The Perils of Pauline (1947)

The real life story of actress Pearl White during her rise to fame in silent serials.

Director:

George Marshall

Writers:

P.J. Wolfson (screenplay), Frank Butler (screenplay)

Stars:

Betty Hutton, John Lund, Billy De Wolfe

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Betty Hutton	...	Pearl White
John Lund	...	Michael Farrington
Billy De Wolfe	...	Mr. Timmy Timmons
William Demarest	...	George 'Mac' McGuire
Constance Collier	...	Julia Gibbs
Frank Faylen	...	Mr. Joe Gurt
William Farnum	...	Western Saloon Set Hero
Chester Conklin	...	Comic Chef
Paul Panzer	...	Drawing Room Gent
'Snub' Pollard	...	Western Saloon Set Propman (as Snub Pollard)
James Finlayson	...	Comic Chef
Creighton Hale	...	Marcelled Leading Man
Hank Mann	...	Comic Chef
Francis McDonald	...	Western Saloon Set Heavy
Bert Roach	...	Western Saloon Set Bartender

Storyline

Fun loving Pearl White, working in a garment sweatshop, gets her big chance when she "opens" for a delayed Shakespeare play...with a comic vaudeville performance. Her brief stage career leads her into those "horrible" moving pictures, where she comes to love the chaotic world of silent movies, becoming queen of the serials. But the consequences of movie stardom may be more than her leading man can take.

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Plot Keywords:

psychotronic film | actor | fame | sweatshop | damsel in distress | 

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Taglines:

The Untold Story of the Life and Loves of the First Great Thrill Star of the Screen!

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Genres:

Biography | Comedy | Musical

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film's script implies that Pearl White came to acting in her early 20s, after quitting a job as a seamstress in a sweatshop. In truth, White first appeared on stage at the age of six, and was thus a seasoned veteran by the time she landed the title role in the highly popular silent serial The Perils of Pauline.

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Goofs

In real life, after sustaining a back injury as a result of an accident while filming The Perils of Pauline, Pearl White used a stunt-double, although this was never publicized until after he himself died as a result of an accident during the making of Plunder, at which time the truth came out, and Pearl retired from films and moved to Paris, where she died in 1938 as a result of a liver ailment, alcoholism and drugs. In the film, Pearl's accident occurs on the Paris stage after her film career was over, and we are led to believe that now, unable to walk, she lived happily ever after with her fictitious husband.

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Quotes

George 'Mac' McGuire: [on learning that the war is over] How do you like that? Everything happens to me! I just get the war going good, and now they they call it off! Get the writers. We gotta write the war out.

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Crazy Credits

[Prologue during a silent recreation of a Pauline Peril]

WILL PAULINE AGAIN ESCAPE CERTAIN DEATH?

See Next Episode of "The Perils of Pauline" Friday at this Theatre

Although this was thirty years ago, we assure you that Pauline DID escape. Week after week, our heroine, portrayed by Pearl White, defied death and foiled the dastardly villains who always pursued her. She HAD to -- on account of the next episode. But let's start at the beginning. . . . . .

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Connections

Referenced in M*A*S*H: April Fools (1980)

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Soundtracks

Poor Pauline
(1914) (uncredited)
Written by Charles McCarron and Raymond Walker

User Reviews

Bye Bye Betty

After hearing of Miss Hutton's passing this past Monday, I thought I'd take a peak and remind myself what made her so popular. Now most would have gone for her Annie Get Your Gun, but I looked through my collection and came up with this little gem instead. I don't know much about the real Pearl and her career (will be looking it up now though) so I'm sure as Hollywood Biographies go this is not that accurate, it is still an interesting film. Miss Hutton is her usual riotous self in a lot of the silent reel recreations and very touching in the real world scenes. Don't forget the Frank Loesser songs! Such great supporting cast as well, which, according to the credits, did include some actual silent film actors. This is what made Miss Hutton so popular and hopefully she will be remembered by future film historians. Too many of our classic film stars have been leaving us lately, so let's hope that Miss Hutton is one that will shine on forever.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 July 1947 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Perils of Pauline

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1