"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
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Helen Gibson shows her co-worker a telegram telling him to pick up the governor in "The Governor's Special" (1916).
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Helen Gibson receives a note in "The Governor's Special" (1916).
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Helen Gibson reads the note in "The Governor's Special" (1916).
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Helen Gibson learns that someone she knows is sentences to die in "The Governor's Special" (1916).
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Helen Gibson is desperate upon learning the news in "The Governor's Special" (1916).
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Helen Gibson meets the man who wrote the note in "The Governor's Special" (1916).
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Helen Gibson is asked to let the man go free in "The Governor's Special" (1916).
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Helen Gibson hesitates to let the man go free by firing through the chain in "The Governor's Special" (1916).
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Helen Gibson is heartbroken as the man is arrested in "The Governor's Special" (1916).
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Helen Gibson faces a dangerous situation in "The Governor's Special" (1916).
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Helen Gibson looks at the wild engine in "The Governor's Special" (1916).
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Helen Gibson drives a speedy trying to catch the wild engine in "The Governor's Special" (1916).
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Helen Gibson looks at the governor's train racing head on towards the wild engine in "The Governor's Special" (1916).
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Helen Gibson makes a life-threatening jump from the speedy onto the wild engine in "The Governor's Special" (1916).
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Helen Gibson has a few seconds to tame the wild engine and prevent a catastrophe in "The Governor's Special" (1916).
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Helen Gibson puts the wild engine on reverse and prevents a catastrophe in "The Governor's Special" (1916).
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Helen Gibson meets the train engineers in "The Governor's Special" (1916).
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Helen Gibson meets the governor in "The Governor's Special" (1916).
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Helen Gibson talks to the governor in "The Governor's Special" (1916).
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Helen Gibson asks the governor a special favor in "The Governor's Special" (1916).
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Helen Gibson is worried about the arrested man in "The Governor's Special" (1916).
Helen Gibson
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Below is a short preview of the film.