Dave O'Brien

Acting

Dave O'Brien

Born May 31, 1912 · Big Spring, Texas, USA

Died November 8, 1969 · aged 57

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Dave O'Brien (born David Poole Fronabarger, May 31, 1912 – November 8, 1969) was an American film actor, director, and writer. O'Brien was best known to movie audiences in the 1940s as the hero of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer comedy short film series Pete Smith Specialties narrated by Pete Smith. O'Brien wrote and directed many of these subjects under the name Da…

Known For

Double TroubleDouble Trouble · 1941
Double Trouble
10.01941
MovieComedy
Harry Langdon and Charley Rogers star in this 1941 Monogram comedy, about two bumbling brothers who take jobs at a New York food cannery and accidentally lose a valuable diamond inside a can of pork-and-beans.
Flaming BulletsFlaming Bullets · 1945
Flaming Bullets
6.01945
MovieWestern
Bullets fly as the Texas rangers fight an outlaw gang.
Wonder BarWonder Bar · 1934
Wonder Bar
6.01934
MovieCrimeDrama
Harry and Inez are a dance team at the Wonder Bar. Inez loves Harry, but he is in love with Liane, the wife of a wealthy business man. Al Wonder and the conductor/singer Tommy are in love with Inez. When Inez finds out that Harry wants to leave Paris and is going to the USA with Liane, she kills him.
Forbidden TrailsForbidden Trails · 1941
Forbidden Trails
5.61941
MovieActionWestern
Two ex-cons plan to kill the range rider marshal who sent them to prison and, when their plan fails, join forces with their former boss, a crooked saloon owner who has the same idea.
Pick-upPick-up · 1933
Pick-up
5.11933
MovieCrimeDrama
The scheme of a pair of married con artists goes awry when their victim dies, and they are both caught and imprisoned. When she gets out of prison, she tries to put her life back together.
Diamond DemonDiamond Demon · 1947
Diamond Demon
7.61947
MovieDocumentaryComedy
The unusual talents of Johnny Price, a minor league baseball pitcher and trick artist, are showcased in this Pete Smith Specialty. Among other talents, Mr. Price can throw two (and, in certain situations three) baseballs simultaneously to different people. The catchers can be side by side, with one high and one low, or standing on the pitcher's mound and second base while Price throws the ball from the catcher's position. He can even perform these feats while suspended upside-down.
Lightnin' CrandallLightnin' Crandall · 1937
Lightnin' Crandall
4.01937
MovieRomanceWestern
Cowboy with a reputation as the fastest gun in Texas heads to Arizona to leave his past behind, but it keeps catching up to him.
Undercover AgentUndercover Agent · 1939
Undercover Agent
4.21939
MovieCrimeDrama
A railway postal clerk goes after a sweepstakes counterfeiting ring.

Movies

Double TroubleDouble Trouble · 1941
Double Trouble
10.01941
MovieComedy
Harry Langdon and Charley Rogers star in this 1941 Monogram comedy, about two bumbling brothers who take jobs at a New York food cannery and accidentally lose a valuable diamond inside a can of pork-and-beans.
Flaming BulletsFlaming Bullets · 1945
Flaming Bullets
6.01945
MovieWestern
Bullets fly as the Texas rangers fight an outlaw gang.
Wonder BarWonder Bar · 1934
Wonder Bar
6.01934
MovieCrimeDrama
Harry and Inez are a dance team at the Wonder Bar. Inez loves Harry, but he is in love with Liane, the wife of a wealthy business man. Al Wonder and the conductor/singer Tommy are in love with Inez. When Inez finds out that Harry wants to leave Paris and is going to the USA with Liane, she kills him.
Forbidden TrailsForbidden Trails · 1941
Forbidden Trails
5.61941
MovieActionWestern
Two ex-cons plan to kill the range rider marshal who sent them to prison and, when their plan fails, join forces with their former boss, a crooked saloon owner who has the same idea.
Pick-upPick-up · 1933
Pick-up
5.11933
MovieCrimeDrama
The scheme of a pair of married con artists goes awry when their victim dies, and they are both caught and imprisoned. When she gets out of prison, she tries to put her life back together.
Diamond DemonDiamond Demon · 1947
Diamond Demon
7.61947
MovieDocumentaryComedy
The unusual talents of Johnny Price, a minor league baseball pitcher and trick artist, are showcased in this Pete Smith Specialty. Among other talents, Mr. Price can throw two (and, in certain situations three) baseballs simultaneously to different people. The catchers can be side by side, with one high and one low, or standing on the pitcher's mound and second base while Price throws the ball from the catcher's position. He can even perform these feats while suspended upside-down.
Lightnin' CrandallLightnin' Crandall · 1937
Lightnin' Crandall
4.01937
MovieRomanceWestern
Cowboy with a reputation as the fastest gun in Texas heads to Arizona to leave his past behind, but it keeps catching up to him.
Undercover AgentUndercover Agent · 1939
Undercover Agent
4.21939
MovieCrimeDrama
A railway postal clerk goes after a sweepstakes counterfeiting ring.
Ice AcesIce Aces · 1948
Ice Aces
7.01948
MovieDocumentaryComedy
This Pete Smith Specialty short provides a behind-the-scenes look at the Ice Capades practices with ice skating favorites of the time.
Film AnticsFilm Antics · 1954
Film Antics
6.01954
MovieComedy
An amusing short film that looks at human and animal babies.
She Married Her BossShe Married Her Boss · 1935
She Married Her Boss
7.51935
MovieComedy
A super-efficient secretary at a department store falls for and marries her boss, but finds out that taking care of him at home (and especially his spoiled-brat daughter) is a lot different than taking care of him at work.
Kiss Me KateKiss Me Kate · 1953
Kiss Me Kate
6.51953
MovieMusicComedy
A pair of divorced actors are brought together to participate in a musical version of The Taming of the Shrew. Of course, the couple seem to act a great deal like the characters they play, and they must work together when mistaken identities get them mixed up with the mafia.
Captain MidnightCaptain Midnight · 1942
Captain Midnight
6.31942
MovieAdventureAction
Secret Service Major Steel is one of the few men in America aware of the fact that Captain Albright is also Captain Midnight, daring masked aviator dedicated to fighting gangsters and enemies of America.
Fighting ValleyFighting Valley · 1943
Fighting Valley
1943
MovieWestern
Someone has been stealing ore from a valuable smelting mine. One of the independent mine-owners victimized by the crooks is pretty Joan Manning, making the Rangers' mission a bit more pleasant.
Camera SleuthCamera Sleuth · 1951
Camera Sleuth
7.01951
MovieCrimeDocumentary
In this Pete Smith Specialty short, we see how real-life investigator Jo Goggin used a motion picture surveillance camera to gather evidence and disprove a fraudulent insurance claim.
The Sign of the CrossThe Sign of the Cross · 1932
The Sign of the Cross
6.41932
MovieDramaHistory
A Roman soldier becomes torn between his love for a Christian woman and his loyalty to Emperor Nero.
College HumorCollege Humor · 1933
College Humor
5.61933
MovieActionComedy
A college professor and the school's star football player are both rivals for the same beautiful coed.
Studio VisitStudio Visit · 1946
Studio Visit
5.51946
MovieComedy
This humorous Pete Smith Specialty short looks around various studios on a film lot.
Isle Of DestinyIsle Of Destiny · 1940
Isle Of Destiny
5.71940
MovieDramaAdventure
A pretty socialite / pilot runs into gun smugglers when she lands her plane on a Pacific island.
Three in the SaddleThree in the Saddle · 1945
Three in the Saddle
9.01945
MovieWestern
Peggy Barlou is a young rancher who refuses to sell her spread to greedy stage-line proprietor John Rankin. Tex Haines, meanwhile, is accused of killing Bill Dugan, Rankin's bodyguard, but eludes capture long enough to hook up with Dave Wyatt and Panhandle Perkins, a couple of rangers in disguise.
Spooks Run WildSpooks Run Wild · 1941
Spooks Run Wild
5.11941
MovieComedyHorror
A group of delinquents on their way to summer camp get stuck in a haunted house.
Where the Buffalo RoamWhere the Buffalo Roam · 1938
Where the Buffalo Roam
5.51938
MovieWestern
Tex returns to Santa Fe to find his Mother murdered. Foster runs the town and all crimes committed by his gang are blamed on Rogel and his men. He makes Tex Marshal but this backfires when Tex enlists Rogel and his men and goes after Foster who he now knows is responsible for his Mother's death.
Victory QuizVictory Quiz · 1942
Victory Quiz
6.31942
MovieDocumentary
A short film where viewers are given 10 or 15 seconds to answer questions about the United States and its involvement in World War II.
Water RustlersWater Rustlers · 1939
Water Rustlers
4.71939
MovieWestern
Shirley Martin finds that Weylan has diverted the water from the valley and her cattle are dying. First she and her foreman Bob Lawson go to court. This fails when Weylan's men keep the ranchers from testifying. But Shirley has a second plan to return water to the valley.

TV Shows

The Red Skelton ShowThe Red Skelton Show · 1951
The Red Skelton Show
7.41951
SeriesComedy
The Red Skelton Show is an American variety show that was a television staple for two decades, from 1951 to 1971. It was second to Gunsmoke and third to The Ed Sullivan Show in the ratings during that time. Skelton, who had previously been a radio star, had appeared in several motion pictures as well. Although his television series is largely associated with CBS, where it appeared for more than fifteen years, it actually began and ended on NBC. During its run, the program received three Emmy Awards, for Skelton as best comedian and the program as best comedy show during its initial season, and an award for comedy writing in 1961.
MGM ParadeMGM Parade · 1955
MGM Parade
7.51955
Series
The original concept of the show was to allow the viewer to see the inner workings of a movie studio and featured interviews with MGM stars and explanations of how movies were made. Later, the format changed to show edited versions of MGM films.