The Hazards of Helen
The Hazards of Helen is an American adventure film serial of 119 twelve-minute episodes released over a span of slightly more than two years by the Kalem 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 by John Russell Corvell and the play by Denman Thompson, the series was adapted to the silent screen by W. Scott Darling.
Episodes 1-48 were directed by J.P. McGowan and the remainder by J. Gunnis Davis, who was credited as 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. Most episodes of this serial are presumed lost. Others are available online.
Production
Starring an independent, quick-thinking and inventive heroine, the series was filmed on location in the city of Glendale and in various parts of Tuolumne County in California. The film offered repeated dramatic situations for "Helen," a telegrapher, 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 stuntmen 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 (1914 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", 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 J. Gunnis 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.
The Hazards of Helen was credited by the Las Vegas Age as the first great motion picture thrill to come to Las Vegas.
Preservation
Episode 63 of The Hazards of Helen, The Open Track, was preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2010. Episode 13, The Escape on the Fast Freight, was found in the Dawson Film Find in 1978.Episodes
Helen's SacrificeThe Plot at the R.R. CutThe Girl at the ThrottleThe Stolen EngineThe Flying Freight's CaptiveThe Black Diamond ExpressThe Escape on the LimitedThe Girl Telegrapher's PerilThe Leap from the Water Tower - for free download from Internet ArchiveThe Broken CircuitThe Fast Mail's DangerThe Little EngineerThe Escape on the Fast FreightThe Red SignalThe Engineer's PerilThe Open DrawbridgeThe Death TrainNight Operator at BuxtonRailroad Raiders of '62The Girl at Lone PointA Life in the BalanceThe Girl on the TrestleThe Girl EngineerA Race for a CrossingThe Box Car TrapThe Wild EngineA Fiend at the ThrottleThe Broken TrainA Railroader's BraveryThe Human ChainThe Pay TrainNear EternityIn Danger's Path - for free download at Internet ArchiveThe Midnight LimitedA Wild RideA Deed of DaringThe Girl on the EngineThe Fate of #1The Substitute FiremanThe Limited's PerilA Perilous ChanceTrain Order #45The Broken RailNerves of SteelA Girl's GritA Matter of SecondsThe Runaway BoxcarThe Water Tank PlotA Test of CourageA Mile a MinuteRescue of the Brakeman's ChildrenDanger AheadThe Girl and the SpecialThe Girl on the BridgeThe Dynamite TrainThe Tramp TelegrapherCrossed WiresThe Wrong Train OrderA Boy at the ThrottleAt the Risk of Her Life
When Seconds CountThe Haunted StationThe Open TrackTapped WiresThe Broken WirePerils of the RailsA Perilous SwingThe Switchman's StoryA Girl Telegrapher's NerveA Race for a LifeThe Girl Who DaredThe Detective's PerilThe Trapping of 'Peeler White'The Record RunThe Race for a SidingThe Governor's Special - for free download from Internet ArchiveThe Trail of DangerThe Human TelegramThe Bridge of DangerOne Chance in a HundredThe Capture of Red StanleySpiked SwitchTreasure TrainA Race Through the AirThe Mysterious CypherThe Engineer's HonorTo Save the RoadThe Broken BrakeIn Death's PathwayA Plunge from the SkyA Mystery of the RailsHurled Through the DrawbridgeWith the Aid of The WreckerAt Danger's CallSecret of the Box CarAblaze on the RailsThe Hoodoo of Division BDefying DeathThe Death SwingThe Blocked TrackTo Save the SpecialA Daring ChanceThe Last MessengerThe Gate of DeathThe Lone Point MysteryThe Runaway SleeperThe Forgotten Train OrderThe Trial RunThe Lineman's PerilThe Midnight ExpressThe Vanishing Box CarA Race with DeathThe Morgul Mountain MysteryThe Fireman's NemesisThe Wrecked StationRailroad Claim IntrigueThe Death SidingThe Prima Donna's SpecialThe Side Tracked Sleeper