The Hazards of Helen (1914)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Directors:

J. Gunnis Davis
J.P. McGowan

Writers:

Frank Howard Clark (writer)
John Russell Corvell (novel)

Release Date:

14 November 1914 (USA)

Genre:

Short | Action

Plot Keywords:

Telegraph Operator | Motorcycle | Train | Serial | Runaway Train

Cast

Helen Holmes	...	Helen (1914-1915) (Episodes 1-48)
Helen Gibson	...	Helen / The Operator at Lone Point (1915-1917)
J.P. McGowan	...	Train controller / Benton / Rand - yeggman / Dan Haddon - cowboy / Brandt - cashier / Blake - lineman / Rand - fireman / Lockwood - flagman / Warren - railman / Thomas - wiretapper chief / Trow - wrecking crewman
Ethel Clisbee	...	Mrs. Benton [Ch. 1] / Mrs. Blake [Ch. 3]
Pearl Hoxie	...	Fanny Benton - the Child [Ch. 1]
George A. Williams	...	Contractor Haddon [Ch. 2] / Tom O'Grady - Section Foreman [Ch. 4] / Constable Duncan - Secret Service Detective (as G.A. Williams)
William Ehfe	...	Gregg - Haddon's Assistant [Ch. 2] / Blake - the Fireman [Ch. 3] / RedDurham - a Yeggman [Ch. 4]
Paul Hurst	...	Benton - a Foreman [Ch. 2]
Charles Wells	...	Benton - an Englineer [Ch. 3]
Jack Hoxie	...	Hanson [Ch. 3] (as Hart Hoxie)
Leo D. Maloney	...	Duncan [Ch. 4] / Billy Melville - Conductor [Ch. 5] / Dick Malling - Aeronaut [Ch. 6] / Sheridan - Railroad Detective [Ch. 7]
M.J. Murchison	...	Mike Keenan - Red's Pal [Ch. 4] / Flint - a Yeggman [Ch. 5] / Broden
R.S. Antibus	...	Brent - a Fence [Ch. 5]
George Routh	...	The Superintendent
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robyn Adair
Pearl Anibus
Bobbie Antibus
Jeanie Antibus
Norma Antibus
True Boardman
True Boardman	...	Jerry [Ch. 58] (as Billy Boy)
Charles Burton	...	Layson (as Clarence Burton)
Hal Clements
J. Gunnis Davis	...	Pete (as James Davis)
Hoot Gibson	...	Messenger / Etzer (as Hall Gibson)
Clement Graw	...	Pinture, the fireman
Henry Hallam
Franklin Hall	...	Odell, an engineer
Betty Harrigan
Frank Henderson
Richard Johnson
Ben Jones	...	Trainman
Elsie MacLeod	...	Rita - telegraph operator [Ch. 27]
Tom Mean
Jack Messick
Charles Mulgro
Anna Q. Nilsson	...	Helen [Ch. 18]
Scott Pembroke
Chief Phillipi
E.Z. Roberts
Harry Schumm
Hi Sing
A. Edward Sutherland
Tom Trent	...	Bobbie [Ch. 59]
Roy Watson
N.Z. Wood		(as N.Z. Woods)

Runtime:

1428 min (119 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent | Silent

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Company:

Kalem Company

Trivia:

Based on an article in Moving Picture World, Helen Holmes is believed to have taken over direction of the episode 'Escape from the Fast Freight' after credited director J.P. McGowan was involved in an accident that landed him in the hospital. It's extremely likely that Holmes worked uncredited as a director other parts of this film series.

Helen is a no nonsense, tough as they come heroine queen!

As of this writing, The Hazards of Helen, is leading in amount of votes on the IMDb over its chief rival, The Perils of Pauline. It perhaps attracts more fans because of its "high camp" appeal today. Although both are of the same age, "Hazzard" in addition seems a bit more crisper and technically superior with Helen Holmes coming across somewhat tougher than Pearl. Even in comparison with other non serials of the time, the Holmes serial looks to be in the forefront with the amount of close-ups and brevity of inter-titles which translates into superior enjoyment. A typical example among the 119 chapters is, In Danger's Path(1914). No doubt to cut down on inter-titles(there are only 2), characters names are not given, so Helen's male friend will have to forego one for this review. The story starts out at Hobart Junction with it's telegraph operator Helen(in close-up). Her pal arrives, and a photograph of the thieves they are to look out for is shown. We transfer to a close-up of the thieves in hiding, then a medium close shot of them throwing the loot off the train. The inspector on top espies them. Switch to Helen at control switch. Then back to the villainous twosome jumping from the train at Hobart Junction. A pursuit follows, Helen and friend run out in different directions with Helen, of course, running right into them! After a brief struggle, they throw her in the refrigerator car. Helen's first hazard was not long in arriving! Not to be overcome, Helen inside at once begins to rub two pieces of wood together to start a fire. The train is on the move again. The wood begins to emit flames. Then the fire gets out of control. The billowing smoke coming out of the train is spotted. The train comes to a halt at the water stop. The refrigerator car and Helen are doused with water, with Helen emerging totally drenched! She at this point is not too dismayed at the events so far, just another day on the job! She is taken away and given a hot drink. Soon after the thieves are on the loose again, and in no time Helen and friend bump into them again! A short-lived struggle ensues and the villains get away. Her friend pursues and catches up to them. Will Helen come to the rescue? This serial remains a definite crowd pleaser! Print quality is fair to good, running time 16 minutes.