Elmer Clifton
Directing
Born March 12, 1890 in 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
Phil (archive footage) (uncredited)
Outcasts of Black Mesa
The Silver Bandit
The Kid from Gower Gulch
Red Rock Outlaw
Not Wanted
The Judge
Quick on the Trigger
Sunset Carson Rides Again
West to Glory
Rainbow Over the Rockies
Song of the Sierras
Outlaws of the Plains
Swing, Cowboy, Swing
Lightning Raiders
Frontier Fugitives
Three in the Saddle
Marked for Murder
The Whispering Skull
Dead or Alive
Youth Aflame
Gangsters of the Frontier
Gunsmoke Mesa
Seven Doors to Death
Brand of the Devil
Spook Town
The Pinto Bandit
Guns of the Law
Outlaw Roundup
Captain America
Boss of Rawhide
The Return of the Rangers
Frontier Law
Raiders of San Joaquin
Cheyenne Roundup
Days of Old Cheyenne
The Blocked Trail
Bad Men of Thunder Gap
The Sundown Kid
The Rangers Take Over
The Old Chisholm Trail
Deep in the Heart of Texas
Swamp Woman
Hard Guy
I'll Sell My Life
City of Missing Girls
The Trail of the Silver Spurs
West of Pinto Basin
Isle Of Destiny
Crashing Thru
California Frontier
Law of the Texan
The Stranger from Arizona
Paroled from the Big House
The Secret of Treasure Island
Assassin of Youth
Slaves in Bondage
Mile a Minute Love
Ten Laps to Go
Pilot X
Gambling with Souls
Wildcat Trooper
Wolves of the Sea
Custer's Last Stand
Custer's Last Stand
Skull and Crown
Rip Roaring Riley
Captured in Chinatown
Rough Riding Ranger
Fighting Caballero
Cyclone of the Saddle
Pals of the Range
Tropical Nights
Virgin Lips
Beautiful But Dumb
Let 'Er Go Gallegher
The Wreck of the Hesperus
Daughters of the Night
The Warrens of Virginia
Six Cylinder Love
Down to the Sea in Ships
Mary Ellen Comes to Town
Turning the Tables
Nobody Home
Nugget Nell
I'll Get Him Yet
Peppy Polly
Boots
The Hope Chest
Kiss or Kill
Battling Jane
Winner Takes All
The Eagle
Smashing Through
The Guilt of Silence
The Two-Soul Woman
Brace Up
The Flash of Fate
The High Sign
The Man Trap
Flirting with Death
A Stormy Knight
The Midnight Man
High Speed
The Flame of Youth
Her Official Fathers
Nina, the Flower Girl
Jimmie
The Old Folks at Home
Steve Coburn
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
The Rhapsode (Babylonian Story)
The Missing Links
Horace Gaylord
The Sable Lorcha
Phillip Clyde - Evelyn's Fiancé
The Lily and the Rose
Allison Edwards
The Lost House
Cuthbert
The Birth of a Nation
Stoneman's Elder Son Phil
The Sisters
Frank (Carol's country lover)
Burning Daylight: The Adventures of 'Burning Daylight' in Alaska
Charley Bates
Martin Eden
Cub Reporter