The Turn of the Wheel

The Turn of the Wheel
Lobby card
Directed by	Reginald Barker
Written by	Charles Charwate (story, scenario)
Produced by	Sam Goldwyn
Starring	Geraldine Farrar
Cinematography	Percy Hilburn (French)
Distributed by	Goldwyn Pictures
Release date	September 1, 1918 (1918-09-01)
Running time	50 minutes; 5 reels
Country	United States
Language	Silent (English intertitles)

The Turn of the Wheel is a lost 1918 American silent romantic drama film produced and distributed by Goldwyn Pictures. Reginald Barker directed and Geraldine Farrar starred.[1][2]

Plot

As described in a film magazine,[3] Rosalie Dean (Farrar) dissuades Maxfield Grey (Rawlinson) of suicide at Monte Carlo and loans him 100 francs, with which he regains his losses. They become fast friends. Without warning, Maxfield is arrested for the murder of his wife in New York and Rosalie is taken in as an accomplice. Rosalie proves an alibi, but Maxfield is returned for trial. He refuses to admit or deny his guilt, and Rosalie, convinced that he is innocent, sets about to find the truth. By shrewdly playing upon the weakness of Wally Gage (Short), she discovers that the shooting was accidental. Maxfield had been maintaining his silence to prevent his brother from being dragged into the mire because of a liaison between his brother's wife and Gage, and that they had been meeting at Maxfield's home with the consent of Mrs. Maxfield Grey. Freed of the murder charge, Maxfield and Rosalie are now free to marry.

Cast

• Geraldine Farrar as Rosalie Dean
• Herbert Rawlinson as Maxfield Grey
• Percy Marmont as Frank Grey
• Violet Heming as Bertha Grey
• Hassard Short as Wally Gage
• Maude Turner Gordon as Rosalie's Aunt
• Henry Carvill as Attorney Stanfield
• Clarence Handyside as American Consul
• Ernest Maupain as Casino Manager
• Mabel Ballin as Young Girl

Reception

Like many American films of the time, The Girl Who Came Back was subject to restrictions and cuts by city and state film censorship boards. For example, the Chicago Board of Censors required, in Reel 1, that a closeup of a roulette wheel be reduced by half.[4]

References

1. The American Film Institute Catalog Feature Films: 1911-20 by The American Film Institute, c.1988
2. Progressive Silent Film List: The Turn of the Wheel at silentera.com
3. "Reviews: The Turn of the Wheel". Exhibitors Herald. 7 (12). New York City: Exhibitors Herald Company: 36. September 14, 1918.
4. "Official Cut-Outs by the Chicago Board of Censors". Exhibitors Herald. 7 (13): 44. September 21, 1918.

External links

• The Turn of the Wheel at IMDb
• allmovie/synopsis; The Turn of the Wheel
• Still with Geraldine Farrar and Herbert Rawlinson (University of Washington / Sayre collection)