Danny O'Shea Movies
A musical comedy and vaudeville performer, Danny O'Shea appeared in some of Mack Sennett's later comedies in the 1920s, before starring in such low-budget fare as Dugan of the Dugouts (1928) and a series of boxing comedy-dramas from FBO. He was very much at home as Nancy Carroll's hoofer boyfriend in Manhattan Cocktail (1928), directed by Dorothy Arzner, but Lummox (1930) was a notorious failure and he would film no more. This silent era Danny O'Shea should not be confused by later performers with that name. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- 1989
- R
Set in the Manhattan street milieu that served him well in West Side Story, Robert Wise’s Rooftops tells the story of T, a quiet, soft-spoken teen-ager who has left his broken home and is living in a makeshift shelter in an old water tower on top of an abandoned tenement building. There are other kids like him, including Squeak, a talented graffiti artist who joins T after an altercation involving his mother’s boy friend. T and Squeak manage to scrape together what little money they need through minor sins (stripping cars, etc.), and at night all these street inhabitants get together in a vacant lot to “combat” dance, in which they use a combination of karate and dancing to force an opponent off of a platform. Into this mix comes Lobo, a drug dealer who moves into T’s building and turns it into a crack house. Lobo’s beautiful cousin Elana serves as his lookout – not because she wants to, but because her father’s heart attack has left her family in dire financial straits. T and Elana become interested in each other, but T and Lobo are at odds with each other – which fact leads to a showdown in which T must put his “combat” skills to good use. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jason Gedrick, Troy Beyer, (more)
- 1964
This third screen adaptation of Somerset Maugham's novel about the destructiveness of sexual obsession stars Laurence Harvey as Philip Carey, a club-footed artist who after two unsuccessful years in Paris decides to pursue a career in medicine instead. During his medical studies he falls in love with a waitress, Mildred Rogers (Kim Novak), who takes advantage of his attraction to her. When Mildred leaves him to marry another man, Philip falls in love with a writer (Siobhan McKenna), who encourages him to complete his studies. Under her tutelage, Philip excels in medical school. But when Mildred returns, pregnant and abandoned by her husband, Philip takes her in and cares for her, breaking off with the kind-hearted writer. Staying with Philip at his flat, Mildred has an affair with his best friend. Confronting her with her indiscretions, Mildred tells Philip how repulsed she is by his club foot and walks out on him. Philip once again throws himself into his studies, passing his examinations and taking an internship at a London hospital. There he hears Mildred has become a cheap prostitute. Philip travels to the brothel where she is living in poverty with her child and takes her under his wing once again. As before, Mildred walks out on Philip, trashing his apartment and taking to the streets. When Philip comes upon her again, he finds that her child has died and she is suffering from the advanced stages of syphilis. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kim Novak, Laurence Harvey, (more)
- 1930
Based on a 1923 novel by Fannie Hurst, this dreary and primitive early talkie was unleashed on a derisive audience in January of 1930. Winifred Westover played the title-role, a downtrodden Swedish kitchen slavey seduced by the son (Ben Lyon) of her wealthy employer (Ida Darling). When she discovers that the boy is engaged to a society belle, she leaves the household, carefully hiding her pregnancy. Giving the baby up for adoption to a rich family, "Lummox," a la Madame X, can only watch from the sides as her son (Robert Ullman then William Bakewell) grows up in luxury to become a famous concert pianist. Directed by one of the grand old men of the silent era, Herbert Brenon, Lummox was stagebound to the point of ridiculousness with actors speaking their lines carefully into mikes hidden in vases and other such places. The film was also a case of nepotism: Not even a near-star, Winifred Westover was the wife of William S. Hart, the former Western ace rumored to have a financial interest in the producing company, United Artists. Formerly a leading lady of silent Westerns, Westover was singularly incapable of carrying a full-fledged talking picture. The film, her first in nine years, also proved her last. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Winifred Westover, Ben Lyon, (more)
- 1929
In his movie debut, Rudy Valley portrays the crooning saxophone player who falls in love with a beautiful young woman. Classic romantic tale is fun with Marie Dressler outstanding in her role as the wealthy eccentric. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rudy Vallee, Sally Blane, (more)
- 1928
A long-lost service comedy from Poverty Row entrepreneur Morris R. Schlank, Dugan of the Dugouts starred Danny O'Shea in the title-role as a "dance hall lad" joining the army because his girl friend, Betty (Pauline Garon), likes a man in uniform. There is a nasty top sergeant (Ernest Hilliard), who proves to be a foreign spy and the denouement has friends and foes alike under the influence of laughing gas. Producer Schlank, who released his films through Anchor Film Distribution, was a purveyor of inexpensive Hank Mann comedy one-reelers and very low-budget Westerns featuring the likes of Bob Reeves and Bill Patton. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pauline Garon, Danny O'Shea, (more)
- 1928
Nancy Carroll stars in Manhattan Cocktail as Babs, a college coed who dreams of becoming a famous actress. Joining up with her campus chums Fred (Richard Arlen) and Bob (Danny O'Shea), likewise aspiring thespians, Babes heads to Broadway with stars in her eyes. The winsome threesome are quickly disillusioned by the heartless machinations of nasty producer Renov (Paul Lukas) and his harridan wife (Lilyan Tashman). Before the plot proper gets under way, the audience is regaled with a cute "mythological" prologue, featuring the same three leading actors. Manhattan Cocktail was a silent picture, except for two brief musical numbers showcasing Nancy Carroll. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nancy Carroll, Richard Arlen, (more)
- 1928
Not to be confused with 1924's On the Stroke of Three, this 1928 actioner (based loosely on a play by Joseph LeBrandt) was another entry in the then-popular "aviation" cycle -- but only for a couple of reels. Falsely accused of murdering his father David Torrence, hero Danny O'Shea is forced to go on the lam. After commandeering an airplane, O'Shea lands on the deck of the ship, where coincidentally the actual murderer, played by Lloyd Whitlock, has booked passage. Leading lady June Marlowe (better known as "Miss Crabtree" in the Our Gang comedies) can only look on helplessly as hero and villain have it out on the high seas. The splendid cinematography was singled out by the critics, who otherwise couldn't find much nice to say about the picture. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Torrence, June Marlowe, (more)
- 1927
Prizefighter Danny Martin (Danny O'Shea) wants to marry pretty Charlotte Hamilton (Mary Brian), but her wealthy father John (John Steppling) refuses to consider such a match. Things begin to go badly for Danny in the boxing ring, forcing him to hang up his gloves and assume the management of a health farm. When the out-of-shape John Hamilton shows up at the farm for a bit of therapeutic exercise, Charlotte arranges for her father to sign an agreement to keep up his therapy for a period of 60 days. While Hamilton huffs and puffs away in the gymnasium, Charlotte and Danny run off to get married. By the time Hamilton finds out he's been hoodwinked, he's in such excellent health that he immediately gives the marriage his unqualified blessing. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mary Brian, Danny O'Shea, (more)
