Elmer Clifton
Directing
1890-03-12 · Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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.
Filmography
I Am Not a Racist
2019 · Movie
Outcast of Black Mesa
1950 · Movie
The Silver Bandit
1950 · Movie
The Kid from Gower Gulch
1950 · Movie
Red Rock Outlaw
1949 · Movie
Not Wanted
1949 · Movie
The Judge
1949 · Movie
Quick on the Trigger
1948 · Movie
Sunset Carson Rides Again
1948 · Movie
West to Glory
1947 · Movie
Rainbow Over the Rockies
1947 · Movie
Song of the Sierras
1946 · Movie
Outlaws of the Plains
1946 · Movie
Swing, Cowboy, Swing
1946 · Movie
Lightning Raiders
1946 · Movie
Frontier Fugitives
1945 · Movie
Three in the Saddle
1945 · Movie
Marked for Murder
1945 · Movie
The Whispering Skull
1944 · Movie
Dead or Alive
1944 · Movie
Youth Aflame
1944 · Movie
Gangsters of the Frontier
1944 · Movie
Gunsmoke Mesa
1944 · Movie
Seven Doors to Death
1944 · Movie
Brand of the Devil
1944 · Movie
Teen Age
1944 · Movie
Spook Town
1944 · Movie
The Pinto Bandit
1944 · Movie
Guns of the Law
1944 · Movie
Outlaw Roundup
1944 · Movie
Captain America
1944 · Movie
Boss of Rawhide
1943 · Movie
The Return of the Rangers
1943 · Movie
Frontier Law
1943 · Movie
Raiders of San Joaquin
1943 · Movie
Cheyenne Roundup
1943 · Movie
Days of Old Cheyenne
1943 · Movie
The Blocked Trail
1943 · Movie
Bad Men of Thunder Gap
1943 · Movie
The Sundown Kid
1942 · Movie
The Rangers Take Over
1942 · Movie
The Old Chisholm Trail
1942 · Movie
Deep in the Heart of Texas
1942 · Movie
Swamp Woman
1941 · Movie
Hard Guy
1941 · Movie
I'll Sell My Life
1941 · Movie
City of Missing Girls
1941 · Movie
The Trail of the Silver Spurs
1941 · Movie
West of Pinto Basin
1940 · Movie
Isle Of Destiny
1940 · Movie
Crashing Thru
1939 · Movie
California Frontier
1938 · Movie
Law of the Texan
1938 · Movie
The Stranger from Arizona
1938 · Movie
Paroled from the Big House
1938 · Movie
The Secret of Treasure Island
1938 · Movie
Assassin of Youth
1938 · Movie
Slaves in Bondage
1937 · Movie
Mile a Minute Love
1937 · Movie
Ten Laps to Go
1936 · Movie
Pilot X
1936 · Movie
Gambling with Souls
1936 · Movie
Wildcat Trooper
1936 · Movie
Wolves of the Sea
1936 · Movie
Custer's Last Stand
1936 · Movie
Custer's Last Stand
1936 · Movie
Skull and Crown
1935 · Movie
Rip Roaring Riley
1935 · Movie
Captured in Chinatown
1935 · Movie
Rough Riding Ranger
1935 · Movie
Fighting Caballero
1935 · Movie
Cyclone of the Saddle
1935 · Movie
Pals of the Range
1935 · Movie
Maid to Order
1931 · Movie
The Fallen Empire
1931 · Movie
Light of India
1929 · Movie
The Devil's Apple Tree
1929 · Movie
Tropical Nights
1928 · Movie
Virgin Lips
1928 · Movie
Beautiful But Dumb
1928 · Movie
Let 'Er Go Gallegher
1928 · Movie
The Bride of the Colorado
1928 · Movie
The Wreck of the Hesperus
1927 · Movie
Daughters of the Night
1924 · Movie
The Warrens of Virginia
1924 · Movie
Six Cylinder Love
1923 · Movie
Down to the Sea in Ships
1922 · Movie
Mary Ellen Comes to Town
1920 · Movie
Turning the Tables
1919 · Movie
Nobody Home
1919 · Movie
Nugget Nell
1919 · Movie
I'll Get Him Yet
1919 · Movie
Peppy Polly
1919 · Movie
Boots
1919 · Movie
The Hope Chest
1918 · Movie
Kiss or Kill
1918 · Movie
Battling Jane
1918 · Movie
Winner Takes All
1918 · Movie
The Eagle
1918 · Movie
Smashing Through
1918 · Movie
The Guilt of Silence
1918 · Movie
The Two-Soul Woman
1918 · Movie
Brace Up
1918 · Movie
The Flash of Fate
1918 · Movie
The High Sign
1917 · Movie
The Man Trap
1917 · Movie
Flirting with Death
1917 · Movie
A Stormy Knight
1917 · Movie
The Midnight Man
1917 · Movie
High Speed
1917 · Movie
The Flame of Youth
1917 · Movie
Her Official Fathers
1917 · Movie
Nina, the Flower Girl
1917 · Movie
The Old Folks at Home
1916 · Movie
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
1916 · Movie
The Little School Ma'am
1916 · Movie
Acquitted
1916 · Movie
The Missing Links
1916 · Movie
The Sable Lorcha
1915 · Movie
The Lily and the Rose
1915 · Movie
The Fox Woman
1915 · Movie
The Lost House
1915 · Movie
The Birth of a Nation
1915 · Movie
A Lucky Disappointment
1914 · Movie
The Sisters
1914 · Movie
The Folly of Anne
1914 · Movie
Burning Daylight: The Adventures of 'Burning Daylight' in Alaska
1914 · Movie
Martin Eden
1914 · Movie
A Duel for Love
1914 · Movie
John Barleycorn
1914 · Movie
The Virgin Wife
Movie
Wives at Auction
Movie
The Truth About Men
Movie