Elmer Clifton
- Directing
- March 12, 1890 · Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- October 15, 1949
Biography
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.
Known for
Filmography
- I Am Not a Racist · Phil (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Outcasts of Black Mesa · Story
- The Silver Bandit · Director, Screenplay
- The Kid from Gower Gulch · Screenplay
- Red Rock Outlaw · Director, Screenplay
- Not Wanted · Director
- The Judge · Director, Screenplay
- Quick on the Trigger · Screenplay
- Sunset Carson Rides Again · Writer
- West to Glory · Screenplay
- Rainbow Over the Rockies · Screenplay
- Song of the Sierras · Screenplay
- Outlaws of the Plains · Story
- Swing, Cowboy, Swing · Director, Writer
- Lightning Raiders · Story, Screenplay
- Frontier Fugitives · Screenplay
- Three in the Saddle · Screenplay
- Marked for Murder · Director, Screenplay
- The Whispering Skull · Director
- Dead or Alive · Director
- Youth Aflame · Director, Screenplay
- Gangsters of the Frontier · Director, Screenplay
- Gunsmoke Mesa · Screenplay
- Seven Doors to Death · Director, Screenplay
- Brand of the Devil · Screenplay
- Teen Age · Screenplay, Story
- Spook Town · Director, Screenplay
- The Pinto Bandit · Director, Screenplay
- Guns of the Law · Director, Screenplay
- Outlaw Roundup · Screenplay
- Captain America · Director
- Boss of Rawhide · Director, Story
- The Return of the Rangers · Director, Story
- Frontier Law · Director, Screenplay
- Raiders of San Joaquin · Screenplay
- Cheyenne Roundup · Screenplay, Story
- Days of Old Cheyenne · Director
- The Blocked Trail · Director
- Bad Men of Thunder Gap · Writer
- The Sundown Kid · Director
- The Rangers Take Over · Writer
- The Old Chisholm Trail · Director, Screenplay
- Deep in the Heart of Texas · Director
- Swamp Woman · Director
- Hard Guy · Director
- I'll Sell My Life · Director, Screenplay
- City of Missing Girls · Director
- The Trail of the Silver Spurs · Story
- West of Pinto Basin · Story
- Isle Of Destiny · Director
- Crashing Thru · Director
- California Frontier · Director
- Law of the Texan · Director
- The Stranger from Arizona · Director
- Paroled from the Big House · Director
- The Secret of Treasure Island · Director, Screenplay
- Assassin of Youth · Director, Story
- Slaves in Bondage · Director
- Mile a Minute Love · Director
- Ten Laps to Go · Director
- Pilot X · Director
- Gambling with Souls · Director
- Wildcat Trooper · Director
- Wolves of the Sea · Director, Story
- Custer's Last Stand · Director
- Custer's Last Stand · Director
- Skull and Crown · Director
- Rip Roaring Riley · Director
- Captured in Chinatown · Director, Writer
- Rough Riding Ranger · Director, Screenplay
- Fighting Caballero · Director, Writer
- Cyclone of the Saddle · Writer, Director
- Pals of the Range · Director, Writer
- Maid to Order · Director
- The Fallen Empire · Director
- Light of India · Director
- The Devil's Apple Tree · Director
- Tropical Nights · Director
- Virgin Lips · Director
- Beautiful But Dumb · Director