The Wheels of Justice | |
---|---|
![]() Ralph Brooks (James Morrison) on the bunk in his cell with his cellmate Tug Riley (Anders Randolph) | |
Directed by | Theodore Marston |
Written by | Edward J. Montagne |
Starring | Dorothy Kelly James Morrison Louise Beaudet |
Cinematography | Reginald Edgar Lyons |
Production company | |
Distributed by | V-L-S-E, Inc. |
Release date |
|
Running time | 4 reels |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
The Wheels of Justice is a 1915 American silent film written by Edward J. Montagne, directed by Theodore Marston, and starring Dorothy Kelly, James Morrison and Louise Beaudet. It premiered in February 1915, before its wide release in August of the same year. It was met with mostly positive reviews.
Ralph Brooks is dating Julia Dean. When the two attend a reception, he meets Rita Reynolds, the wife of John Reynolds, a wealthy broker. He becomes entranced with her and falls for her false story of spousal abuse. He agrees to take her away from her situation and elope. However, the reality is that Rita is simply using both her husband and Ralph. Her husband is nothing more than a cash machine to finance her exorbitant lifestyle, while Ralph is the perfect patsy to help her further her selfish goals. She has selected a night on which her husband is scheduled to be out for her and Ralph to escape. She also maneuvers the household staff to be out as well. This is so she can rob her husband's safe prior to leaving. However, as she is emptying the safe a thief, Red Hall, actually arrives and interrupts her. As the two confront one another, her husband unexpectedly returns home. Seeing that he is being robbed, he confronts his wife and thief, brandishing a gun. The husband and wife struggle, during which the gun goes off, killing the husband. She decides to blame Red for the murder, and holds him at gunpoint. When Ralph arrives, he listens to the recap of what happened, and is so revolted by Rita's true nature, he balks at going through with her plan. When she sees that she has alienated Ralph, she changes her plan, and orders the thief to escape, turning the gun on Ralph.
When the police arrive, Rita blames the murder on Ralph, and on the strength of her testimony, he is convicted and sent to prison for twenty years. While in prison, he manages to reform his cellmate, Tug Riley, and eventually the two manage to escape from prison, at the same time as another group of criminals. During the ensuing chase, Tug and Ralph escape and return to the city, while the other group of criminals is chased, and drives their car off a drawbridge as they attempt to flee, drowning them all.
Meanwhile, Red has been blackmailing Rita, threatening to go to the police with the truth of her husband's murder. As his demands increase, he concocts a plan for her to hold a fancy costume reception, at which he will rob all her guests. When Tug and Ralph get back to the city, Red recruits Tug to help him rob the guests during the party. However, now reformed by Ralph, he goes to him and reveals Red's plan. Ralph comes up with his own plan and informs the police of the impending crime, and goes to the reception masquerading as the dead John Reynolds. The police arrive in time to catch Red red-handed with stolen jewels on him. Rita is confronted by the specter of her dead husband, causing her to confess her guilt in his murder, thus exonerating Ralph, who is returned to his mother and Julia.
The film had its world premiere on February 14, 1915, at the Vitagraph Theater in New York City, where it ran for a week. It was revealed that the cast included Dorothy Kelly, James Morrison, Louise Beaudet, .Xnders Randolf, Eulalie Jensen, George Cooper, and Charles Eldridge. [2] The movie was announced as being added to Vitagraph's schedule shortly before its general release in August 1915. At the same time it was revealed that the films stars were Dorothy Kelly and James Morrison, who would be making their debut for Vitagraph. [3]
Moving Picture World gave the picture a good review. While they felt it was melodramatic, they said that the plot was very strong, which got stronger as the film progressed, and was full of thrilling moments. They particularly enjoyed the scenes of the escape from prison and the ensuing chase. The magazine pointedly highlighted the work of Eulalie Jensen, who they credited with lifting "the production above the commonplace and the conventional". [4] Motography also gave the film a positive review, saying it was full "of action and strong drama". They felt the picture was realistic, and especially enjoyed the courtroom, prison, and escape sequences. They praised the performances of Dorothy Kelly and Eulalie Jenson. [5] Motion Picture News also enjoyed the film saying it was very well-paced and full of many "novel scenes". They particularly enjoyed the realism of the prison scenes. [6] Variety , on the hand, gave the film a poor review, feeling the plot was doleful and inconsistent. They particularly did not like the performance of James Morrison, who they felt took on a role which was beyond his capabilities. [7]
Clara Kimball Young was an American film actress who was popular in the early silent film era.
Antonio Garrido Monteagudo, better known as Antonio Moreno or Tony Moreno, was a Spanish-born American actor and film director of the silent film era and through the 1950s.
A Tale of Two Cities is a 1911 silent film produced by Vitagraph Studios, loosely based on the 1859 novel by Charles Dickens.
Dorothy Dupre Kelly was an American motion picture actress of the early silent film era.
Eulalie Jensen was an American actress on the New York stage and in silent films.
James W. Morrison was an American actor and author. He appeared in 187 films between 1911 and 1927.
Always in the Way is a 1915 American silent drama film directed by J. Searle Dawley and starring Mary Miles Minter. The film, which was inspired by the song of the same name by Charles K. Harris, was partially filmed in the Bahamas. As with many of Minter's features, the film is thought to be a lost film.
A Yankee Princess is a 1919 American silent comedy-drama film produced and distributed by the Vitagraph Company of America. It was directed by David Smith and stars Bessie Love, who also wrote the screenplay. It is a lost film.
The Battle Cry of Peace is a 1915 American silent war film directed by Wilfrid North and J. Stuart Blackton, one of the founders of Vitagraph Company of America who also wrote the scenario. The film is based on the book Defenseless America, by Hudson Maxim, and was distributed by V-L-S-E, Incorporated. The film stars Charles Richman, L. Rogers Lytton, and James W. Morrison.
The Dawn of Understanding is a lost 1918 American silent Western comedy film produced by The Vitagraph Company of America and directed by David Smith. It stars Bessie Love in the first film of her nine-film contract with Vitagraph. It is based on the short story "The Judgement of Bolinas Plain" by 19th-century Western writer Bret Harte.
The Carpet from Bagdad is a 1915 American silent adventure film directed by Colin Campbell and based on Harold MacGrath's 1911 eponymous novel. In the story, Horace Wadsworth, one of a gang of criminals also planning a bank robbery in New York, steals the titular prayer rug from its Baghdad mosque. He sells the carpet to antique dealer George Jones to fund the robbery scheme. But the theft places both men and Fortune Chedsoye, the innocent daughter of another conspirator, in danger from the carpet's guardian.
Thin Ice is a 1919 American silent drama film directed by Thomas R. Mills and starring Corinne Griffith. It was produced and distributed through the Vitagraph Company of America.
My Official Wife is a 1914 American silent film directed by James Young and starring Clara Kimball Young, Harry T. Morey and Rose E. Tapley.
Maibelle Heikes Justice was an American novelist and screenwriter.
C.O.D. is a 1914 short comedy film directed by Tefft Johnson and based upon Frederic Chapin's 1912 play of the same name.
Fear-Bound is a 1925 American silent Western film directed by William Nigh and starring Marjorie Daw, William Nigh, and Niles Welch.
The Juggernaut is a silent train disaster drama produced by the Vitagraph Company of America and released on April 19, 1915. It was directed by Ralph W. Ince and stars Earle Williams and Anita Stewart.
Betty Howe was an American actress in silent films.
Her Husband's Faith is a 1916 American silent short film directed by Lloyd B. Carleton. The film is based on a story by Paul Machette. Eugene De Rue developed the screenplay. This domestic society drama's features Dorothy Davenport, T. D. Crittenden and Emory Johnson.
Crooky is a 1915 American silent film written by Paul West, directed by C. Jay Williams, and starring Frank Daniels, Charles Eldridge and Harry T. Morey. It was Daniels screen debut. While initial reviews were polite, the film quickly disappeared from the trade press and Daniels' persona became critiqued in other feature comedies as overly broad or immoral. The original title was Crooky Scruggs, but during its theatrical run, the title was shortened to Crooky.