The Perils of Pauline

1947
Approved
1h 36m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Betty Hutton, Billy De Wolfe, and John Lund in The Perils of Pauline (1947)

The real life story of actress Pearl White during her rise to fame in silent serials.The real life story of actress Pearl White during her rise to fame in silent serials.The real life story of actress Pearl White during her rise to fame in silent serials.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.4/10

1.3K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 1 nomination total

Photos19

+ 11

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The balloon in the balloon sequence was shipped from Goodyear in Akron, Ohio. It was handled by Navy balloonist J.J. Leonard, and was equipped with an automatic camera to avoid the weight of a cameraman.

Goofs
After sustaining a back injury as a result of an accident while filming The Perils of Pauline (1914), Pearl White used a stunt-double, although this was never publicized until after he himself died from an accident during the making of Plunder (1923), at which time the truth came out. Pearl retired from films and moved to Paris, where she died in 1938 from a liver ailment, alcoholism and drugs. In the film, Pearl's accident occurs on the Paris stage after her film career was over, and one is led to believe that now, unable to walk, she lived happily ever after with her fictional husband.

Quotes
George 'Mac' McGuire: [They have just learned that the President is to declare war on Germany] How do you like that? Everything happens to me! War! They couldn't hold off until after the wedding? No. They gotta do it now and gum up everything.
Pearl White: War... but it's horrible.
George 'Mac' McGuire: You said it. Now we gotta re-write the last six episodes!

Crazy credits
[Prologue during a silent recreation of a Pauline Peril]

WILL PAULINE AGAIN ESCAPE CERTAIN DEATH?

See Next Episode of "The Perils of Pauline" Friday at this Theatre

Although this was thirty years ago, we assure you that Pauline DID escape. Week after week, our heroine, portrayed by Pearl White, defied death and foiled the dastardly villains who always pursued her. She HAD to -- on account of the next episode. But let's start at the beginning. . . . . .

Connections
Featured in Rosemary's Baby (1968)

Soundtracks
Poor Pauline
(1914) (uncredited)
Written by Charles McCarron and Raymond Walker

User reviews38

Review

Featured review

7/10

Betty Hutton is a ball of fire

I had never heard of Betty Hutton before this movie. A little research informed me that because of studio disputes, she had an unfortunately short movie career. Most of her work were musicals, which is probably why I had never heard of her - not my favorite genre. This movie wasn't billed as one but there's some singing and dancing as well. I can see why though: Betty Hutton is a ball of fire. She sings, she dances, she jokes - she would bounce off the walls if she could. It would be a waste not to make full use of her talents.

The movie's supposedly biographical but it feels more like a Hutton showcase, though grande dame Constance Collier stands out too. It's too bad the story mostly feels forced - the whole romance bit with her chauvinistic boss... ugh. Still, Pauline showcases Hutton's charm well and that's something at least.