The Atlantic just posted a great article on the “Forgotten Female Action Stars” featured in the silent film adventure serials of the 1910s and 20s. I’d heard of a couple of these, but honestly when I think of women of silent film, the image that invariably pops into my head is the ‘hapless damsel in distress’, tied to the railroad tracks waiting for her hero to rescue her. So it’s a happy discovery that many of these characters are actually more independent and strong-willed, and that in most cases their dire predicament was the direct result of their precocious curiosity and determination in the face of adversity, much like our own Ellie Connelly! I’m definitely going to spend some time trying to track down some films featuring these ‘Serial Queens’, and will post links to whatever I find. If you find any yourself, let me know and I’ll post the links here!

Notable Examples:

• The Perils of Pauline (1914)
• Chapter 1: Trial By Fire – (YouTube)
• Chapter 2 – (YouTube)
• Chapter 3 – (YouTube)
• Chapter 4 – (YouTube)
• Chapter 5 – (YouTube)
• Chapter 6 – (YouTube)
• Chapter 7 – (YouTube)
• Chapter 8 – (YouTube)
• Chapter 9: The Floating Coffin – (YouTube)
• The Exploits of Elaine
• The Adventures of Kathlyn
• What Happened to Mary
• The Hazards of Helen
• Lucille Love, Girl of Mystery
• Beatrice Fairfax