Elmer Clifton · Queuebrick

Elmer Clifton

Directing·Mar 12, 1890·Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Rate

NA/10 avg

Born in Chicago, he was an actor in touring stock companies before making his screen debut in 1912. Joining D.W. Griffith's Fine Arts Studio in 1914, he was cast as Union officer Phil Stoneman in "The Birth of a Nation" (1915) and as The Rhapsodie in the Babylonian story of "Intolerance" (1916). He was also a second-unit director for those films. Promoted to director in 1917, Clifton supervised several successful Fine Arts comedies starring Dorothy Gish while continuing to serve as Griffith's assistant. Their association culminated with the blockbuster "Way Down East" (1920). Clifton shot much of its famous "Rescue from the ice" sequence and doubled for star Richard Barthelmess in the riskier scenes. He then left Griffith to form his own production company and had a smash hit with "Down to the Sea in Ships" (1922), a colorful whaling saga made on location in New England. It made a star of future "It Girl" Clara Bow, who appeared as a cross-dressing stowaway. In 1923 Clifton signed a lucrative seven-year contract with Fox and was poised to become one of Hollywood's major directors. Then tragedy struck. He was filming "The Warrens of Virginia" in Texas when his lead actress died from burns in an accident on the set. Although Clifton was blameless in the incident, he was fired by Fox and his career never regained its momentum.

Film	Credit
The Silver Bandit1950 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
Red Rock Outlaw1949 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
Not Wanted1949 · Director	Director
The Judge1949 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
Swing, Cowboy, Swing1946 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
Marked for Murder1945 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
The Whispering Skull1944 · Director	Director
Dead or Alive1944 · Director	Director
Youth Aflame1944 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
Gangsters of the Frontier1944 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
Seven Doors to Death1944 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
Spook Town1944 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
The Pinto Bandit1944 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
Guns of the Law1944 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
Captain America1944 · Director	Director
Boss of Rawhide1943 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
The Return of the Rangers1943 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
Frontier Law1943 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
Days of Old Cheyenne1943 · Director	Director
The Blocked Trail1943 · Director	Director
The Sundown Kid1942 · Director	Director
The Old Chisholm Trail1942 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
Deep in the Heart of Texas1942 · Director	Director
Swamp Woman1941 · Director	Director
Hard Guy1941 · Director	Director
I'll Sell My Life1941 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
City of Missing Girls1941 · Director	Director
Isle Of Destiny1940 · Director	Director
Crashing Thru1939 · Director	Director
California Frontier1938 · Director	Director
Law of the Texan1938 · Director	Director
The Stranger from Arizona1938 · Director	Director
Paroled from the Big House1938 · Director	Director
The Secret of Treasure Island1938 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
Assassin of Youth1938 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
Slaves in Bondage1937 · Director	Director
Mile a Minute Love1937 · Director	Director
Ten Laps to Go1936 · Director	Director
Pilot X1936 · Director	Director
Gambling with Souls1936 · Director	Director
Wildcat Trooper1936 · Director	Director
Wolves of the Sea1936 · Director	Director
Custer's Last Stand1936 · Director	Director
Custer's Last Stand1936 · Director	Director
Skull and Crown1935 · Director	Director
Rip Roaring Riley1935 · Director	Director
Captured in Chinatown1935 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
Rough Riding Ranger1935 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
Fighting Caballero1935 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
Cyclone of the Saddle1935 · Writer, Director	Writer, Director
Pals of the Range1935 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
MMaid to Order1931 · Director	Director
TThe Fallen Empire1931 · Director	Director
LLight of India1929 · Director	Director
The Devil's Apple Tree1929 · Director	Director
Tropical Nights1928 · Director	Director
Virgin Lips1928 · Director	Director
Beautiful But Dumb1928 · Director	Director
Let 'Er Go Gallegher1928 · Director	Director
TThe Bride of the Colorado1928 · Director	Director
The Wreck of the Hesperus1927 · Director	Director
Daughters of the Night1924 · Director	Director
The Warrens of Virginia1924 · Director	Director
Six Cylinder Love1923 · Director	Director
Down to the Sea in Ships1922 · Director, Producer	Director, Producer
Mary Ellen Comes to Town1920 · Director	Director
Turning the Tables1919 · Director	Director
Nobody Home1919 · Director	Director
Nugget Nell1919 · Director	Director
I'll Get Him Yet1919 · Director	Director
Peppy Polly1919 · Director	Director
Boots1919 · Director	Director
The Hope Chest1918 · Director	Director
Kiss or Kill1918 · Writer, Director	Writer, Director
Battling Jane1918 · Director	Director
Winner Takes All1918 · Director	Director
The Eagle1918 · Director	Director
Smashing Through1918 · Director	Director
The Guilt of Silence1918 · Director	Director
The Two-Soul Woman1918 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
Brace Up1918 · Director	Director
The Flash of Fate1918 · Director	Director
The High Sign1917 · Director	Director
The Man Trap1917 · Director	Director
Flirting with Death1917 · Director	Director
A Stormy Knight1917 · Director	Director
The Midnight Man1917 · Director	Director
High Speed1917 · Director	Director
The Flame of Youth1917 · Director	Director
Her Official Fathers1917 · Director	Director
WWives at AuctionDirector	Director
TThe Truth About MenDirector	Director
TThe Virgin WifeDirector	Director