Dear Silent Hall of Fame Users:
You have come to this website, because you like silent films and silent movie stars. There are many places like this. But unlike other sites, here at Silent Hall of Fame you can make a real difference. You can help us show for the first time many films featuring your favorite silent stars that have not been seen in generations. This will bring their names back into the public discourse. But you can do much more than that: you can help your favorite silent stars receive belated recognition and glory.
Until now there has never been an organization with the purpose to place a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for movie personalities from a century ago. Silent Hall of Fame is this historic organization. Silent Hall of Fame is the only organization of its kind. We will make history and we invite you to become a part of history by sponsoring a silent movie star for the Hollywood Walk of Fame. All contributions are tax deductible.
"The Governor's Special" (1916) - hidden gem
Helen Gibson in an astounding and life-threatening stunt
This film is part of our series 'Hidden Gems'. It can be watched by registered users who make a donation. For more details, please click here.
We have included this film in our program to illustrate the work and contributions of our star Helen Gibson.
"The Governor's Special" is a short action film from a serial by the name of "The Hazards of Helen", featuring Helen Gibson. This is episode 76 from a total of 119 weekly one reel films produced by Kalem, showing just how popular this serial was in 1914-1917. The first 48 films starred Helen Holmes, the remaining 71 starred Helen Gibson. They both played heroines that were independent and adventurous, resolving dangerous situations with quick thinking. Their acting was very physical and they performed their often very dangerous stunts. It is believed to be the longest film series in the silent era and one of the longest ever. Very few of the films survive, and we are happy to be able to show this rarity to our esteemed viewers.
The film is directed by James Davis from a story by Edward T. Matlack. In this episode Helen Gibson performs one absolutely breathtaking stunt, which just shows how dangerous it was to act for silent film pioneers, especially for stuntmen and stuntwomen.
There is a twist to the plot, and Helen Gibson not only has to save her governor from mortal danger, but also the life of somebody close to her, who has been sentenced to die without guilt.
Click to enlarge:
The Governor's Special
Helen-Gibson-in-The-Governors-Special-1916-1.jpg
Helen Gibson shows her co-worker a telegram telling him to pick up the governor in "The Governor's Special" (1916).
Helen-Gibson-in-The-Governors-Special-1916-2.jpg
Helen Gibson receives a note in "The Governor's Special" (1916).
Helen-Gibson-in-The-Governors-Special-1916-3.jpg
Helen Gibson reads the note in "The Governor's Special" (1916).
Helen-Gibson-in-The-Governors-Special-1916-4.jpg
Helen Gibson learns that someone she knows is sentences to die in "The Governor's Special" (1916).
Helen-Gibson-in-The-Governors-Special-1916-5.jpg
Helen Gibson is desperate upon learning the news in "The Governor's Special" (1916).
Helen-Gibson-in-The-Governors-Special-1916-6.jpg
Helen Gibson meets the man who wrote the note in "The Governor's Special" (1916).
Helen-Gibson-in-The-Governors-Special-1916-7.jpg
Helen Gibson is asked to let the man go free in "The Governor's Special" (1916).
Helen-Gibson-in-The-Governors-Special-1916-8.jpg
Helen Gibson hesitates to let the man go free by firing through the chain in "The Governor's Special" (1916).
Helen-Gibson-in-The-Governors-Special-1916-9.jpg
Helen Gibson is heartbroken as the man is arrested in "The Governor's Special" (1916).
Helen-Gibson-in-The-Governors-Special-1916-10.jpg
Helen Gibson faces a dangerous situation in "The Governor's Special" (1916).
Helen-Gibson-in-The-Governors-Special-1916-11.jpg
Helen Gibson looks at the wild engine in "The Governor's Special" (1916).
Helen-Gibson-in-The-Governors-Special-1916-12.jpg
Helen Gibson drives a speedy trying to catch the wild engine in "The Governor's Special" (1916).
Helen-Gibson-in-The-Governors-Special-1916-13.jpg
Helen Gibson looks at the governor's train racing head on towards the wild engine in "The Governor's Special" (1916).
Helen-Gibson-in-The-Governors-Special-1916-14.jpg
Helen Gibson makes a life-threatening jump from the speedy onto the wild engine in "The Governor's Special" (1916).
Helen-Gibson-in-The-Governors-Special-1916-15.jpg
Helen Gibson has a few seconds to tame the wild engine and prevent a catastrophe in "The Governor's Special" (1916).
Helen-Gibson-in-The-Governors-Special-1916-16.jpg
Helen Gibson puts the wild engine on reverse and prevents a catastrophe in "The Governor's Special" (1916).
Helen-Gibson-in-The-Governors-Special-1916-17.jpg
Helen Gibson meets the train engineers in "The Governor's Special" (1916).
Helen-Gibson-in-The-Governors-Special-1916-18.jpg
Helen Gibson meets the governor in "The Governor's Special" (1916).
Helen-Gibson-in-The-Governors-Special-1916-19.jpg
Helen Gibson talks to the governor in "The Governor's Special" (1916).
Helen-Gibson-in-The-Governors-Special-1916-20.jpg
Helen Gibson asks the governor a special favor in "The Governor's Special" (1916).
Helen-Gibson-in-The-Governors-Special-1916-21.jpg
Helen Gibson is worried about the arrested man in "The Governor's Special" (1916).
Helen Gibson
Attention please.
Registration and donation are required to watch the films part of the series 'Hidden Gems'. Please complete the steps in the article 'Gems for Donation' before proceeding.
Registered users who made the required donation please click here to watch this gem.
Below is a short preview of the film.
Our Newsletter
Recent Movie Reviews
- "Annie Laurie" (1927) - hidden gem
- "Battling Butler" (1926) - with film
- "Whistles And Windows" (1918) - hidden gem
- "The Scarlet Letter" (1926) - hidden gem
- "Seven Chances" (1925) - with film
- "So This is Paris" (1926) - hidden gem
- "Two Daughters of Eve" (1912) - hidden gem
- "Go West" (1925) - with film
- "Spies and Spills" (1918) - hidden gem
- "The Lesson" (1910) - hidden gem
Donate
Click on a button below to sponsor a silent movie star with your tax-deductible contribution.
Please use this button for a one-time donation:
Please use the button below for a recurring donation
INSTRUCTIONS:
Please enter the dollar amount AND AFTER THAT click on the donate button.
Otherwise you may get a PayPal error message.