Silent Movie Myth: Tied to the Railroad TracksMARCH 12, 2013 FRITZI KRAMER
Note: This article covers the origins of the trope, how it erroneously became associated with silent films and why the myth persists. For more details on the actors involved, the Snidely Whiplash connection and examples of this trope subverted, check out my follow up article. You can also check out real footage and vintage images in my video response.
Cut to the chase: This is a myth. The cliche actually had its start in Victorian theater. It was neither common nor expected in silent films.
“Oh yeah, silent movies. Those are the ones where the villain in a top hat ties a woman to the tracks
, right?”
Those words are sure to get a silent movie fan just a little irritated. (Okay, a lot irritated.) You see, we know that silent movies are rich artistically and have an array of subject matter that is truly impressive. Yet the railroad tracks keep being brought up and the people asking are always curiously specific. The villain must wear a top hat and a mustache as he carries out his crime.
Know this: In all my years of watching silent films (and I have seen hundreds in every imaginable genre) I have never once seen this cliche in the wild, so to speak. Not once. It’s so rare that when I challenged a large group of silent film buffs to name one occurrence in a serious, mainstream silent feature, no one could do it. Think about that. Thousands of silent films viewed between us and no one could name a single feature.
I’m still waiting…
Plus, even if one or two occurrences were to surface, there are still thousands of silent movies that do no such thing. So the cliche can hardly be called “iconic” which is how some critics have described it.
But I am getting ahead of myself. First thing’s first. How did this misconception get started? Was the cliche ever actually used?
(I am making the foolish assumption that you are reading this in the spirit of movie scholarship, film trivia or simple curiosity. If this is just a “thing” that you’re into, this article won’t help. Shoo.)
Origins
The start of this trope is generally traced back to Augustin Daly’s 1867 play Under the Gaslight. It can be read online here. Here is the pertinent passage, vintage stage direction intact. And please note, for those who notice these things, it is not a damsel but a gentleman in distress.