Elmer Clifton
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.
Acting (13 movies)
The Birth of a Nation
1915
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
1916
I Am Not a Racist
2019
The Lost House
1915
The Lily and the Rose
1915
The Sisters
1914
Burning Daylight: The Adventures of 'Burning Daylight' in Alaska
1914
The Missing Links
1916
Martin Eden
1914
The Sable Lorcha
1915
Nina, the Flower Girl
1917
Acquitted
1916
The Old Folks at Home
1916
Directing (87 movies)
Maid to Order
1931
Pilot X
1936
The Judge
1949
Slaves in Bondage
1937
Assassin of Youth
1938
Captain America
1944
Hard Guy
1941
Not Wanted
1949
Crashing Thru
1939
Gangsters of the Frontier
1944
Youth Aflame
1944
Skull and Crown
1935
Seven Doors to Death
1944
Down to the Sea in Ships
1922
Rough Riding Ranger
1935
Captured in Chinatown
1935
Wildcat Trooper
1936
Wolves of the Sea
1936
Custer's Last Stand
1936
Let 'Er Go Gallegher
1928
The Secret of Treasure Island
1938
City of Missing Girls
1941
Fighting Caballero
1935
Ten Laps to Go
1936
Isle Of Destiny
1940
Kiss or Kill
1918
Spook Town
1944
Mary Ellen Comes to Town
1920
I'll Sell My Life
1941
The Wreck of the Hesperus
1927
Boots
1919
The Hope Chest
1918
Battling Jane
1918
Peppy Polly
1919
Nugget Nell
1919
I'll Get Him Yet
1919
Turning the Tables
1919
The Fallen Empire
1931
Pals of the Range
1935
The Whispering Skull
1944
Cyclone of the Saddle
1935
Guns of the Law
1944
Six Cylinder Love
1923
Light of India
1929
Red Rock Outlaw
1949
The Pinto Bandit
1944
Deep in the Heart of Texas
1942
Days of Old Cheyenne
1943
Nobody Home
1919
Boss of Rawhide
1943
Marked for Murder
1945
The Stranger from Arizona
1938
Law of the Texan
1938
Rip Roaring Riley
1935
Mile a Minute Love
1937
Swamp Woman
1941
The Blocked Trail
1943
The Old Chisholm Trail
1942
Custer's Last Stand
1936
The Sundown Kid
1942
Frontier Law
1943
Dead or Alive
1944
The Return of the Rangers
1943
Her Official Fathers
1917
Swing, Cowboy, Swing
1946
The Devil's Apple Tree
1929
The High Sign
1917
The Silver Bandit
1950
Smashing Through
1918
Paroled from the Big House
1938
A Stormy Knight
1917
Brace Up
1918
The Eagle
1918
The Two-Soul Woman
1918
Tropical Nights
1928
Winner Takes All
1918
The Man Trap
1917
Flirting with Death
1917
The Midnight Man
1917
The Warrens of Virginia
1924
The Flash of Fate
1918
California Frontier
1938
Virgin Lips
1928
The Flame of Youth
1917
Gambling with Souls
1936
Daughters of the Night
1924
Beautiful But Dumb
1928