Elmer Clifton
- Known for
- Directing
- Born
- March 12, 1890
- Died
- October 15, 1949 (aged 59)
- Birthplace
- Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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
Photos
Filmography
Wives at Auction
Movie · Director
The Truth About Men
Movie · Director
The Virgin Wife
Movie · Director
The Silver Bandit
Movie · Director
The Judge
Movie · Director
Not Wanted
Movie · Director
Red Rock Outlaw
Movie · Director
Swing, Cowboy, Swing
Movie · Director
Marked for Murder
Movie · Director
Captain America
Movie · Director
Gangsters of the Frontier
Movie · Director
Youth Aflame
Movie · Director
Seven Doors to Death
Movie · Director
Spook Town
Movie · Director
The Whispering Skull
Movie · Director
Guns of the Law
Movie · Director
The Pinto Bandit
Movie · Director
Dead or Alive
Movie · Director
Days of Old Cheyenne
Movie · Director
Boss of Rawhide
Movie · Director
The Blocked Trail
Movie · Director
Frontier Law
Movie · Director
The Return of the Rangers
Movie · Director
Deep in the Heart of Texas
Movie · Director
The Old Chisholm Trail
Movie · Director
The Sundown Kid
Movie · Director
Hard Guy
Movie · Director
City of Missing Girls
Movie · Director
I'll Sell My Life
Movie · Director
Swamp Woman
Movie · Director
Isle Of Destiny
Movie · Director
Crashing Thru
Movie · Director
Assassin of Youth
Movie · Director
The Secret of Treasure Island
Movie · Director
The Stranger from Arizona
Movie · Director
Law of the Texan
Movie · Director
Paroled from the Big House
Movie · Director
California Frontier
Movie · Director
Slaves in Bondage
Movie · Director
Mile a Minute Love
Movie · Director
Pilot X
Movie · Director
Wildcat Trooper
Movie · Director
Wolves of the Sea
Movie · Director
Custer's Last Stand
Movie · Director
Ten Laps to Go
Movie · Director
Custer's Last Stand
Movie · Director
Gambling with Souls
Movie · Director
Skull and Crown
Movie · Director
Rough Riding Ranger
Movie · Director
Captured in Chinatown
Movie · Director
Fighting Caballero
Movie · Director
Pals of the Range
Movie · Director
Cyclone of the Saddle
Movie · Director
Rip Roaring Riley
Movie · Director
Maid to Order
Movie · Director
The Fallen Empire
Movie · Director
Light of India
Movie · Director
The Devil's Apple Tree
Movie · Director
Let 'Er Go Gallegher
Movie · Director
Tropical Nights
Movie · Director
Virgin Lips
Movie · Director
Beautiful But Dumb
Movie · Director
The Bride of the Colorado
Movie · Director
The Wreck of the Hesperus
Movie · Director
The Warrens of Virginia
Movie · Director
Daughters of the Night
Movie · Director
Six Cylinder Love
Movie · Director
Down to the Sea in Ships
Movie · Director
Mary Ellen Comes to Town
Movie · Director
Boots
Movie · Director
Peppy Polly
Movie · Director
I'll Get Him Yet
Movie · Director
Nugget Nell
Movie · Director
Turning the Tables
Movie · Director
Nobody Home
Movie · Director
Kiss or Kill
Movie · Director
The Hope Chest
Movie · Director
Battling Jane
Movie · Director
Smashing Through
Movie · Director
Brace Up
Movie · Director
The Eagle
Movie · Director
The Two-Soul Woman
Movie · Director
Winner Takes All
Movie · Director
The Flash of Fate
Movie · Director
The Guilt of Silence
Movie · Director
Her Official Fathers
Movie · Director
The High Sign
Movie · Director
A Stormy Knight
Movie · Director
The Man Trap
Movie · Director
Flirting with Death
Movie · Director
The Midnight Man
Movie · Director
The Flame of Youth
Movie · Director
High Speed
Movie · Director
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
Movie · First Assistant Director
The Birth of a Nation
Movie · Assistant Director