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"The Open Track" (1916) - hidden gem
Helen Gibson
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 Open Track" (1916), directed by James Davis 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 Gibson. This is episode 63 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.
Helen Gibson is a railway station operator who gets caught in a federal investigation of counterfeit money. There is a lot of action in this episode with one particularly dangerous stunt performed by Helen Gibson as she chases a runaway locomotive on motorcycle.
Click to enlarge:
The Open Track
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Helen Gibson fights unwelcome advances in "The Open Track" (1916). The guy eventually gets thrown out of the car.
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Helen Gibson finds a counterfeiter's note in "The Open Track" (1916).
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Helen Gibson reads the counterfeiter's note in "The Open Track" (1916).
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Helen Gibson telegraphs the counterfeiter's note in "The Open Track" (1916).
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Helen Gibson meets two investigators in "The Open Track" (1916).
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The two investigators are caught by the criminals and tied to a runaway locomotive in "The Open Track" (1916).
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Helen Gibson chases the runaway locomotive on motorcycle in "The Open Track" (1916).
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Helen Gibson chases the runaway locomotive in "The Open Track" (1916).
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Helen Gibson gets a hold of the runaway locomotive in "The Open Track" (1916).
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Helen Gibson jumps on the runaway locomotive in "The Open Track" (1916).
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Helen Gibson stops the runaway locomotive and frees the investigators in "The Open Track" (1916).
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Helen Gibson and the investigators arrest the criminals in "The Open Track" (1916).
Helen Gibson in a daring stunt
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.
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