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Image source: Internet Archive (archive.org)
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Movie Source: Internet Archive (archive.org)
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"Barney Oldfield's Race For A Life" (1913) director Mack Sennett

"Barney Oldfield's Race for a Life" is a short comedy directed by Mack Sennett.  The film is included in our program to illustrate the contributions of Helen Holmes, a star of Silent Hall of Fame.

 

Barney Oldfield was the fastest auto racer in his time.  In the film he chases an engine to rescue a girl chained to the tracks by an evil unsuccessful suitor. 

The way Ford Sterling overplays the role of the villain makes one think that the film was conceived as a parody of contemporary melodramas.

This is one of the first roles of Helen Holmes, in which she plays a village beauty.  She became the audacious star of "The Hazards of Helen" a year and a half later, acting as the heroine of numerous railroad adventures. She may have gotten inspiration from "Barney Oldfield's Race for a Life" and the race to save Mabel Normand.

Directed by               Mack Sennett
Produced by              Keystone Film Company
Starring                     Mack Sennett, Mabel Normand, Ford Sterling, Barney Oldfield, Helen Holmes
Cinematography       Lee Bartholomew, Walter Wright
Distributed by           Mutual Film Corporation
Release date               June 3, 1913
Running time             13 min.
Country                      United States
Language                    Silent film, English intertitles

You can see a slideshow of stills from this film and other interesting stuff on our website silent-hall-of-fame.org.

Silent Hall of Fame is the only place where we actively work to bring back from oblivion the names and legacy of formerly illustrious silent movie stars, which have made a major contribution to the industry and the world but do not have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

We also fight for your right, the right of the public, to see silent masterpieces that have been kept in hidden vaults for far too long. Our website streams for free one such masterpiece that has not been seen in 85 years and is not available anywhere else.

Please visit our website to watch quality silent films absolutely free and to support the legacy of silent movie stars with your tax deductible contribution.

Silent Hall of Fame has started an online campaign to begin raising funds for the nomination of our first star for the Hollywood Walk of Fame. All contributions are tax deductible. Here is the web page:
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Please spread the word about the campaign and Silent Hall of Fame and help your favorite silent star receive belated recognition and glory.

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Preserving the legacy of silent movie stars
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