Biography
Born in Chicago, he was an actor in touring stock companies before making his screen debut in 1912. Joining D.W. Griffith's Fine Arts Studio in 1914, he was cast as Union officer Phil Stoneman in "The Birth of a Nation" (1915) and as The Rhapsodie in the Babylonian story of "Intolerance" (1916). He was also a second-unit director for those films. Promoted to director in 1917, Clifton supervised several successful Fine Arts comedies starring Dorothy Gish while continuing to serve as Griffith's assistant. Their association culminated with the blockbuster "Way Down East" (1920). Clifton shot much of its famous "Rescue from the ice" sequence and doubled for star Richard Barthelmess in the riskier scenes. He then left Griffith to form his own production company and had a smash hit with "Down to the Sea in Ships" (1922), a colorful whaling saga made on location in New England. It made a star of future "It Girl" Clara Bow, who appeared as a cross-dressing stowaway. In 1923 Clifton signed a lucrative seven-year contract with Fox and was poised to become one of Hollywood's major directors. Then tragedy struck. He was filming "The Warrens of Virginia" in Texas when his lead actress died from burns in an accident on the set. Although Clifton was blameless in the incident, he was fired by Fox and his career never regained its momentum.
Directed 88
1950s
- 1950
The Silver Bandit
Director
1940s
- 1949
Red Rock Outlaw
Director
The Judge
Director
- 1946
Swing, Cowboy, Swing
Director
- 1945
Marked for Murder
Director
- 1944
The Whispering Skull
Director
Youth Aflame
Director
Gangsters of the Frontier
Director
Seven Doors to Death
Director
Spook Town
Director
The Pinto Bandit
Director
Guns of the Law
Director
Captain America
Director
- 1943
Boss of Rawhide
Director
The Return of the Rangers
Director
Frontier Law
Director
Days of Old Cheyenne
Director
The Blocked Trail
Director
- 1942
The Sundown Kid
Director
The Old Chisholm Trail
Director
Deep in the Heart of Texas
Director
- 1941
Swamp Woman
Director
I'll Sell My Life
Director
City of Missing Girls
Director
- 1940
Isle Of Destiny
Director
1930s
- 1939
Crashing Thru
Director
- 1938
California Frontier
Director
Law of the Texan
Director
The Stranger from Arizona
Director
Paroled from the Big House
Director
The Secret of Treasure Island
Director
Assassin of Youth
Director
- 1937
Slaves in Bondage
Director
Mile a Minute Love
Director
- 1936
Ten Laps to Go
Director
Pilot X
Director
Gambling with Souls
Director
Wildcat Trooper
Director
Wolves of the Sea
Director
Custer's Last Stand
Director
Custer's Last Stand
Director
- 1935
Skull and Crown
Director
Rip Roaring Riley
Director
Captured in Chinatown
Director
Fighting Caballero
Director
Pals of the Range
Director
Cyclone of the Saddle
Director
1920s
- 1929
The Devil's Apple Tree
Director
- 1928
Tropical Nights
Director
Virgin Lips
Director
Beautiful But Dumb
Director
Let 'Er Go Gallegher
Director
- 1927
The Wreck of the Hesperus
Director
- 1924
Daughters of the Night
Director
The Warrens of Virginia
Director
- 1923
Six Cylinder Love
Director
- 1922
Down to the Sea in Ships
Director
- 1920
Mary Ellen Comes to Town
Director
1910s
- 1919
Turning the Tables
Director
Nugget Nell
Director
I'll Get Him Yet
Director
Peppy Polly
Director
Boots
Director
- 1918
The Hope Chest
Director
Kiss or Kill
Director
Battling Jane
Director
Winner Takes All
Director
The Eagle
Director
Smashing Through
Director
The Guilt of Silence
Director
The Two-Soul Woman
Director
Brace Up
Director
The Flash of Fate
Director
- 1917
The High Sign
Director
The Man Trap
Director
Flirting with Death
Director
A Stormy Knight
Director
The Midnight Man
Director
High Speed
Director
The Flame of Youth
Director
Her Official Fathers
Director
- 1916
- 1915
Wrote 47
1950s
- 1950
Outcast of Black Mesa
Story
The Silver Bandit
Screenplay, Story
The Kid from Gower Gulch
Screenplay
1940s
- 1949
Red Rock Outlaw
Screenplay
The Judge
Screenplay
- 1948
Quick on the Trigger
Screenplay
Sunset Carson Rides Again
Writer
- 1947
West to Glory
Screenplay
Rainbow Over the Rockies
Screenplay
- 1946
Song of the Sierras
Screenplay
Outlaws of the Plains
Story
Swing, Cowboy, Swing
Writer
Lightning Raiders
Screenplay, Original Story
- 1945
Frontier Fugitives
Screenplay
Three in the Saddle
Screenplay
Marked for Murder
Screenplay
- 1944
Youth Aflame
Screenplay
Gangsters of the Frontier
Screenplay
Gunsmoke Mesa
Screenplay
Seven Doors to Death
Screenplay
Brand of the Devil
Screenplay
Spook Town
Screenplay
The Pinto Bandit
Screenplay, Story
Guns of the Law
Screenplay
Outlaw Roundup
Screenplay
- 1943
Boss of Rawhide
Story, Screenplay
The Return of the Rangers
Story, Screenplay
Frontier Law
Screenplay
Raiders of San Joaquin
Screenplay
Cheyenne Roundup
Story, Screenplay
Bad Men of Thunder Gap
Writer
- 1942
The Rangers Take Over
Writer
The Old Chisholm Trail
Screenplay
- 1941
I'll Sell My Life
Screenplay
The Trail of the Silver Spurs
Story
- 1940
West of Pinto Basin
Story
1930s
- 1938
The Secret of Treasure Island
Screenplay
Assassin of Youth
Screenplay, Story
- 1936
Wolves of the Sea
Story
- 1935
Captured in Chinatown
Writer
Fighting Caballero
Writer
Cyclone of the Saddle
Writer
Pals of the Range
Writer
1910s
- 1918
Kiss or Kill
Writer
The Two-Soul Woman
Writer
Brace Up
Story
Acted in 12
2010s
- 2019
I Am Not a Racist
Phil (archive footage) (uncredited)
1910s
- 1917
Nina, the Flower Girl
Jimmie
- 1916
The Old Folks at Home
Steve Coburn
The Missing Links
Horace Gaylord
- 1915
The Sable Lorcha
Phillip Clyde - Evelyn's Fiancé
The Lily and the Rose
Allison Edwards
The Lost House
Cuthbert
- 1914
The Sisters
Frank (Carol's country lover)
Burning Daylight: The Adventures of 'Burning Daylight' in Alaska
Charley Bates
Martin Eden
Cub Reporter
Produced 1
1920s
- 1922
Down to the Sea in Ships
Producer