is a silent French film, directed by Abel Gance, who later directed "Napoleon" and "J'accuse". It was released in 1923. Originally running over nine hours, its recent editions have been cut to about four hours. The film used then-revolutionary lighting techniques, and rapid scene changes and cuts.
[edit] Plot sypnopsys
Railroad engineer Sisif rescues a small orphan, whose name he learns is Norma, following a disastrous crash. He raises the little girl as his own, along with his son Elie, whose mother died during his birth. His best efforts notwithstanding, Sisif develops a strange passion for his adopted girl.
His behavior changes, and he becomes alcoholic, and occasionally violent. In time, Norma becomes a lively and playful young woman. Her greatest joy is time spent with Elie, by now a handsome violin maker. whom she believes to be her natural brother. Sisif confesses to a partner, Mister Hersan, that he is preoccupied in an unhealty way with Norma. Hersan threatens Sisif with blackmail if he does not consent to give Norma to him in marriage. Sisif reluctantly agrees with this arrangement, and himself drives the train that will deliver Norma to her husband. Distraught, he drives recklessly, and nearly wrecks the train.
An eye injury forces Sisif to abandon his trade, and he goes to work instead on the funicular at Mont Blanc. When Norma comes to vacation at Chamonix with her husband, she rediscovers her closeness with Elie, who accompanied Sisif to Mont Blanc. The two young people discover their reciprocal love. A jealous Hersan fights with Elie on the mountain, and they fall together to their deaths.
Sisif is by now old and lonely, and his only consolation is that Norma returns to care for him.
[edit] External links
- La Roue at Allmovie
- La Roue at the Internet Movie Database
- La Roue at the TCM Movie Database
