Elmer Clifton
Directing
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
Directing95
movieThe Silver Bandit
1950
Director
movieRed Rock Outlaw
1949
Director
movieNot Wanted
1949
Director
movieThe Judge
1949
Director
movieSwing, Cowboy, Swing
1946
Director
movieMarked for Murder
1945
Director
movieThe Whispering Skull
1944
Director
movieDead or Alive
1944
Director
movieYouth Aflame
1944
Director
movieSeven Doors to Death
1944
Director
movieSpook Town
1944
Director
movieThe Pinto Bandit
1944
Director
movieGuns of the Law
1944
Director
movieCaptain America
1944
Director
movieBoss of Rawhide
1943
Director
movieFrontier Law
1943
Director
movieDays of Old Cheyenne
1943
Director
movieThe Blocked Trail
1943
Director
movieThe Sundown Kid
1942
Director
movieThe Old Chisholm Trail
1942
Director
movieSwamp Woman
1941
Director
movieHard Guy
1941
Director
movieI'll Sell My Life
1941
Director
movieCity of Missing Girls
1941
Director
movieIsle Of Destiny
1940
Director
movieCrashing Thru
1939
Director
movieCalifornia Frontier
1938
Director
movieLaw of the Texan
1938
Director
movieAssassin of Youth
1938
Director
movieSlaves in Bondage
1937
Director
movieMile a Minute Love
1937
Director
movieTen Laps to Go
1936
Director
moviePilot X
1936
Director
movieGambling with Souls
1936
Director
movieWildcat Trooper
1936
Director
movieWolves of the Sea
1936
Director
movieCuster's Last Stand
1936
Director
movieCuster's Last Stand
1936
Director
movieSkull and Crown
1935
Director
movieRip Roaring Riley
1935
Director
movieCaptured in Chinatown
1935
Director
movieRough Riding Ranger
1935
Director
movieFighting Caballero
1935
Director
moviePals of the Range
1935
Director
movieCyclone of the Saddle
1935
Director
movieTropical Nights
1928
Director
movieVirgin Lips
1928
Director
movieBeautiful But Dumb
1928
Director
movieLet 'Er Go Gallegher
1928
Director
movieDaughters of the Night
1924
Director
movieThe Warrens of Virginia
1924
Director
movieSix Cylinder Love
1923
Director
movieTurning the Tables
1919
Director
movieNobody Home
1919
Director
movieNugget Nell
1919
Director
movieI'll Get Him Yet
1919
Director
moviePeppy Polly
1919
Director
movieBoots
1919
Director
movieThe Hope Chest
1918
Director
movieKiss or Kill
1918
Director
movieBattling Jane
1918
Director
movieWinner Takes All
1918
Director
movieThe Eagle
1918
Director
movieSmashing Through
1918
Director
movieThe Guilt of Silence
1918
Director
movieThe Two-Soul Woman
1918
Director
movieBrace Up
1918
Director
movieThe Flash of Fate
1918
Director
movieThe High Sign
1917
Director
movieThe Man Trap
1917
Director
movieFlirting with Death
1917
Director
movieA Stormy Knight
1917
Director
movieThe Midnight Man
1917
Director
movieHigh Speed
1917
Director
movieThe Flame of Youth
1917
Director
movieHer Official Fathers
1917
Director
movieIntolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
1916
First Assistant Director
movieThe Birth of a Nation
1915
Assistant Director
Writing48
movieThe Silver Bandit
1950
Screenplay, Story
movieThe Kid from Gower Gulch
1950
Screenplay
movieRed Rock Outlaw
1949
Screenplay
movieThe Judge
1949
Screenplay
movieQuick on the Trigger
1948
Screenplay
movieWest to Glory
1947
Screenplay
movieRainbow Over the Rockies
1947
Screenplay
movieSong of the Sierras
1946
Screenplay
movieLightning Raiders
1946
Original Story, Screenplay
movieFrontier Fugitives
1945
Screenplay
movieThree in the Saddle
1945
Screenplay
movieMarked for Murder
1945
Screenplay
movieYouth Aflame
1944
Screenplay
movieGangsters of the Frontier
1944
Screenplay
movieGunsmoke Mesa
1944
Screenplay
movieSeven Doors to Death
1944
Screenplay
movieBrand of the Devil
1944
Screenplay
Teen Age
1944
Screenplay, Story
movieSpook Town
1944
Screenplay
movieThe Pinto Bandit
1944
Screenplay, Story
movieGuns of the Law
1944
Screenplay
movieOutlaw Roundup
1944
Screenplay
movieBoss of Rawhide
1943
Story, Screenplay
movieThe Return of the Rangers
1943
Story, Screenplay
movieFrontier Law
1943
Screenplay
movieRaiders of San Joaquin
1943
Screenplay
movieCheyenne Roundup
1943
Screenplay, Story
movieThe Old Chisholm Trail
1942
Screenplay
movieI'll Sell My Life
1941
Screenplay
movieThe Secret of Treasure Island
1938
Screenplay
movieAssassin of Youth
1938
Story, Screenplay
movieRough Riding Ranger
1935
Screenplay
movieKiss or Kill
1918
Writer
movieBrace Up
1918
Story
Acting19
movieI Am Not a Racist
2019
Phil (archive footage) (uncredited)
movieThe Old Folks at Home
1916
Steve Coburn
movieIntolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
1916
The Rhapsode (Babylonian Story)
Acquitted
1916
Ned Fowler
movieThe Missing Links
1916
Horace Gaylord
movieThe Sable Lorcha
1915
Phillip Clyde - Evelyn's Fiancé
movieThe Lily and the Rose
1915
Allison Edwards
The Fox Woman
1915
Marashida
movieThe Lost House
1915
Cuthbert
movieThe Birth of a Nation
1915
Stoneman's Elder Son Phil
movieThe Sisters
1914
Frank (Carol's country lover)
The Folly of Anne
1914
The Sympathtic Publisher
movieMartin Eden
1914
Cub Reporter
John Barleycorn
1914
Jack, 3rd period