The Perils of Pauline

The Perils of Pauline

Directed by Donald MacKenzie, Louis J. Gasnier

Produced by The General and Eclectic Film Company

1914410 min5.7 / 10

A pioneering silent serial that combines melodramatic peril with an unusually resourceful heroine, driven by episodic thrills and period charm.

The Perils of Pauline is a motion picture serial shown in weekly installments featuring the actress Pearl White playing the title character. Pauline has often been cited as a famous example of a damsel-in-distress, although viewers will find her character more resourceful and less helpless than the classic 'damsel' stereotype. Nine episodes (from a condensed 1916 re-release) survive to this day.

Questions people ask

  • Is The Perils of Pauline sad? Barely. Less sad than 80% of films.

  • Does The Perils of Pauline end with hope? Somewhat. More hopeful than 70% of films.

  • Is The Perils of Pauline easy watching? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.

  • Is The Perils of Pauline violent? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.

  • Is The Perils of Pauline scary? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.

These describe how the film comes across, measured across the whole film and compared with other well-known films. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked scene by scene, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.

39/ 100

Cinnamon Score

How much this film gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.

You have seen this shape before.

Rarity85

How unlike any other film this one feels

Surprise37

How much more it delivers than it promises

Love13

How much audiences actually like it

The highest scores in the catalogue →

Ensemble

Like The Perils of Pauline

Nearest across the full emotional profile.

Same Mood as The Perils of Pauline

Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.

Like The Perils of Pauline, But Darker

Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.

Like The Perils of Pauline, But Lighter

Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.

Like The Perils of Pauline, But Less Popular

Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.

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