The Clutching Hand -- December 17, 2014

Motography, 26-December-1914

The Perils of Pauline was a big hit in 1914. The 20 chapter serial was not the first movie serial, but it was one of the big ones. It starred Pearl White, the first serial queen. The Eclectic Film Company distributed Pathé movies in the United States. The film exists only in a mutilated form, based on a copy exported to France. The subtitles had been translated into French, then translated back into English. Be sure to click on this image from the last episode to see a larger version.  Note the dog. 

Motography, 05-December-1914

Pathé announced that they would "release another serial with substantially the same cast, but showing adventures of a different sort."

Moving Picture World, 19-December-1914

"The biggest and best serial yet" starred Pearl White as the alliterative heroine Elaine and Arnold Daly as the scientific detective Craig Kennedy.  Arthur B Reeve wrote 26 novels and many short stories about Kennedy.  Elaine and Kennedy were looking for the man who killed her father, a disguised villain known as The Clutching Hand. 



Moving Picture World, 26-December-1914

The villain's name often appeared as large or larger than the name of the movie.  I like the image. 



Moving Picture World, 26-December-1914

The all star cast appears on the left-hand page.  Author Reeve and director Leopold Wharton appear on the right. 

Dog Stars in "Pauline" Film -- November 16, 2014

Motography, 14-November-1914

The Perils of Pauline was a big hit in 1914. The 20 chapter serial was not the first movie serial, but it was one of the big ones. It starred Pearl White, the first serial queen. The Eclectic Film Company distributed Pathé movies in the United States. The film exists only in a mutilated form, based on a copy exported to France. The subtitles had been translated into French, then translated back into English. A dog, whose name is not mentioned in the article, was key to the plot of the 17th episode. 

Motography, 07-November-1914

Paul Panzer, who played the wicked villain, was a reservist in the German artillery.  In the case of many German-Americans, the German government expected them to come back to serve in World War One.  Panzer's two brothers were fighting and he was the sole support of his mother, so he had an exemption.  "The German consul-general has thus saved 'poor Pauline' from an untimely and premature death." 

Motography, 14-November-1914

The Eclectic Film Company announced that Pauline would end with its 20th episode.  "'The Perils of Pauline' has been extraordinarily successful and the demand for it is holding strong to the very end." 

That is Where the Film Leaves One Gasping for Breath -- September 20, 2014

Motography, 05-September-1914

The Perils of Pauline was a big hit in 1914. The 20 chapter serial was not the first movie serial, but it was one of the big ones. It starred Pearl White, the first serial queen. The Eclectic Film Company distributed Pathé movies in the United States. The film exists only in a mutilated form, based on a copy exported to France. The subtitles had been translated into French, then translated back into English.

The reviewer particularly admired the cliffhanger in Episode 12. 

Motography, 19-September-1914

This Eclectic Film Company ad describes a five reel feature, The Perils of Pauline, and a Max Linder split reel comedy. 

Motography, 19-September-1914

In Episode 13, Pauline gets kidnapped again and has to jump off a clip to escape. 

Is Pauline Working for You? -- August 18, 2014

Motography, 01-August-1914

The Perils of Pauline was a big hit in 1914. The 20 chapter serial was not the first movie serial, but it was one of the big ones. It starred Pearl White, the first serial queen. The Eclectic Film Company distributed Pathé movies in the United States. The film exists only in a mutilated form, based on a copy exported to France. The subtitles has been translated into French, then translated back into English. I like the balloon image from the 01-August-1914 Motography.

Motography, 08-August-1914

This ad mentions the Colonel Heeza Liar animated cartoons created by JR Bray as a satire on Theodore Roosevelt. 

Motography, 15-August-1914

I don't know what a Hartigan Comedy is. 

Motography, 20-June-1914.

Pauline Pulls People -- She's a Gold Mine -- June 12, 2014

The Perils of Pauline was a big hit in 1914.  The 20 chapter serial was not the first movie serial, but it was one of the big ones.  It starred Pearl White, the first serial queen.  The Eclectic Film Company distributed Pathé movies in the United States. 

The film exists only in a mutilated form, based on a copy exported to France.  The subtitles has been translated into French, then translated back into English. 

The ad is from the 20-June-1914 Moving Picture World.  Click on the images to see a larger version.

On the other side of the page is an Eclectic ad for the movie about the 1913-1914 Giants-White Sox world tour which I recently wrote about:
http://bigvriotsquad.blogspot.com/2014/06/giants-white-sox-world-tour-june-8-2014.html

Thousands of People Are Asking -- May 16, 2014

The Perils of Pauline was a big hit in 1914.  The 20 chapter serial was not the first movie serial, but it was one of the big ones.  It starred Pearl White, the first serial queen. 

The Eclectic Film Company worked with newspapers across the country to promote the film by running a version in print.  The French Pathé created Eclectic to distribute its products in the United States. 

Pearl White, in her first serial, played Pauline.  Pearl White did most or all of her own stunts.  Pauline got a lot of trouble from the bad guy, Koerner, played by Paul Panzer.  Crane Wilbur was Harry, the not-too-useful good guy. 

The film exists only in a mutilated form, based on a copy exported to France.  The subtitles has been translated into French, then translated back into English. 

The ads are from the 28-March-1914 Moving Picture World.  Be sure to click on the images to see larger versions.