Elmer Clifton
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.
The Birth of a Nation
(Stoneman's Elder Son Phil)
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
(The Rhapsode (Babylonian Story))
The Fox Woman
(Marashida)
I Am Not a Racist
(Phil)
John Barleycorn
(Jack, 3rd period)
The Folly of Anne
(The Sympathtic Publisher)
The Lost House
(Cuthbert)
The Lily and the Rose
(Allison Edwards)
The Sisters
(Frank (Carol's country lover))
Burning Daylight: The Adventures of 'Burning Daylight' in Alaska
(Charley Bates)
A Duel for Love
The Missing Links
(Horace Gaylord)
Martin Eden
(Cub Reporter)
The Sable Lorcha
(Phillip Clyde - Evelyn's Fiancé)
Nina, the Flower Girl
(Jimmie)
Acquitted
(Ned Fowler)
A Lucky Disappointment
(Jack Holt)
Birth of Skibidi
(Phil Mewman, elder Sigma)
Maid to Order
(Director)
Cyclone of the Saddle
(Writer)
Pilot X
(Director)
The Judge
(Director)
The Judge
(Screenplay)
Slaves in Bondage
(Director)
Assassin of Youth
(Director)
Assassin of Youth
(Screenplay)
Assassin of Youth
(Story)
Captain America
(Director)
Hard Guy
(Director)
Not Wanted
(Director)
Crashing Thru
(Director)
Gangsters of the Frontier
(Screenplay)
Gangsters of the Frontier
(Director)
Lightning Raiders
(Screenplay)
Lightning Raiders
(Original Story)
Frontier Fugitives
(Screenplay)
Youth Aflame
(Director)
Youth Aflame
(Screenplay)
Skull and Crown
(Director)
Seven Doors to Death
(Director)
Down to the Sea in Ships
(Director)
Rough Riding Ranger
(Director)
Captured in Chinatown
(Director)
Wildcat Trooper
(Director)
Wolves of the Sea
(Director)
Custer's Last Stand
(Director)
Let 'Er Go Gallegher
(Director)
The Secret of Treasure Island
(Director)
The Secret of Treasure Island
(Screenplay)
City of Missing Girls
(Director)
Fighting Caballero
(Director)
Ten Laps to Go
(Director)
Isle Of Destiny
(Director)
Kiss or Kill
(Director)
Kiss or Kill
(Writer)
Spook Town
(Director)
Mary Ellen Comes to Town
(Director)
I'll Sell My Life
(Director)
The Wreck of the Hesperus
(Director)
Boots
(Director)
The Hope Chest
(Director)
Battling Jane
(Director)
Peppy Polly
(Director)
I'll Get Him Yet
(Director)
Nugget Nell
(Director)
Turning the Tables
(Director)
The Fallen Empire
(Director)
Pals of the Range
(Director)
Pals of the Range
(Writer)
Song of the Sierras
(Screenplay)
The Whispering Skull
(Director)
Cyclone of the Saddle
(Director)
Guns of the Law
(Director)
Six Cylinder Love
(Director)
Light of India
(Director)
Outlaws of the Plains
(Story)
Rough Riding Ranger
(Screenplay)
Red Rock Outlaw
(Director)
The Pinto Bandit
(Director)
The Pinto Bandit
(Screenplay)
Deep in the Heart of Texas
(Director)
Bad Men of Thunder Gap
(Writer)
Days of Old Cheyenne
(Director)
Nobody Home
(Director)
Boss of Rawhide
(Director)
Marked for Murder
(Director)
The Stranger from Arizona
(Director)
Law of the Texan
(Director)
Rip Roaring Riley
(Director)
The Rangers Take Over
(Writer)
Teen Age
(Story)
Teen Age
(Screenplay)
I'll Sell My Life
(Screenplay)
Mile a Minute Love
(Director)
Seven Doors to Death
(Screenplay)
Swamp Woman
(Director)
The Blocked Trail
(Director)
The Trail of the Silver Spurs
(Story)
Guns of the Law
(Screenplay)
The Old Chisholm Trail
(Director)
The Old Chisholm Trail
(Screenplay)
Captured in Chinatown
(Writer)
Outcasts of Black Mesa
(Story)
Quick on the Trigger
(Screenplay)
The Kid from Gower Gulch
(Screenplay)
West of Pinto Basin
(Story)
Raiders of San Joaquin
(Screenplay)
Boss of Rawhide
(Story)
Boss of Rawhide
(Screenplay)
Cheyenne Roundup
(Story)
Cheyenne Roundup
(Screenplay)
Custer's Last Stand
(Director)
The Sundown Kid
(Director)
Frontier Law
(Director)
Brand of the Devil
(Screenplay)
Frontier Law
(Screenplay)
Dead or Alive
(Director)
The Return of the Rangers
(Story)
The Return of the Rangers
(Director)
The Return of the Rangers
(Screenplay)
The Pinto Bandit
(Story)
Gunsmoke Mesa
(Screenplay)
Outlaw Roundup
(Screenplay)
Spook Town
(Screenplay)
Three in the Saddle
(Screenplay)
West to Glory
(Screenplay)
Her Official Fathers
(Director)
Marked for Murder
(Screenplay)
Swing, Cowboy, Swing
(Writer)
Swing, Cowboy, Swing
(Director)
The Devil's Apple Tree
(Director)
Red Rock Outlaw
(Screenplay)
The High Sign
(Director)
The Silver Bandit
(Screenplay)
The Silver Bandit
(Story)
The Silver Bandit
(Director)
Rainbow Over the Rockies
(Screenplay)
Wolves of the Sea
(Story)
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
(First Assistant Director)
The Birth of a Nation
(Assistant Director)
Sunset Carson Rides Again
(Writer)
Smashing Through
(Director)
Paroled from the Big House
(Director)
A Stormy Knight
(Director)
Brace Up
(Story)
Brace Up
(Director)
The Eagle
(Director)
The Two-Soul Woman
(Director)
The Two-Soul Woman
(Writer)
Tropical Nights
(Director)
Winner Takes All
(Director)
The Man Trap
(Director)
Flirting with Death
(Director)
The Midnight Man
(Director)
The Warrens of Virginia
(Director)
The Flash of Fate
(Director)
Down to the Sea in Ships
(Producer)
California Frontier
(Director)
Virgin Lips
(Director)
The Flame of Youth
(Director)
Gambling with Souls
(Director)
Daughters of the Night
(Director)