The Wheels of Chance (film)

The Wheels of Chance is a 1922 British silent comedy film directed by Harold M. Shaw and based on the 1896 novel The Wheels of Chance: A Holiday Adventure by H.G. Wells. The film stars Betty Balfour, Ernest Thesiger, and Arthur Cleave.

The story follows the adventures of Mr. Hoopdriver (Arthur Cleave), a draper's assistant who dreams of escaping his mundane life. He embarks on a cycling holiday across the south of England, where he becomes entangled in the affairs of a mysterious woman named Miss Milton (Betty Balfour) who is fleeing a dangerous situation. Their escapades involve mistaken identities, chases, and humorous encounters, all set against the backdrop of the English countryside.

The film is considered a significant early adaptation of H.G. Wells's work and is notable for its use of location shooting and its portrayal of early cycling culture. While largely forgotten for many years, The Wheels of Chance has been rediscovered and restored, offering a glimpse into British cinema of the early 1920s.