About

Known credits:
160
Birthday:
1890-03-12
Place of birth:
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Website:
N/A

Elmer Clifton

Overview

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

Acting
1917 Nina, the Flower Girl Actor Jimmie N/A
N/A
1916 Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages Actor The Rhapsode (Babylonian Story) 63
Fair
1916 Acquitted Actor Ned Fowler N/A
N/A
1916 The Missing Links Actor Horace Gaylord N/A
N/A
1915 The Sable Lorcha Actor Phillip Clyde - Evelyn's Fiancé N/A
N/A
1915 The Lily and the Rose Actor Allison Edwards N/A
N/A
1915 The Fox Woman Actor Marashida N/A
N/A
1915 The Lost House Actor Cuthbert N/A
N/A
1915 The Birth of a Nation Actor Stoneman's Elder Son Phil 59
Average
1914 The Sisters Actor Frank (Carol's country lover) N/A
N/A
1914 The Folly of Anne Actor The Sympathtic Publisher N/A
N/A
1914 Burning Daylight: The Adventures of 'Burning Daylight' in Alaska Actor Charley Bates N/A
N/A
1914 Martin Eden Actor Cub Reporter N/A
N/A
1914 John Barleycorn Actor Jack, 3rd period N/A
N/A
1914 A Duel for Love Actor N/A
N/A
I Am Not a Racist Actor Phil N/A
N/A

Directing
1950 The Silver Bandit Directing Director N/A
N/A
1949 Red Rock Outlaw Directing Director N/A
N/A
1949 Not Wanted Directing Director 59
Average
1949 The Judge Directing Director 59
Average
1946 Swing, Cowboy, Swing Directing Director N/A
N/A
1945 Marked for Murder Directing Director 58
Average
1944 The Whispering Skull Directing Director 59
Average
1944 Dead or Alive Directing Director 59
Average
1944 Youth Aflame Directing Director 58
Average
1944 Gangsters of the Frontier Directing Director 58
Average
1944 Seven Doors to Death Directing Director 59
Average
1944 Spook Town Directing Director N/A
N/A
1944 The Pinto Bandit Directing Director N/A
N/A
1944 Guns of the Law Directing Director 59
Average
1944 Captain America Directing Director 58
Average
1943 Boss of Rawhide Directing Director 59
Average
1943 The Return of the Rangers Directing Director N/A
N/A
1943 Frontier Law Directing Director 59
Average
1943 Days of Old Cheyenne Directing Director N/A
N/A
1943 The Blocked Trail Directing Director N/A
N/A
1942 The Sundown Kid Directing Director N/A
N/A
1942 The Old Chisholm Trail Directing Director 59
Average
1942 Deep in the Heart of Texas Directing Director 59
Average
1941 Swamp Woman Directing Director 58
Average
1941 Hard Guy Directing Director 59
Average
1941 I'll Sell My Life Directing Director N/A
N/A
1941 City of Missing Girls Directing Director 58
Average
1940 Isle Of Destiny Directing Director 58
Average
1939 Crashing Thru Directing Director N/A
N/A
1938 California Frontier Directing Director N/A
N/A
1938 Law of the Texan Directing Director N/A
N/A
1938 The Stranger from Arizona Directing Director 58
Average
1938 Paroled from the Big House Directing Director N/A
N/A
1938 The Secret of Treasure Island Directing Director 58
Average
1938 Assassin of Youth Directing Director 58
Average
1937 Slaves in Bondage Directing Director 58
Average
1937 Mile a Minute Love Directing Director 59
Average
1936 Ten Laps to Go Directing Director 59
Average
1936 Pilot X Directing Director 59
Average
1936 Gambling with Souls Directing Director 58
Average
1936 Wildcat Trooper Directing Director 58
Average
1936 Wolves of the Sea Directing Director 59
Average
1936 Custer's Last Stand Directing Director N/A
N/A
1936 Custer's Last Stand Directing Director 59
Average
1935 Skull and Crown Directing Director 59
Average
1935 Rip Roaring Riley Directing Director N/A
N/A
1935 Captured in Chinatown Directing Director 58
Average
1935 Rough Riding Ranger Directing Director N/A
N/A
1935 Fighting Caballero Directing Director 58
Average
1935 Cyclone of the Saddle Directing Director 59
Average
1935 Pals of the Range Directing Director N/A
N/A
1931 Maid to Order Directing Director N/A
N/A
1931 The Fallen Empire Directing Director N/A
N/A
1929 Light of India Directing Director N/A
N/A
1929 The Devil's Apple Tree Directing Director N/A
N/A
1928 Tropical Nights Directing Director N/A
N/A
1928 Virgin Lips Directing Director 58
Average
1928 Let 'Er Go Gallegher Directing Director 59
Average
1927 The Wreck of the Hesperus Directing Director N/A
N/A
1924 Daughters of the Night Directing Director N/A
N/A
1924 The Warrens of Virginia Directing Director N/A
N/A
1923 Six Cylinder Love Directing Director N/A
N/A
1922 Down to the Sea in Ships Directing Director 58
Average
1920 Mary Ellen Comes to Town Directing Director 59
Average
1919 Turning the Tables Directing Director N/A
N/A
1919 Nobody Home Directing Director N/A
N/A
1919 Nugget Nell Directing Director N/A
N/A
1919 I'll Get Him Yet Directing Director N/A
N/A
1919 Peppy Polly Directing Director N/A
N/A
1919 Boots Directing Director N/A
N/A
1918 The Hope Chest Directing Director N/A
N/A
1918 Kiss or Kill Directing Director N/A
N/A
1918 Battling Jane Directing Director N/A
N/A
1918 Winner Takes All Directing Director N/A
N/A
1918 The Eagle Directing Director N/A
N/A
1918 Smashing Through Directing Director N/A
N/A
1918 The Two-Soul Woman Directing Director N/A
N/A
1918 Brace Up Directing Director N/A
N/A
1918 The Flash of Fate Directing Director 58
Average
1917 The High Sign Directing Director N/A
N/A
1917 The Man Trap Directing Director N/A
N/A
1917 Flirting with Death Directing Director N/A
N/A
1917 A Stormy Knight Directing Director N/A
N/A
1917 The Midnight Man Directing Director N/A
N/A
1917 The Flame of Youth Directing Director 58
Average
1917 Her Official Fathers Directing Director N/A
N/A
1916 Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages Directing First Assistant Director 63
Fair
1915 The Birth of a Nation Directing Assistant Director 59
Average

Writing
1950 Outcasts of Black Mesa Writing Story N/A
N/A
1950 The Silver Bandit Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A
1950 The Silver Bandit Writing Story N/A
N/A
1950 The Kid from Gower Gulch Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1949 Red Rock Outlaw Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A
1949 The Judge Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1948 Quick on the Trigger Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1948 Sunset Carson Rides Again Writing Writer 58
Average
1947 West to Glory Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A
1947 Rainbow Over the Rockies Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A
1946 Song of the Sierras Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A
1946 Outlaws of the Plains Writing Story 59
Average
1946 Swing, Cowboy, Swing Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1946 Lightning Raiders Writing Original Story N/A
N/A
1946 Lightning Raiders Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A
1945 Frontier Fugitives Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A
1945 Three in the Saddle Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A
1945 Marked for Murder Writing Screenplay 58
Average
1944 Youth Aflame Writing Screenplay 58
Average
1944 Gangsters of the Frontier Writing Screenplay 58
Average
1944 Gunsmoke Mesa Writing Screenplay 58
Average
1944 Seven Doors to Death Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1944 Brand of the Devil Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1944 Teen Age Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A
1944 Teen Age Writing Story N/A
N/A
1944 Spook Town Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A
1944 The Pinto Bandit Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A
1944 The Pinto Bandit Writing Story N/A
N/A
1944 Guns of the Law Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1944 Outlaw Roundup Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A
1943 Boss of Rawhide Writing Story 59
Average
1943 Boss of Rawhide Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1943 The Return of the Rangers Writing Story N/A
N/A
1943 The Return of the Rangers Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A
1943 Frontier Law Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1943 Raiders of San Joaquin Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1943 Cheyenne Roundup Writing Story 58
Average
1943 Cheyenne Roundup Writing Screenplay 58
Average
1943 Bad Men of Thunder Gap Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1942 The Rangers Take Over Writing Writer 59
Average
1942 The Old Chisholm Trail Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1941 I'll Sell My Life Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A
1941 The Trail of the Silver Spurs Writing Story 58
Average
1940 West of Pinto Basin Writing Story N/A
N/A
1938 The Secret of Treasure Island Writing Screenplay 58
Average
1938 Assassin of Youth Writing Screenplay 58
Average
1938 Assassin of Youth Writing Story 58
Average
1936 Wolves of the Sea Writing Story 59
Average
1935 Captured in Chinatown Writing Writer 58
Average
1935 Rough Riding Ranger Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A
1935 Cyclone of the Saddle Writing Writer 59
Average
1935 Pals of the Range Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1918 Kiss or Kill Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1918 The Two-Soul Woman Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1918 Brace Up Writing Story N/A
N/A

Production
1922 Down to the Sea in Ships Production Producer 58
Average