Around The Wheel (1923)

• 71%
• 1923
• Documentary
• Blaise Cendrars
• Abel Gance
• Ivy Close
• Charles Pathé

Widely regarded as one of the most innovative productions of the silent era, Abel Gance's LA ROUE is a film of mythic stature. Poet and novelist Blaise Cendrars shot this illuminating behind-the-scenes footage in the midst of the film's difficult location work. He captures the elaborate technical setups that went into producing LA ROUE's dynamic angles and fluid camera movements. Gance himself looks like he's having a ball clutching his script atop trains and snowy mountains. With the camera rolling, he directs his actors' movements as if he were dancing a ballet.