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

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

The balloon in the balloon sequence was shipped from Goodyear in Akron, Ohio. It was handled by Navy balloonist J.J. Leonard, and was equipped with an automatic camera to avoid the weight of a cameraman.

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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: [They have just learned that the President is to declare war on Germany] How do you like that? Everything happens to me! War! They couldn't hold off until after the wedding? No. They gotta do it now and gum up everything.
Pearl White: War... but it's horrible.
George 'Mac' McGuire: You said it. Now we gotta re-write the last six episodes!

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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 Father Knows Best: The Bus to Nowhere (1956)

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Soundtracks

Rumble, Rumble, Rumble
(1947) (uncredited)
Written by Frank Loesser
Sung by Betty Hutton in a theater

User Reviews

Overlooked Betty Hutton film is biography of serial queen Pearl White...

Pearl White was a serial queen of the B films of the silent period and this is a take on her life--a humorous one, tailored of course to suit Betty Hutton's style of clowning.

The story begins with Hutton working in a sweat shop and doing one of her frantic song routines before she lands a part with a traveling repertory company where she falls for conceited leading actor John Lund. Lund plays straight man for Hutton's mugging and one scene in particular will have you laughing out loud as Hutton--drenched from the rain--attempts to recite her next line without sneezing. He proves an excellent co-star.

Adding to the merriment is Constance Collier as a wise, veteran stage actress who attempts to teach Pearl the tricks of the trade. Billy de Wolfe and William Demarest add to the fun and there are some nice tunes by Frank Loesser.

Definitely one of Betty Hutton's better pictures, tuneful, brightly technicolored and a good showcase for her talent.