Title: Below the Deadline
Year: 1921
Genres: Crime; Silent Serial
Director: J.P. McGowan

Cast:

• Helen Holmes as Helen Stanton
• Noah Beery Sr. as “Black” Hogan
• Henry A. Barrows as Judge Stanton
• William Clifford as Jack Norton
• Frank Ellis as Spike Malone

Synopsis:

Wealthy Judge Stanton’s daughter Helen becomes the target of “Black” Hogan’s criminal syndicate after she inadvertently witnesses a gangland murder. Framed for theft and forced into hiding, Helen relies on daring escapes—climbing rooftops and battling thugs—to survive. Investigative reporter Jack Norton races through cliffhanger chases and secret hideouts to clear her name. Over ten thrilling chapters, their cat-and-mouse struggle through docks, abandoned warehouses, and rickety trestles culminates in Hogan’s downfall and Helen’s vindication.

Trivia:

• One of the first major serial roles for stuntwoman and actress Helen Holmes, famed for performing her own dangerous stunts.
• Originally released in ten episodes, the complete serial is now in the public domain and several episodes survive in film archives.
• Director J.P. McGowan was a pioneer of early action cinema, collaborating frequently with Holmes on high-speed chase sequences.
• Prints have been restored by the Library of Congress, showcasing the film’s innovative use of location shooting in New York’s waterfront districts.