John B. O'Brien
Encyclopedia
John B. O'Brien was an American actor and director
of the silent era
. He appeared in 88 films between 1909
and 1936
. He also directed 53 films between 1914
and 1926
.
He was born in Roanoke, Virginia
and died in Los Angeles, California
.
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
of the silent era
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
. He appeared in 88 films between 1909
1909 in film
The year 1909 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*Matsunosuke Onoe, who would become the first superstar of Japanese cinema, appears in his first film, Goban Tadanobu.*James Joyce opens the Volta, the first cinema in Dublin....
and 1936
1936 in film
The year 1936 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*May 29 - Fritz Lang's first Hollywood film Fury, starring Spencer Tracy and Bruce Cabot, is released.*November 6 - first Porky Pig animated cartoon...
. He also directed 53 films between 1914
1914 in film
The year 1914 in film involved some significant events, including the debut of Cecil B. DeMille as a director.-Events:*The 3,300-seat Mark Strand Theatre opens in New York City....
and 1926
1926 in film
-Events:*August - Warner Brothers debuts the first Vitaphone film, Don Juan. The Vitaphone system used multiple 33⅓ rpm disc records developed by Bell Telephone Laboratories and Western Electric to play back audio synchronized with film....
.
He was born in Roanoke, Virginia
Roanoke, Virginia
Roanoke is an independent city in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. state of Virginia and is the tenth-largest city in the Commonwealth. It is located in the Roanoke Valley of the Roanoke Region of Virginia. The population within the city limits was 97,032 as of 2010...
and died in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
.
Selected filmography
- Saturday's LessonSaturday's LessonSaturday's Lesson is a 1929 Our Gang short silent comedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan. Produced by Hal Roach and released to theaters by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, it was the 93rd Our Gang short to be released, and the final silent film in the series...
(19291929 in film-Events:The days of the silent film are numbered. A mad scramble to provide synchronized sound is on.*January 20 - The movie In Old Arizona is released. The film is the first full-length talking film to be filmed outdoors....
) - Cat, Dog & Co.Cat, Dog & Co.Cat, Dog & Co. is a 1929 Our Gang short silent comedy film directed by Robert A. McGowan under the pseudonym "Anthony Mack".Produced by Hal Roach and released to theaters by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, it was the 91st Our Gang short that was released...
(1929) - Noisy NoisesNoisy NoisesNoisy Noises is a 1929 Our Gang short silent comedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan. It was the 82nd Our Gang short that was released.-Cast:* Joe Cobb - Joe* Allen Hoskins - Farina* Bobby Hutchins - Wheezer* Mary Ann Jackson - Mary Ann...
(1929) - Wide Open Spaces (19241924 in film-Events:* Entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer Pictures to create Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer...
) - Brothers Under the ChinBrothers Under the ChinBrothers Under the Chin is a 1924 silent comedy film featuring Stan Laurel.-Cast:* Stan Laurel* Ena Gregory* James Finlayson* Noah Young* William Gillespie* Sammy Brooks* Jack Ackroyd* Eddie Baker* Fred Karno Jr.* John B. O'Brien* Al Ochs...
(1924) - Zeb vs. PaprikaZeb vs. PaprikaZeb vs. Paprika is a 1924 silent comedy film starring Stan Laurel.-Cast:* Stan Laurel - Dippy Donawho* James Finlayson - His trainer* Ena Gregory* George Rowe - Rival jockey* Eddie Baker - Stable hand* Jack Ackroyd* Mildred Booth* Sammy Brooks...
(1924) - Postage DuePostage DuePostage Due is a 1924 silent comedy film starring Stan Laurel.-Cast:* Stan Laurel - Stan* James Finlayson - Postal inspector* George Rowe - Photographer* Ena Gregory - Model* Eddie Baker - Villain* Dick Gilbert - Villain...
(1924) - The SoilersThe SoilersThe Soilers is a 1923 silent comedy film starring Stan Laurel. It was released in the same year as the Western silent movie drama The Spoilers, and the name of one character from the original, McNamera, may have a parody in the name of the Finlayson character.-Cast:* Stan Laurel - Bob Canister* Ena...
(19231923 in film-Events:*April 15 - Lee De Forest demonstrates the Phonofilm sound-on-film system at the Rivoli Theater in New York with a series of short musical films featuring vaudeville performers.-Top grossing films :-Films released in 1923:U.S.A...
) - The Noon WhistleThe Noon WhistleThe Noon Whistle is a 1923 silent comedy film starring Stan Laurel.-Cast:* Stan Laurel - Tanglefoot* James Finlayson - O'Hallahan, the foreman* Katherine Grant - Secretary* Sammy Brooks - A millworker...
(1923) - Bride 13Bride 13Bride 13 is a 1920 thriller film serial directed by Richard Stanton. The film is considered to be lost.-Cast:* Marguerite Clayton - Bride 13* John B. O'Brien - Lt...
(19201920 in filmThe year 1920 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* November 27 - The Mark of Zorro, starring Douglas Fairbanks opens.-Top grossing films :-Films released in 1920:U.S.A. unless stated*The $1,000,000 Reward...
) - Souls TriumphantSouls TriumphantSouls Triumphant is a 1917 drama film directed by John B. O'Brien.-Cast:* Lillian Gish - Lillian Vale* Wilfred Lucas - Robert Powers* Spottiswoode Aitken - Josiah Vale* Louise Hamilton - Hattie Lee* Kate Bruce* Jennie Lee...
(19171917 in filmThe year 1917 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*Foundation of Universum Film AG , as a propaganda film company, in Berlin.*Technicolor System 1, a two-color process, is introduced...
) - Captain MacklinCaptain MacklinCaptain Macklin is a 1915 short drama film directed by John B. O'Brien.-Cast:* Jack Conway - Capt. Royal Macklin* Lillian Gish - Beatrice* Spottiswoode Aitken - Gen. Laquerre* William Lowery - Heinz * Dark Cloud - Gen. Garcia...
(19151915 in filmThe year 1915 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* February 8 : D.W Griffith's The Birth of a Nation premieres at Clune's Auditorium Los Angeles and breaks box office and film length records, running at a total length of 3 hrs 10 minutes.* June 18 : The Motion Picture Directors...
) - The Folly of AnneThe Folly of AnneThe Folly of Anne is a 1914 short drama film directed by John B. O'Brien.-Cast:* Elmer Clifton* Donald Crisp* Lillian Gish* W. E. Lawrence -...
(19141914 in filmThe year 1914 in film involved some significant events, including the debut of Cecil B. DeMille as a director.-Events:*The 3,300-seat Mark Strand Theatre opens in New York City....
) - The Angel of ContentionThe Angel of ContentionThe Angel of Contention is a 1914 short drama film directed by John B. O'Brien and starring Lillian Gish....
(1914) - Alkali Ike's AutoAlkali Ike's AutoAlkali Ike's Auto is a 1911 film directed by Gilbert M. 'Broncho Billy' Anderson.-Cast:* Augustus Carney - Alkali Ike* Harry Todd - Mustang Pete* Margaret Joslin - Betty Brown* Arthur Mackley - Man in Apron* Victor Potel* John B. O'Brien...
(19111911 in filmThe year 1911 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*March 23: D.W Griffith shows the first major close-up shot on film with the successful release of The Lonedale Operator proving his ever growing mastery of how to utilise film....
)