OFFICER O'BRIEN (1930) William Boyd, Ernest Torrence & Dorothy Sebastian | Crime, Comedy | B&W

Officer O'Brien is a 1930 American pre-Code comedy crime film directed by Tay Garnett and starring William Boyd, Ernest Torrence and Dorothy Sebastian. The film's sets were designed by the art director Edward C. Jewell. It was one of the last films produced by Pathé Exchange before it was fully merged into RKO Pictures.

SYNOPSIS
Bill O'Brien is promoted to lieutenant in the police department for his arrest of Mike Patello, gang leader and racketeer, for murder. Ruth Dale, who loves Bill, is concerned when her brother, Johnny, who witnessed the murder, proposes to testify against the racketeer. Meanwhile, Captain Antrim informs Bill that his father has just been released from prison and does not know his son is a policeman. On the way from prison, O'Brien (J. P.) meets Limo, a former cockney pal who recognizes Bill and keeps J. P. from seeing his son; later, J. P. arrives intoxicated and is enraged, forcing Bill to knock him unconscious. J. P. is arrested for robbery but returns the loot to save his son from disgrace; Johnny is killed before testifying against Patello, who is released but confronted by J. P., who proves his guilt and, when he struggles with the police, kills him. Bill plans to resign, but confident of Ruth's love, he decides to remain on the force.

CAST & CREW
William Boyd as Bill O'Brien
Ernest Torrence as John P. O'Brien
Dorothy Sebastian as Ruth Dale
Ralf Harolde as Mike Patello
Paul Hurst as Captain Antrim
Russell Gleason as Johnny Dale
Clyde Cook as Limo Lewis
Arthur Housman as Tony Zurik
Toyo Fujita as Kono
Tom Maloney as Detective
Clarence Wilson as Patello's Attorney

Directed by Tay Garnett
Written by Tom Buckingham
Produced by Ralph Block
Cinematography Arthur C. Miller
Edited by Jack Ogilvie
Music by Josiah Zuro
Production company Pathé Exchange
Distributed by Pathé Exchange
Release date: February 15, 1930
Running time: 72 minutes
Country: United States
Language: English