Critic Shelf
Home
Discover
Sign in
Your rating
Tap a star, half steps count

Officer O'Brien

Feb 15, 1930 · 1h 12m
No ratings yet
Crime
Drama

PLOT

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.

REVIEWS

View reviews

CAST

William Boyd
Bill O'Brien
Ernest Torrence
John Patrick O'Brien
Dorothy Sebastian
Ruth Dale
Russell Gleason
Johnny Dale
Clyde Cook
Charlie "Limo" Lewis
Ralf Harolde
Mike Patello
Arthur Housman
Tony Zurick
Paul Hurst
Captain Antrim
Directed by Tay Garnett

DETAILS

Status
Released
Original language
EN
Budget
—
Revenue
—
Production
Pathé Exchange
Country
US

SIMILAR TITLES

We Own the Night
2007
A Bronx Tale
1993
The Way of the Gun
2000
I Am a Rain Dog
2019
The Big Fight
1930
The Proposal
2001
Critic Shelf
Rate what you watch, show it on shelves, and compare taste with anyone. Film and TV data from TMDB.
ACCOUNT
Sign in
Create account
Delete account
COMPANY
About
Contact
Privacy
Terms
This product uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.
© 2026 Critic Shelf
WATCH · RATE · COMPARE