The Perils of Pauline (1947)

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The third of four films bearing the title of The Perils of Pauline, this musical biopic purports to tell the life story of famed silent serial queen Pearl White. Right at the beginning, however, an introductory title informs the audience that what follows is merely "suggested" by incidents in… More The third of four films bearing the title of The Perils of Pauline, this musical biopic purports to tell the life story of famed silent serial queen Pearl White. Right at the beginning, however, an introductory title informs the audience that what follows is merely "suggested" by incidents in White's life and career. Translation: The film is a fabrication from beginning to end, but an enjoyable one. Played on all four cylinders by Betty Hutton, White is introduced as a frustrated factory worker who aspires to become a dramatic actress. She joins a touring theatrical troupe managed by handsome but pompous Mike (John Lund), but fame and fortune elude her because she's unable to suppress her natural rambunctiousness. In desperation, White takes a job at a movie studio, where she promptly finds herself in the middle of a slapstick pie fight. With the help of bombastic director Mac (William Demarest), top-hatted villain portrayer Timmy (Billy De Wolfe), and imperious dramatics coach Julia (Constance Collier), Pearl soon becomes world-famous as the star of such cliffhanging, tied-to-the-railroad-tracks serials as The Perils of Pauline (hence the title of this film). At the height of her fame, she arranges for her theatrical mentor Mike to get a job as her leading man, forcing him to swallow his pride and admit that he's been in love with her from the moment he met her. A series of clichéd complications contrive to separate White and Mike, but he returns to her arms when she's seriously injured during a Parisian stage performance. A few fairly credible recreations of silent moviemaking techniques aside, The Perils of Pauline is wildly anachronistic and inaccurate (for one thing, Pearl White made most of her serials in New Jersey rather than Hollywood). As a musical comedy, however, the film passes muster, especially during the performance of such Frank Loesser tunes as "I Wish I Didn't Love You So" and "The Sewing Machine." As a bonus, the film rounds up several silent-movie veterans in cameo roles, including William Farnum, Chester Conklin, Jimmy Finlayson, Creighton Hale, Hank Mann -- and Paul Panzer, who played the sneering villain in the original 1914 Perils of Pauline. ~ Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 36 min.
Directed By: George Marshall
Written By: P.J. Wolfson, Frank Butler, P. J. Wolfson
Genres: Drama, Musical & Performing Arts, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Jul 4, 1947 Wide
On DVD: Feb 1, 2000
Studio: Acme DVD Works

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Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

Not really a bio of Pearl White, but a perfect vehicle for Betty's unique talents. She's bursting with energy as usual but not quite to the obnoxious degree she could sometimes attain.

Cast

            Betty Hutton as Pearl White

            John Lund as Michael Farrington

            Constance Collier as Julia Gibbs

            William Demarest as Chuck 'Mac' McGuire

            Billy De Wolfe as Timmy Timmons

            Frank Faylen as Joe Gut

            Chester Conklin as Comic

            Paul Panzer as Gent Interior Drawing Room

            James Finlayson as Comic Chef

            Hank Mann as Chef Comic

            Francis McDonald as Heavy Western Saloon

            Bert Roach as Bartender Western Saloon

            Eric Alden as Officer

            Myrtle Anderson as Maid

            Stanley Blystone as Reporter

            Eugene Borden as French doctor

            Ethel Clayton as Lady Montague

            Chester Clute as Willie Millick

            Charles "Heinie" Conklin as Studio cop

            Sidney D'Albrook as Reporter

            Franklin Farnum as Friar John

            William Farnum as Hero in Saloon

            Julia Faye as Nurse

            Frank Ferguson as Theater Owner

            Bess Flowers as Reporter

            Creighton Hale as Marcelled leading man

            Harry Hayden as Stage manager

            Rex Lease as Reporter

            John Miller as Cameraman Drawing Room Set

            Harry "Snub" Pollard as Propman in Saloon

            Paula Ray as Reporter

            Jack Shea as Workman

            Tom Dugan as Balloonist

            Byron Poindexter as Man

            Ray DeRavenne as Call Boy
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