 During the 1920s, Clifton directed films for several different studios.During the filming of "The Warrens of Virginia" (1924) for Fox Film Corporation, lead actress Martha Mansfield suffered a fatal accident from burns when her costume caught fire.Clifton directed "The Wreck of the Hesperus" for Cecil B. deMille's production company, and filmed on location in the Grand Canyon for "The Bride of the Colorado".