John B. O'Brien

Directing

John B. O'Brien

Born 1884-12-13 · Roanoke, Virginia, USA

Acting credits

Bride 13 poster
10.0

A gang of Tripolitan pirates swooped down and kidnapped 13 wealthy brides, whom they held for ransom.

Bride 13

1920

The Bride's Play poster
5.2

A sweet-natured young Irish woman is courted by a romantic poet and a local country gentleman. Which man will she choose?

The Bride's Play

1922

Annabelle Lee poster
7.5

Young Annabelle succumbs to tuberculosis and dies, leaving her admirer distraught and without an emotional anchor.

Annabelle Lee

1921

Bab's Diary poster
NR

Bab comes home for the Christmas holidays. Given to fabrications, Bab has been keeping a diary in which she describes and imaginary boyfriend named Harold Valentine. Imagine what happens when a real Harold Valentine shows up as her parents' house guest.

Bab's Diary

1917

No artwork available
NR

Mabel Mack's mother is deserted by her father and the mother dies. All that Mabel retains of her family history is a group photograph of her father, mother and herself, in a locket which she always wears.

The Second Mrs. Roebuck

1914

A Daughter of the Law poster
7.5

When Eddie, the son of a police officer, gets involved with a criminal gang, his sister tries to steer him away from crime.

A Daughter of the Law

1921

No artwork available
NR

George Maxwell, a young cowboy, rescues a fever-stricken Mexican prospector and carrying him to an inn in the vicinity like a good Samaritan, pays the innkeeper a sum of money to care for the stricken man until he recovers.

The Lucky Card

1911

Across the Plains poster
NR

Jennie Lee and her father are on their way to Golden California, from a little Kansas farm, traveling in a prairie schooner. At the last settlement visited by the two, the old man, who has a weakness for drink, purchases several bottles of whiskey, which he begins drinking when they have made camp for the night. A lone cowboy calls upon them and finds the old man in a jovial mood and cautions him to beware of the hostile tribe of Indians, through whose country they are now traveling.

Across the Plains

1911

A Western Redemption poster
NR

Tom Perkins, a Chicago youth, is arrested, charged with being one of the carbarn bandits, to whom is attributed a series of bold robberies. The disgraced parents also suffer for their son's crimes, the elder Perkins being thrown out of a job, and they are forced to leave their rented cottage, on account of the bad character of their son.

A Western Redemption

1911

Alkali Ike's Auto poster
4.0

Alkali Ike and Mustang Pete are both wooing the same woman. Ike hopes to take her for a horseback ride, but she chooses instead to go with Pete, who has a horse and carriage. Ike trades his horses for an automobile, hoping to win her over that way, but things do not work out as planned.

Alkali Ike's Auto

1911

Cat, Dog & Co. poster
6.7

Farina, Joe, and friends use dogs to power their "roadsters," but following a lesson from the head of the Be Kind to Animals Society, they make it their cause to rescue animals from bad treatment. Joe even manages to find patience for a nagging flea that persists in biting him. Meanwhile, Wheezer, who has been tormenting animals with his games, dreams that the animals have turned the tables on him.

Cat, Dog & Co.

1929

No artwork available
NR

A shot during a struggle, and Frank Morrison is branded with the mark of Cain, but by his own efforts the real murderer is discovered.

A Cowboy's Vindication

1910

No artwork available
NR

The scene is laid in the West and presents a French count, in immaculate attire, suddenly dropped among the cowboys. Following an altercation he offers to fight a duel, but when the results of a scheme arranged by the cowboys to show his opponent killing duelists by wholesale are seen, he breaks away and barely succeeds in catching the stage on his way back to the effete East, while the cowboys make merry over their successful joke.

The Count and the Cowboys

1911

Why Girls Leave Home poster
10.0

Mr. Hedder is an old fashioned man who will not let his daughter Anna own an evening gown, but she is given one by a friend who is a model. Hedder believes that she stole it and confers with Mr. Wallace, the owner of the store. On Wallace's advice, Hedder hits Anna, causing her to leave home and move in with some gold diggers.

Why Girls Leave Home

1921

No artwork available
NR

Will Talbot, a miner, is severely injured in an explosion of dynamite on his claim and his life is saved through the aid of his faithful Indian servant. The Indian carries him to their shack and rides to town for the doctor. When the latter arrives he finds that Talbot has not only suffered severe face burns, but seems to have also lost all knowledge of his identity, a species of insanity occasionally the result of a violent shock.

The Faithful Indian

1911

No artwork available
NR

The scene opens in the bunk house of the Lazy K Ranch, where we see Jack Hartley and his pal Jack Smythe. Hartley has just received a letter from the east, in which his mother asks him for money. Hartley is much depressed. He is broke and sees no immediate prospect of recouping his fortunes. Smythe, learning of Hartley's dilemma, offers his roll to his pal, who gratefully accepts it.

Pals of the Range

1910

The Stealers poster
10.0

Rev. Robert Martin is an ex-minister who has lost his faith because of his wife's faithlessness, and taken up a life of crime as head of a band of pickpockets masquerading as religious workers who ply their trade in the wake of a traveling carnival company. He tries to keep the true nature of his work secret from his daughter Julie, but she learns the truth while traveling with his band for a week.

The Stealers

1920

No artwork available
NR

'Red' Bowman is a worthless renegade, an alleged rustler, to whom fate has been unduly kind to allow him to escape so long the honest judgment and double earned punishment. His daughter, a curly-headed ragged little sunbeam, keeps house for him as best she can, accepting with model fortitude her brutal father's blows and lashings. When he beats her too mercilessly she runs away, if she can, to hide until his anger cools. One day he is interrupted in his amusement of "lickin' the kid" by a group of stern, determined cowboys, who threaten to lynch him if he dares whip the little girl again. 'Red' slinks away and postpones the lashing for another time. That night, he and a pal, another black-hearted scoundrel, make a raid on a bunch of cattle, but are caught in the act.

The Cowpuncher's Ward

1910

The Black Bag poster
8.0

Billy Kirkwood, a young businessman, travels to New York City for a vacation. There he comes to the rescue of pretty young Dorothy Calender, escorting her to a taxi because she was being followed by some sinister-looking men. It turns out that the men are thieves who have seen her take an expensive diamond necklace from a store, and are following her to steal it. However, all is not quite as it seems, as Billy is soon to find out.

The Black Bag

1922

No artwork available
1.0

Tom Carlton, leader of a band of Western bandits, tires of his life of crime and resolves to reform.

His Reformation

1909

No artwork available
10.0

Pretty Molly is afflicted with a peculiar nervous disease and after having tried many doctors is finally referred to a certain great specialist, who has had success with cases similar to her own. To briefly describe Molly's ailment would be in stating that the muscles of her throat and neck were uncontrollable, causing her to throw back her head in a way resembling a person beckoning to another.

A Flirty Affliction

1910

No artwork available
NR

"Pony" O'Brien, or Number 3 of the relay between two desert-bound western cities, draws his horse before his sweetheart's house and lingers somewhat longer with his packet of mail as he tells her the good news of a raise in salary which means they will soon be ready to marry.

The Pony Express Rider

1910

No artwork available
10.0

Hank and Lank have inside information that it's meal time, but it looks as if they would have to skip a meal or two until Hank's fertile brain maps out a royal road to a big feed.

Hank and Lank: As Sandwich Men

1910

No artwork available
NR

Two young men of a western town, Will Phelps and George Arden, are in love with the same girl, the belle of the village. Having been pals from boyhood they decide to let the girl choose between them and to abide by her decision without argument or malice. Jessie chooses Phelps, and Arden, although deeply hurt by her decision, presses the hands of both and wishes them happiness. Several years elapse during which time Jessie and Will are married and the latter has become sheriff of the county. It is then that Arden returns and the two men are apparently happy in being together again.

The Sheriff's Chum

1911

Behind the camera

Lonely Heart poster
8.0

Dramatic adventure of the wildcat oil industry set amongst the derricks.

Lonely Heart

1921

No artwork available
8.0

Francelia Billington and Dorothy Gish battle outlaw Ralph Lewis out on the range with assistance from ranch foreman Donald Crisp.

The Different Man

1914

Vanity poster
8.0

Robert Armstrong, falsely accused of a murder committed thirty years ago in a western gambling hall, faces the alternative of imprisonment or paying blackmail. A letter from Tom Mason, formerly a miner, prepares him for a visit, at which time he must make his choice.

Vanity

1916

The Angel of Contention poster
7.0

Nettie is beloved by all the boys in the mining camp. Magoon, a big, jovial miner, loves her most of all, however, and asks her to become his wife. Nettie is in love with Colter, a young Easterner, and though it pains her to do so, tells Magoon of the fact. Magoon leaves town to become sheriff of the adjoining county. A murder is committed in the mining camp, and Colter is unjustly accused. Nettie rescues him from jail and sends him to Magoon. The sheriff with admirable self-sacrifice hides his rival, and, when the posse arrives, points out what Nettie has done for the boys of the mining camp. Colter is released, and all the boys escort him back to Nettie.

The Angel of Contention

1914

No artwork available
8.0

Eve Underhill quits her job in the "want ad" department of a San Francisco newspaper and heads for Eden, Arizona, to answer its advertisement for a lady mayor. Upon her arrival, the womanless town hails her as boss, and she initiates a cleanup campaign. A romance develops between her and Catamount Carson, mayor of the rival town of Catamount. Complications revolve about the efforts of Catamount Carson's evil cousin, Ambrose Carson, to inflame a dispute between the two towns over water rights.

Daring Days

1925

Destiny's Toy poster
NR

Young Nan was rescued from a shipwreck by a man who becomes her foster father. Years later, when he dies, she moves to a nearby city and unknowingly gets involved with a criminal gang. When the gang attempts and fails to rob wealthy Thomas Carter's home, Nan finally discovers what they are and tells the police all she knows, resulting in the imprisonment of Bad Riley, the gang's leader. Grateful, the Carter family takes Nan into their home, to replace a young daughter who had drowned years before, and the young son, Rev. Robert Carter, begins a romance with her. However, the jailed Riley soon escapes and comes after Nan.

Destiny's Toy

1916

Destiny's Toy poster
NR

Young Nan was rescued from a shipwreck by a man who becomes her foster father. Years later, when he dies, she moves to a nearby city and unknowingly gets involved with a criminal gang. When the gang attempts and fails to rob wealthy Thomas Carter's home, Nan finally discovers what they are and tells the police all she knows, resulting in the imprisonment of Bad Riley, the gang's leader. Grateful, the Carter family takes Nan into their home, to replace a young daughter who had drowned years before, and the young son, Rev. Robert Carter, begins a romance with her. However, the jailed Riley soon escapes and comes after Nan.

Destiny's Toy

1916

The Tear That Burned poster
NR

The Tear That Burned is a silent movie drama.

The Tear That Burned

1914

No artwork available
NR

Mabel Mack's mother is deserted by her father and the mother dies. All that Mabel retains of her family history is a group photograph of her father, mother and herself, in a locket which she always wears.

The Second Mrs. Roebuck

1914

No artwork available
9.0

A picture from the short story of Ellen Farley in "The Cavalier," and screened by John O'Brian. The story is of a girl who tries to be an author and has the usual fate of such. The new interest comes when she enters the home of the publisher because the policemen won't let her sit on the park benches and she wants to hide out of sight of them. She is starving and there is fruit on the table which she eats, but when the "burglar" comes she feels in duty bound to protect the place from him; it is the publisher, and from this meeting the two young people fall in, it always happens in fiction, why say it? But even with this ending the offering has much to commend it. Able direction and good acting give it atmosphere and it will go all right.

The Folly of Anne

1914

The Family Closet poster
7.0

No synopsis available yet.

The Family Closet

1921

The Big Sister poster
NR

A daughter of the slums has a little brother and makes a brave attempt to earn enough for both herself and Jimmy after her father is sent to jail on a fake charge trumped-up by "Nifty" Mendez, who is very anxious to get her in his toils. Betty escapes from the city and Nifty. On the road Jimmy is struck by Rodney Channing's motor. The injury is not serious but Jimmy must remain in Channing's home for some time. During the visit, love grows up between Channing and Betty, who is now of course very happy. But a newspaper announcement and the author send Nifty again into her life and simultaneously with his entrance comes the exit of happiness.

The Big Sister

1916

No artwork available
NR

Royal Macklin, a cadet at WEst Point, is discharged for a misdemeanor, and the father of Beatrice, Macklin's sweetheart, order her to break the engagement. Macklin goes to Honduras, in the midst of a revolution, and joins the Patriot army of General LaGuerre in the fight against Alvarez and his rebels. Macklin proves his valor in battle and saves the life of General Laguerre. But Beatrice and her father, having found that Macklin was innocent of the charge that caused his dismissal, are in Honduras and have been captured by Alvarez.

Captain Macklin

1915

Reputation poster
5.5

No synopsis available yet.

Reputation

1917

The Eternal Grind poster
NR

Louise (Pickford) is a sewing-machine girl in a sweatshop in New York City. She lives together with her sisters Amy (Loretta Blake) and Jane (Dorothy West) and are all deprived by bad conditions at work and sickness. Louise tries for the three of them to survive and regards herself as the keeper of her sisters. Meanwhile, she stands up to her bosses and complains about the dreadful circumstances they work in. When Amy is seduced by the son of the shop-owner, Louise butts in and stops the romance. He eventually abandons Amy and becomes seriously injured in a cave-in. Louise has a secret crush on the son herself and tries to rescue him, hoping he will admit he loves her. The film is inspired by the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, which took place in 1911. The only version of the film is a nitrate print in the Cinematheque Francaise, but only the first half remains.

The Eternal Grind

1916

Souls Triumphant poster
NR

Lillian Vale is the naïve and unworldly daughter of minister Josiah Vale. Swept off her feet by handsome Robert Powers, Lillian marries him, unaware that he is constitutionally incapable of fidelity. Led astray by vampish Hattie Lee, Powers follows his new paramour to the Big City -- the first of several bad decisions which culminate in disaster for the errant hero.

Souls Triumphant

1917

The Bishop's Emeralds poster
7.0

Mabel Bannister, the daughter of Richard Bannister, visits the wealthy Cardews at Ripley Manor and falls in love with young Jack Cardew, the son of the Bishop of Ripley, Lord John Cardew. Jack asks Mabel to marry him and Jack's stepmother Lady Hester approves, but the bishop doesn't because he knows nothing about Mabel's family. The family invites Mabel and her parents to dinner at the manor to get acquainted--but it turns out that few people in both families are quite what they appear to be, and each side has secrets that they don't want the other to find out.

The Bishop's Emeralds

1919

Hulda from Holland poster
NR

Hulda, a plucky Dutch girl, brings her three little brothers from Holland to America to live with their rich Uncle Peter. Hulda finds love with a poor artist.

Hulda from Holland

1916

No artwork available
NR

The ranchman's daughter is in love with Jack of the Rancho and becomes engaged to him, but Pa comes on their lovemaking and rudely separates them. Following an idea which he worked on during a visit to New York, Pa writes to a Frenchman, a lawyer there, and tells him he will marry his daughter to a count the lawyer will provide. The lawyer accordingly looks up an Italian cook, decks him out with a red sash, etc., and sends him west for the easy money.

Back to the Kitchen

1914

The Street of Seven Stars poster
7.0

Harmony Wells, a gifted violinist, moves to Paris to complete her musical education. Her money soon disappears, and she is forced to live in an inexpensive pension house, where she meets Dr. Peter Byrne, a promising American surgeon who has come to Paris to study. The doctor falls in love with Harmony and proposes, but although she returns his love, she refuses him, determined to pursue her career.

The Street of Seven Stars

1918

Impossible Catherine poster
7.0

The head of the Kimberly household rules it with an iron fist. Unfortunately the head of the Kimberly household isn't Grant (J.H. Gilmore), the father and wealthy Wall Street magnate -- it's his spoiled, headstrong daughter Catherine (Virginia Pearson). She is so willful that she has earned the name "Impossible Catherine," and her whole focus in life is to prove women's superiority over the masculine gender.

Impossible Catherine

1919

No artwork available
NR

"Molly Mallory put on a black wig, poses as a man and gets a job on Ted Riley's ranch. Ted catches some of his cowhand getting drunk one time too many and fires them. They jump on Ted but Molly, posing as a man, tosses a lasso on them and runs them off. The next morning, Kathleen and T. Edgerton go to town to pick up the ranch payroll. Edgerton, in order to restore himself to Kathleen's good graces, hires the three fired cowhands to hold them up so he can be a hero and run them away. But they double-cross him, take the money and kidnap Kathleen. But Molly rides to the rescue."

Mountain Molly O'

1926

No artwork available
NR

Laura Bell runs away from her country home to the city, where she becomes a clerk in a department store. Her brother, Frank, follows her to New York, but is unable to place her. He becomes interested in a settlement house and obtains a position in social service work. Mary Ashton, daughter of the proprietor of the store where Laura works, is shocked to find that her father pays his clerks starvation wages.

For Her Father's Sins

1914

The Flying Torpedo poster
NR

In the future (1921), an alliance of several foreign countries plot to attack the US. American officials, coming to the realisation that the country is basically defenceless, offer $1,000,000 to anyone who can come up with a weapon to defeat the invaders. Winthrop Clavering, a writer and inventor, hears of the reward and tells his friend Bartholomew Thompson, a scientist and inventor who has been working on developing flying torpedo. However, enemy agents have also heard about Thompson's project, and set out to kill him and steal his plans. This film is now considered lost.

The Flying Torpedo

1916