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Music comedy

The Perils of Pauline (1947): Cast & Plot

The Perils of Pauline (1947) movie poster

The Perils of Pauline is a 1947 music comedy directed by George Marshall, starring Betty Hutton as Pearl White, John Lund and Constance Collier. It runs 1 hour 36 minutes.

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The Perils of Pauline (1947) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 36m (96 min)
Director
George Marshall
Genres
Comedy , Music
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Perils of Pauline About?

The premise of The Perils of Pauline without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

The film follows Pearl White, a fun‑loving garment worker who lands a break opening a delayed Shakespeare show with a comic vaudeville act. Her brief stage stint pushes her into early silent “horrible” pictures, where she revels in the chaotic world of serials and becomes its queen. Yet the demands of fame may overwhelm even her devoted leading man.

The Perils of Pauline Themes & Keywords

· 17 tags
  • movie within a movie
  • serial
  • seamstress
  • acting troupe
  • tied to railroad tracks
  • movie actress
  • movie stunt
  • actress
  • fame
  • sweatshop
  • garment industry
  • reference to william shakespeare
+5 more
  • silent movie
  • hollywood biopic
  • costume shop
  • bound and gagged
  • woman bound and gagged
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Cast & crew

The Perils of Pauline Cast & Characters

Betty Hutton leads the cast as Pearl White, with John Lund as Michael Farrington and Constance Collier as Julia Gibbs. Directed by George Marshall; 29 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in The Perils of Pauline

· 25 more
Show all 29 cast members
From the director

More from George Marshall

More films directed by George Marshall, best-rated first: How the West Was Won, Eight on the Lam, Hook, Line and Sinker and The Wicked Dreams of Paula Schultz.

Full filmography
Plot

The Perils of Pauline Plot Summary

What happens in The Perils of Pauline from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 5-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Pearl White, Betty Hutton, is a frustrated garment worker who longs to be a dramatic actress, though her real gifts shine in song and sharp-witted banter with an audience. On stage, she’s pushed into relentless performances, and when hecklers bait her, she doesn’t hold back—throwing tomatoes back at the crowd with a fearless, comic spark. Her instinctive energy makes her stand out, even as she struggles to fit into the rigid world of theatrical vaudeville.

Full summary

The whole story of The Perils of Pauline, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Videos

The Perils of Pauline Trailers & Videos

The trailer of The Perils of Pauline.

"The Perils Of Pauline" Trailer (1947)
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Perils of Pauline?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What does Pearl White dream of becoming?

Cars

Cars in The Perils of Pauline

8 cars on screen, including the unknown and the Ford Model T.

All 8 cars
  • unknown in The Perils of Pauline unknown Important role
  • Ford Model T in The Perils of Pauline Ford Model T Minor role
  • Harley-Davidson UL in The Perils of Pauline Harley-Davidson UL Minor role
  • unknown in The Perils of Pauline unknown Minor role
Details

The Perils of Pauline Also Known As

6 alternative titles, including “Los peligros de Paulina” and “La storia di Pearl White”.

Also known as
  • Los peligros de Paulina
  • La storia di Pearl White
  • Pauline, laß das Küssen sein
  • Злоключения Полин
  • Les proeses de Paulina
  • Sensationernas kvinna

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FAQ

The Perils of Pauline FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Perils of Pauline, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Perils of Pauline?

The Perils of Pauline runs 1 hour 36 minutes (96 minutes).

When was The Perils of Pauline released?

The Perils of Pauline was released on July 4, 1947.

Who directed The Perils of Pauline?

The Perils of Pauline was directed by George Marshall.

More films by George Marshall

Who is in the cast of The Perils of Pauline?

The Perils of Pauline stars Betty Hutton as Pearl White, John Lund as Michael Farrington and Constance Collier as Julia Gibbs, among 29 credited actors.

Does The Perils of Pauline have a post-credit scene?

No. The Perils of Pauline has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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