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…

Directed

1. Captain America (1944) — Director
2. Not Wanted (1949) — Director
3. Assassin of Youth (1938) — Director
4. The Judge (1949) — Director
5. City of Missing Girls (1941) — Director
6. Gambling with Souls (1936) — Director
7. Slaves in Bondage (1937) — Director
8. Gangsters of the Frontier (1944) — Director
9. Down to the Sea in Ships (1922) — Director
10. Isle Of Destiny (1940) — Director
11. Swamp Woman (1941) — Director
12. Captured in Chinatown (1935) — Director
13. Marked for Murder (1945) — Director
14. Youth Aflame (1944) — Director
15. Guns of the Law (1944) — Director
16. Dead or Alive (1944) — Director
17. Skull and Crown (1935) — Director
18. The Secret of Treasure Island (1938) — Director
19. The Whispering Skull (1944) — Director
20. Pilot X (1936) — Director
21. Hard Guy (1941) — Director
22. Seven Doors to Death (1944) — Director
23. Wildcat Trooper (1936) — Director
24. Custer's Last Stand (1936) — Director
25. Let 'Er Go Gallegher (1928) — Director
26. Fighting Caballero (1935) — Director
27. Cyclone of the Saddle (1935) — Director
28. Boss of Rawhide (1943) — Director
29. The Old Chisholm Trail (1942) — Director
30. Virgin Lips (1928) — Director
31. Crashing Thru (1939) — Director
32. Wolves of the Sea (1936) — Director
33. Ten Laps to Go (1936) — Director
34. Mary Ellen Comes to Town (1920) — Director
35. I'll Sell My Life (1941) — Director
36. The Pinto Bandit (1944) — Director
37. Deep in the Heart of Texas (1942) — Director
38. The Stranger from Arizona (1938) — Director
39. Mile a Minute Love (1937) — Director
40. Frontier Law (1943) — Director

Also appeared in

1. The Birth of a Nation (1915) — Stoneman's Elder Son Phil
2. Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages (1916) — The Rhapsode (Babylonian Story)
3. The Folly of Anne (1914) — The Sympathtic Publisher
4. A Duel for Love (1914)
5. A Lucky Disappointment (1914) — Jack Holt
6. The Little School Ma'am (1916) — Wilbur Howard
7. The Fox Woman (1915) — Marashida
8. I Am Not a Racist (2019) — Phil (archive footage) (uncredited)
9. John Barleycorn (1914) — Jack, 3rd period
10. The Lost House (1915) — Cuthbert
11. The Lily and the Rose (1915) — Allison Edwards
12. The Sisters (1914) — Frank (Carol's country lover)
13. Burning Daylight: The Adventures of 'Burning Daylight' in Alaska (1914) — Charley Bates
14. The Missing Links (1916) — Horace Gaylord
15. Martin Eden (1914) — Cub Reporter
16. The Sable Lorcha (1915) — Phillip Clyde - Evelyn's Fiancé
17. Nina, the Flower Girl (1917) — Jimmie
18. Acquitted (1916) — Ned Fowler
19. The Old Folks at Home (1916) — Steve Coburn