Person Details

Birthday: 1890-03-14 02:28:36

Death: 1949-10-15 02:28:36

Aliases: Elmer Clifford , Elmer S. Pond , Elmer Pond

Gender: Male

Place of birth: Chicago, Illinois, USA

Homepage:

Movie Involvements: 153

TV Involvements: 0


Most Famous Work

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 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.

Most Famous Work

The Birth of a Nation
Average
6

The Birth of a Nation

(1915) Assistant Director
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
Average
7

Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages

(1916) First Assistant Director
Not Wanted
Average
7

Not Wanted

(1949) Director
Captain America
Average
6

Captain America

(1944) Director
Boss of Rawhide
Average
6

Boss of Rawhide

(1943) Story
Slaves in Bondage
Average
2

Slaves in Bondage

(1937) Director
Down to the Sea in Ships
Average
5

Down to the Sea in Ships

(1922) Producer
The Devil's Apple Tree
Average
0

The Devil's Apple Tree

(1929) Director

Acting

Writing

Year Role Movie/Tv
1950 Story
Story
Screenplay
Screenplay
1949 Screenplay
Screenplay
1948 Screenplay
Writer
1947 Screenplay
Screenplay
1946 Screenplay
Story
Writer
Screenplay
Original Story
1945 Screenplay
Screenplay
Screenplay
1944 Screenplay
Screenplay
Screenplay
Screenplay
Screenplay
Story
Screenplay
Screenplay
Story
Screenplay
Screenplay
Screenplay
1943 Screenplay
Story
Story
Screenplay
Screenplay
Screenplay
Screenplay
Story
Writer
1942 Writer
Screenplay
1941 Screenplay
Story
1940 Story
1938 Screenplay
Screenplay
Story
1935 Writer
Screenplay
Writer
Writer
1918 Writer
Writer
Story
Year Role Movie/Tv

Directing

Year Role Movie/Tv
1950 Director
1949 Director
Director
Director
1946 Director
1945 Director
1944 Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
1943 Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
1942 Director
Director
Director
1941 Director
Director
Director
Director
1940 Director
1939 Director
1938 Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
1937 Director
Director
1936 Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
1935 Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
1931 Director
Director
1929 Director
Director
1928 Director
Director
Director
1927 Director
1924 Director
1923 Director
1922 Director
1920 Director
1919 Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
1918 Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
1917 Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
1916 First Assistant Director
1915 Assistant Director
Year Role Movie/Tv

Production

Year Role Movie/Tv
1922 Producer
Year Role Movie/Tv

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