| The Hazards of Helen | |
|---|---|
 The Hazards of Helen, episode # 44 | |
| Directed by | J.P. McGowan J. Gunnis Davis (billed as James Davis) |
| Written by | W. Scott Darling (screenplay) John Russell Corvell (novel) Denman Thompson (play) |
| Starring | Helen Holmes Helen Gibson |
| Distributed by | Kalem Company |
Release dates |
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Running time | 23.8 hours (altogether) |
The Hazards of Helen is an American adventurefilm serial (or possibly afilm series) of 119 twelve-minute episodes released over a span of slightly more than two years by theKalem Company between November 14, 1914, and February 17, 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 byJohn Russell Corvell and the play byDenman Thompson, the series was adapted to thesilent screen byW. Scott Darling.
Episodes 1-48 were directed byJ.P. McGowan and the remainder byJ. Gunnis Davis, who was credited as James Davis. Unlike thecliffhanger serials of the era,The Hazards of Helen is actually a film series made up of near autonomous singlereel twelve-minute melodramas. Most episodes of this serial are presumed lost.[1] Others are available online.[2]
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Starring an independent, quick-thinking and inventive heroine, the series was filmed on location in the city ofGlendale and in various parts ofTuolumne County inCalifornia. The film offered repeated dramatic situations for "Helen," atelegrapher, using such props as a moving train, a runaway boxcar, aheroine 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 thebad 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 atKeystone Studios, did most of her own stunts. The series used several differentstuntmen for the male parts, includingLeo D. Maloney and the up-and-comingHarold Lloyd. Along withPearl White, who starred inPathé's adventure serialThe Perils of Pauline, Helen Holmes became a much talked about national celebrity and majorbox-office draw.
Prior to filming the "Night Operator at Buxton" (episode 18), Helen Holmes fell ill andAnna 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 J. Gunnis Davis took over andElsie McLeod substituted in episodes 27-49 until a permanent "Helen" could be found.
The heroine for the remainder of the series was played byRose Wenger Gibson, at the time married toHoot Gibson. Rechristened "Helen" by theKalem Company, she rose to a celebrity status equal to that of Helen Holmes.
The Hazards of Helen was credited by theLas Vegas Age as the first great motion picture thrill to come to Las Vegas.[citation needed]
Episode 63 ofThe Hazards of Helen,The Open Track, was preserved by theAcademy Film Archive in 2010.[3] Episode 13,The Escape on the Fast Freight, was found in theDawson Film Find in 1978.
