The Hazards of Helen
Encyclopedia
The Hazards of Helen is an American
adventure film
serial
(or possibly a film series
) of 119 twelve minute episodes released over a span of slightly more than two years by the Kalem Company
between November 7, 1914 and February 24, 1917.
At 23.8 hours, it is one of the longest non-feature length motion picture series ever filmed (and is believed to be the longest of the film serial format). Based on a novel by John Russell Corvell and the play by Denman Thompson
, it was adapted to the silent screen
by W. Scott Darling
. Episodes 1-48 were directed by J.P. McGowan and the remainder by James Davis. Unlike the cliffhanger
serials of the era, The Hazards of Helen is actually a film series made up of near autonomous single reel
twelve-minute melodramas
and in various parts of Tuolumne County
in California
. The film offered repeated dramatic situations for "Helen" using such props as a moving train, a runaway boxcar, a heroine in distress
tied to the railroad tracks, and other dangers. "Helen" did such things as leap off the roof of a building, roar around a sharp mountain curve behind the wheel of her speeding car, or jump onto a moving train from a car or a galloping horse while chasing the bad guy
train robbers. Although the plot occasionally called for Helen to be rescued by a handsome male hero, in most episodes it was the dauntless Helen who found an ingenious way out of her dire predicament and single-handedly collared the bad guys, bringing them to justice.
The film series star, Helen Holmes
, who began her career at Keystone Studios
, did most of her own stunts. The series used several different stunt
men for the male parts, including Leo D. Maloney
and the up-and-coming Harold Lloyd
.
Along with Pearl White
, who starred in Pathé
's adventure serial The Perils of Pauline
, Helen Holmes became a much talked about national celebrity and major box-office draw.
Prior to filming the "Night Operator at Buxton" (episode 18), Helen Holmes fell ill and Anna Q. Nilsson
replaced her on that one occasion. After 26 episodes, Holmes and director J.P. McGowan left to set up their own film production company. While working on the serial, the two had begun a relationship that led to marriage. Director James Davis took over and Elsie McLeod substituted in episodes 27-49 until a permanent "Helen" could be found.
The heroine for the remainder of the series was played by Rose Wenger Gibson
, at the time married to Hoot Gibson
. Rechristened "Helen" by the Kalem Company
, she rose to a celebrity status equal to that of Helen Holmes.
"Hazard of Helen" was credited by the Las Vegas Age as the first great motion picture thrill to come to Las Vegas. In 1910 Jack McGowan spent a month or more filming chapters on the corner of Fremont Street and Second. An old mill was erected and then saturated by kerosene then set a blaze by the villan.
. The episodes could be shown in any order, making it a film series
rather than a serial.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
adventure film
Adventure film
Adventure films are a genre of film.Unlike pure, low-budget action films they often use their action scenes preferably to display and explore exotic locations in an energetic way....
serial
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...
(or possibly a film series
Film series
A film series is a collection of related films in succession. Their relationship is not fixed, but generally share a common diegetic world. Sometimes the work is conceived as a multiple-film work, for example the Three Colours series, but in most cases the success of the original film inspires...
) of 119 twelve minute episodes released over a span of slightly more than two years by the Kalem Company
Kalem Company
The Kalem Company was an American film studio founded in New York City in 1907 by George Kleine, Samuel Long , and Frank J. Marion.The company immediately joined other studios in the Motion Picture Patents Company that held a monopoly on production and distribution...
between November 7, 1914 and February 24, 1917.
At 23.8 hours, it is one of the longest non-feature length motion picture series ever filmed (and is believed to be the longest of the film serial format). Based on a novel by John Russell Corvell and the play by Denman Thompson
Denman Thompson
Henry Denman Thompson was an American playwright and theatre actor.Rufus Thompson, a carpenter, and his wife Anne Hathaway Baxter moved in 1831 from West Swanzey, New Hampshire to Girard, Pennsylvania, where their son Henry Denman Thompson was born...
, it was adapted to the silent screen
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
by W. Scott Darling
W. Scott Darling
William Scott Darling was a Canadian-born writer and a pioneer screenwriter and film director in the Hollywood motion picture industry....
. Episodes 1-48 were directed by J.P. McGowan and the remainder by James Davis. Unlike the cliffhanger
Cliffhanger
A cliffhanger or cliffhanger ending is a plot device in fiction which features a main character in a precarious or difficult dilemma, or confronted with a shocking revelation at the end of an episode of serialized fiction...
serials of the era, The Hazards of Helen is actually a film series made up of near autonomous single reel
Reel
A reel is an object around which lengths of another material are wound for storage. Generally a reel has a cylindrical core and walls on the sides to retain the material wound around the core...
twelve-minute melodramas
Production
Starring an independent, quick-thinking and inventive heroine, the series was filmed on location in the city of GlendaleGlendale, California
Glendale is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the city population is 191,719, down from 194,973 at the 2000 census. making it the third largest city in Los Angeles County and the 22nd largest city in the state of California...
and in various parts of Tuolumne County
Tuolumne County, California
Tuolumne County is a county in the Sierra Nevada of the U.S. state of California. The northern half of Yosemite National Park is located in the eastern part of the county. As of the 2010 census, the population was 55,365, up from 54,501 at the 2000 census...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The film offered repeated dramatic situations for "Helen" using such props as a moving train, a runaway boxcar, a heroine in distress
Damsel in distress
The subject of the damsel in distress, or persecuted maiden, is a classic theme in world literature, art, and film. She is usually a beautiful young woman placed in a dire predicament by a villain or monster and who requires a hero to achieve her rescue. She has become a stock character of fiction,...
tied to the railroad tracks, and other dangers. "Helen" did such things as leap off the roof of a building, roar around a sharp mountain curve behind the wheel of her speeding car, or jump onto a moving train from a car or a galloping horse while chasing the bad guy
Villain
A villain is an "evil" character in a story, whether a historical narrative or, especially, a work of fiction. The villain usually is the antagonist, the character who tends to have a negative effect on other characters...
train robbers. Although the plot occasionally called for Helen to be rescued by a handsome male hero, in most episodes it was the dauntless Helen who found an ingenious way out of her dire predicament and single-handedly collared the bad guys, bringing them to justice.
The film series star, Helen Holmes
Helen Holmes
Helen Holmes was an American silent film actress.-Early life:While there is no known official birthplace record, Helen Holmes stated in an interview that she was born in South Bend, Indiana, but grew up in Chicago, Illinois. She began working as a photographer's model but turned to acting,...
, who began her career at Keystone Studios
Keystone Studios
Keystone Studios was an early movie studio founded in Edendale, California in 1912 as the Keystone Pictures Studio by Mack Sennett with backing from Adam Kessel and Charles O. Bauman, owners of the New York Motion Picture Company...
, did most of her own stunts. The series used several different stunt
Stunt
A stunt is an unusual and difficult physical feat, or any act requiring a special skill, performed for artistic purposes in TV, theatre, or cinema...
men for the male parts, including Leo D. Maloney
Leo D. Maloney
Leo D. Maloney was an American film actor, director, producer and screenwriter of the silent era. He appeared in 156 films between 1911 and 1929. He also directed 47 films between 1914 and 1929....
and the up-and-coming Harold Lloyd
Harold Lloyd
Harold Clayton Lloyd, Sr. was an American film actor and producer, most famous for his silent comedies....
.
Along with 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 starred in Pathé
Pathé
Pathé or Pathé Frères is the name of various French businesses founded and originally run by the Pathé Brothers of France.-History:...
's adventure serial 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...
, Helen Holmes became a much talked about national celebrity and major box-office draw.
Anna Q. Nilsson
Anna Quirentia Nilsson was a Swedish born American actress who achieved success in American silent movies.-Background:...
replaced her on that one occasion. After 26 episodes, Holmes and director J.P. McGowan left to set up their own film production company. While working on the serial, the two had begun a relationship that led to marriage. Director James Davis took over and Elsie McLeod substituted in episodes 27-49 until a permanent "Helen" could be found.
The heroine for the remainder of the series was played by Rose Wenger Gibson
Helen Gibson
Helen Gibson was an American film actress, vaudeville performer, radio performer, film producer, trick rider and rodeo performer; and is considered to be the first American professional stunt woman.- Rodeo riding :...
, at the time married to Hoot Gibson
Hoot Gibson
Hoot Gibson was an American rodeo champion and a pioneer cowboy film actor, director and producer.-Early life and career:...
. Rechristened "Helen" by the Kalem Company
Kalem Company
The Kalem Company was an American film studio founded in New York City in 1907 by George Kleine, Samuel Long , and Frank J. Marion.The company immediately joined other studios in the Motion Picture Patents Company that held a monopoly on production and distribution...
, she rose to a celebrity status equal to that of Helen Holmes.
"Hazard of Helen" was credited by the Las Vegas Age as the first great motion picture thrill to come to Las Vegas. In 1910 Jack McGowan spent a month or more filming chapters on the corner of Fremont Street and Second. An old mill was erected and then saturated by kerosene then set a blaze by the villan.
Serial or series
This is not considered by some to be a film serialSerial (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...
. The episodes could be shown in any order, making it a film series
Film series
A film series is a collection of related films in succession. Their relationship is not fixed, but generally share a common diegetic world. Sometimes the work is conceived as a multiple-film work, for example the Three Colours series, but in most cases the success of the original film inspires...
rather than a serial.
See also
- Hoot Gibson filmographyHoot Gibson filmographyThese are the films of Hoot Gibson----1910 - 1911 - 1912 - 1913 - 1914 - 1915 - 1916 - 1917 - 1918 - 1919 - 1920 - 1921 - 1922 - 1923 1924 - 1925 - 1926 - 1927 - 1928 - 1929 - 1930s - 1940s -1950s -1960s - References-----1910:* Pride of the Range...
- List of film serials
- List of film serials by studio
- Treasures from American Film ArchivesTreasures from American Film ArchivesThe Treasures From American Film Archives series of DVDs is produced by the National Film Preservation Foundation , a nonprofit organization created by the U.S. Congress in 1997...