The Exploits of Elaine
Encyclopedia
The Exploits of Elaine is a film serial
in the genre of The Perils of Pauline
.
The Exploits of Elaine tells the story of a young woman named Elaine who, with the help of a detective, tries to find the man, known only as "The Clutching Hand", who murdered her father. The Clutching Hand was the first Mystery villain to appear in film serials. The concept was widely used for the remainder of the format's existence.
The serial stars Pearl White
(who also starred in The Perils of Pauline), Arnold Daly
, Sheldon Lewis
, Creighton Hale
and Riley Hatch. Lionel Barrymore
had a small role. The serial was written by Charles W. Goddard
, Arthur B. Reeve
(story) and George B. Seitz
, and directed by Louis J. Gasnier
, Seitz, and Leopold Wharton
.
The film was produced by the Whartons Studios and distributed by Pathé Exchange, the American distribution branch of the French company Pathé
. Pathé was the largest film equipment and production company in the world during the first part of the 20th century.
The film was followed in 1915 by The New Exploits of Elaine
.
The serial, which is extant, has been named to the United States National Film Registry
for its cultural and historic importance.
, Scientific Detective" series by Arthur B. Reeve. It was a prototype for the scientific mystery serials but has less interest for later audiences. A lot of the technology and science is now out of date or considered mundane. For example, the serial has to explain the concept of fingerprinting in dramatic fashion. Nevertheless, the serial was a success on its release and lead to two sequels, The New Exploits of Elaine
(1915) and The Romance of Elaine
(1915)
, with better acting, script and direction.
Serial (film)
Serials, more specifically known as Movie serials, Film serials or Chapter plays, were short subjects originally shown in theaters in conjunction with a feature film. They were related to pulp magazine serialized fiction...
in the genre of The Perils of Pauline
The Perils of Pauline (1914 serial)
The Perils of Pauline is a motion picture serial shown in weekly installments featuring Pearl White as the title character. Pauline has often been cited as a famous example of a damsel in distress, although some analyses hold that her character was more resourceful and less helpless than the...
.
The Exploits of Elaine tells the story of a young woman named Elaine who, with the help of a detective, tries to find the man, known only as "The Clutching Hand", who murdered her father. The Clutching Hand was the first Mystery villain to appear in film serials. The concept was widely used for the remainder of the format's existence.
The serial stars Pearl White
Pearl White
Pearl Fay White was an American film actress, the so-called "Stunt Queen" of silent films, most notably in The Perils of Pauline.-Early life:...
(who also starred in The Perils of Pauline), Arnold Daly
Arnold Daly
Arnold Daly was an American actor, playwright and producer. He was the father of actress and Algonquin Rountable personality Blyth Daly....
, Sheldon Lewis
Sheldon Lewis
Sheldon Lewis was an American actor of the silent era best known for his antagonistic roles. He appeared in 93 films between 1914 and 1936.He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and died in San Gabriel, California...
, Creighton Hale
Creighton Hale
Creighton Hale was an Irish-born American movie actor who worked in the silent film era.-Career:While starring in Charles Frohman's Broadway production of Indian Summer, Hale was spotted by a representative of the Pathe Film Company...
and Riley Hatch. Lionel Barrymore
Lionel Barrymore
Lionel Barrymore was an American actor of stage, screen and radio. He won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in A Free Soul...
had a small role. The serial was written by Charles W. Goddard
Charles W. Goddard
Charles William Goddard was a playwright and screenwriter.Goddard began writing Broadway plays before turning to film, adapting a number of his stage works to film. He wrote the script for the Pathé Freres film The Exploits of Elaine, which has been selected for preservation in the United States...
, Arthur B. Reeve
Arthur B. Reeve
Arthur Benjamin Reeve was an American mystery writer. He is best known for creating the series character Professor Craig Kennedy, sometimes called "The American Sherlock Holmes," and his Dr Watson-like sidekick Walter Jameson, a newspaper reporter, in eighteen detective novels...
(story) and George B. Seitz
George B. Seitz
George Brackett Seitz was an American playwright, screenwriter, film actor and director. He was known for his screenplays for action serials, including:*The Perils of Pauline *The Exploits of Elaine...
, and directed by Louis J. Gasnier
Louis J. Gasnier
Louis J. Gasnier was a French film director.Born in Paris, Gasnier was working in theatre when Pathé hired him to direct films in the earliest days of cinema. He directed comedian Max Linder in many of his early short comedies...
, Seitz, and Leopold Wharton
Leopold Wharton
Leopold Wharton was an American film director, producer and writer. He directed 37 films between 1911 and 1922, including the 1915 film The New Adventures of J. Rufus Wallingford, which featured Oliver Hardy....
.
The film was produced by the Whartons Studios and distributed by Pathé Exchange, the American distribution branch of the French company Pathé
Pathé
Pathé or Pathé Frères is the name of various French businesses founded and originally run by the Pathé Brothers of France.-History:...
. Pathé was the largest film equipment and production company in the world during the first part of the 20th century.
The film was followed in 1915 by The New Exploits of Elaine
The New Exploits of Elaine
The New Exploits of Elaine is a 1915 action film serial directed by Louis J. Gasnier, Leopold Wharton and Theodore Wharton.-Cast:* Pearl White as Elaine Dodge* Creighton Hale as Walter Jameson* Arnold Daly as Detective Craig Kennedy...
.
The serial, which is extant, has been named to the United States National Film Registry
National Film Registry
The National Film Registry is the United States National Film Preservation Board's selection of films for preservation in the Library of Congress. The Board, established by the National Film Preservation Act of 1988, was reauthorized by acts of Congress in 1992, 1996, 2005, and again in October 2008...
for its cultural and historic importance.
Cast
- Pearl WhitePearl WhitePearl Fay White was an American film actress, the so-called "Stunt Queen" of silent films, most notably in The Perils of Pauline.-Early life:...
- Elaine Dodge - Arnold DalyArnold DalyArnold Daly was an American actor, playwright and producer. He was the father of actress and Algonquin Rountable personality Blyth Daly....
- Detective Craig Kennedy - Creighton HaleCreighton HaleCreighton Hale was an Irish-born American movie actor who worked in the silent film era.-Career:While starring in Charles Frohman's Broadway production of Indian Summer, Hale was spotted by a representative of the Pathe Film Company...
- Walter Jameson (Ep. 1, 2, 3) - Raymond Owens - Walter Jameson (Ep. 4-14)
- Sheldon LewisSheldon LewisSheldon Lewis was an American actor of the silent era best known for his antagonistic roles. He appeared in 93 films between 1914 and 1936.He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and died in San Gabriel, California...
- Perry Bennett / The Clutching Hand. Sheldon Lewis, as the handsome attorney Perry Bennett and The Clutching Hand, was "the first in the serial genre's long parade of unknown menaces" - Edwin Arden - Wu Fang
- Leroy Baker - The Butler
- Bessie Wharton - Aunt Josephine, Mrs. Dodge
- Riley Hatch - President Dodge (as William Riley Hatch)
- Robin H. Townley - Limpy Red
- Floyd BuckleyFloyd BuckleyFloyd Buckley was an American film and radio actor. He appeared in 15 films between 1914 and 1953. During the 1930s, he was the voice of Popeye the Sailor on the radio. He was born in Chatham New York and died in New York,New York.-External links:...
- Michael - Lionel BarrymoreLionel BarrymoreLionel Barrymore was an American actor of stage, screen and radio. He won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in A Free Soul...
- Undetermined Role - M.W. Rale - Wong Lang Sin. Long Sin is a Yellow Peril character, who wants the Clutching Hand's treasure map. He became just an agent of Wu Fang in the sequel. Wu Fang appeared in several Pearl White serials.
- George B. SeitzGeorge B. SeitzGeorge Brackett Seitz was an American playwright, screenwriter, film actor and director. He was known for his screenplays for action serials, including:*The Perils of Pauline *The Exploits of Elaine...
- Howard Cody - Undetermined Role
- Paul PanzerPaul PanzerPaul Panzer was a German-American silent film actor. He appeared in 333 films between 1905 and 1952. Panzer was best known for playing Koerner/Raymond Owen in The Perils of Pauline....
- Undetermined Role (unconfirmed)
Production
The Exploits of Elaine was based on a book in the "Craig KennedyCraig Kennedy
Professor Craig Kennedy is a character created by Arthur B. Reeve.Kennedy is a scientist detective at Columbia University similar to Sherlock Holmes and Dr Thorndyke...
, Scientific Detective" series by Arthur B. Reeve. It was a prototype for the scientific mystery serials but has less interest for later audiences. A lot of the technology and science is now out of date or considered mundane. For example, the serial has to explain the concept of fingerprinting in dramatic fashion. Nevertheless, the serial was a success on its release and lead to two sequels, The New Exploits of Elaine
The New Exploits of Elaine
The New Exploits of Elaine is a 1915 action film serial directed by Louis J. Gasnier, Leopold Wharton and Theodore Wharton.-Cast:* Pearl White as Elaine Dodge* Creighton Hale as Walter Jameson* Arnold Daly as Detective Craig Kennedy...
(1915) and The Romance of Elaine
The Romance of Elaine
The Romance of Elaine is a 1915 silent adventure film serial directed by George B. Seitz, Leopold Wharton and Theodore Wharton. The film is considered to be lost.-Cast:* Pearl White - Elaine Dodge* Creighton Hale - Walter Jameson...
(1915)
Cliffhangers
In chapter ten, Elaine actually dies. She is brought back to life in the next chapter by Craig Kennedy.Critical reception
In the opinion of Stedman, this serial is an improvement on The Perils of PaulineThe Perils of Pauline (1914 serial)
The Perils of Pauline is a motion picture serial shown in weekly installments featuring Pearl White as the title character. Pauline has often been cited as a famous example of a damsel in distress, although some analyses hold that her character was more resourceful and less helpless than the...
, with better acting, script and direction.
Chapter titles
- The Clutching Hand
- The Twilight Sleep
- The Vanishing Jewels
- The Frozen Safe
- The Poisoned Room
- The Vampire
- The Double Trap
- The Hidden Voice
- The Death Ray
- The Life Current
- The Hour of Three
- The Blood Crystals
- The Devil Worshippers
- The Reckoning