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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.

   Please use this button for a one-time donation. Use the button on the right-hand side for a recurring donation.

 

Rare Gems on DVD

Our users have spoken, and we have listened. You want to see rare and hard to find films, and we have created for you the Silent Gems Collection, available on eBay. This DVD collection includes rare and for the first time available films with our stars, as well as other silent masterpieces. These are high quality films that are hard to find anywhere else. Please click on this link to see the collection: Silent Gems Collection

Important Update:

You don't have to leave our website in order to obtain the films from our Silent Gems Collection. These gems are now available to our users as a reward for donation. For details click here.

 Out Yonder 1919The Woman God Forgot 1917That Model from Paris 1926For Better for Worse 1919Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hall 1924

 

OUR DOCUMENTARY

    We are proud to present to all silent film lovers our multiple award-winning documentary! In March 2015 it won the distinction "Award of Merit" at the San Francisco Film Awards. In May it won the Silver Award at the 2015 International Independent Film Awards. In September 2015 it won the Award of Recognition at the Accolade Global Film Competition. Of equal merit is the inclusion of the documentary in the Official Selection of the San Jose International Short Film Festival in October 2015. In December the documentary won the extremely prestigious Diamond Award at the 2015 California Film Awards. The amazing run of recognition for our documentary continued in 2016. In February it was included in the Official Selection of the Buffalo Niagara International Film Festival.

 San Francisco Film Awards newInternational Independent Film Awards newAccolade Global Film Competition Award newSan Jose International Short Film Festival newCalifornia Film Awards small new

Helen-Holmes-in-Wild-Engine-1916-000 

   Helen Holmes

 

We have included this film in our program to illustrate the work and contributions of our star Helen Holmes.

 

"The Wild  Engine" directed by J.P. McGowan from a story by Edward T. Matlack, is a short action film from a serial by the name of "The Hazards of Helen" starring Helen Holmes.  This is episode 26 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.

Many of the episodes, including this one, tell about railroad adventures.  One morning Helen has a job interview  for a dispatcher.  The hiring manager likes her, but the top boss tell him: "I will hold you responsible if anything happens, because women can't use their heads in an emergency".

Helen has to deal with a hazardous situation right away.  A maneuvering locomotive goes on a wild run after the engineer is knocked out by a loose cable.  If Helen can't help it, the locomotive will collide from behind with an excursion train and many people may be hurt.  She takes the courier's motorcycle to catch up with the excursion train, but not before leaving a warning on the railway tracks for incoming trains.  One such train avoids collision by moving to a side track thanks to her note.

Helen rides on the railway tracks and must go over a bridge.  The operator, however, at this exact moment raises the bridge to let a steamship pass, and both Helen and the motorcycle end up falling in the river.  This misfortune doesn't deter her, however, and she is able to reach the excursion train just in time for it to move to a side track.  The runaway engine passes by harmlessly and after that it is captured and stopped by another locomotive.   

In the meantime dramatic events transpire at the office and we can see the exact timing by the clock on the wall.  At 12,47 the big boss's short fuse finally explodes and he fires the manager, who hired Helen, believing that she cannot cope with the situation.  Then Helen calls to give them the news that everything is under control and everybody is safe.  At 1,13 the big boss reinstates to his job the manager he laid off just 26 minutes before that.

The big boss presents his apologies to Helen and thanks her for the good work.  In a little insult to his injury he has to buy a new motorcycle.

 

 

Click to enlarge:

Helen Holmes in Wild Engine 1916 9

   Helen Holmes in a daring stunt

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