Comments on: Silent Film Star Heartthrob & Bachelor for Life

By: TCM's Classic Movie Blog

TCM's Classic Movie Blog — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 19:11:18 +0000

[...] http://moviemorlocks.com/2007/11/29/silent-film-star-heartthrob-bachelor-for-life/ [...]

By: Muzza

Muzza — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 12:19:46 +0000

Fine Manners was screened by MoMA in New York in October 2008. A comedy-drama about a Park Ave man about town who falls for a dance hall ‘artiste’ (Swanson) and his mother’s attempts to remould her for NY society.

By: Ed Lorusso

Ed Lorusso — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 02:48:35 +0000

FINE MANNERS, starring Gloria Swanson and Eugene O'Brien is restored and in a vault at Eastman House in Rochester, NY. I saw this print (and several others) in October 2006 when I visited. It's an excellent film and, along with several other Swanson silents) should be released on DVD. What a shame so many films sit gathering dust at Eastman House, UCLA, Library of Congress, and even AMPAS.

By: james

james — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 18:55:18 +0000

thats because he was gay.

By: kjolseth

kjolseth — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 18:07:24 +0000

Speaking of “secrets” – Medusa: Thank you for some great detective work. I just printed out the article and, sure enough, Eugene O’Brien is listed as somebody who followed “in a long line of gay leading men in silent films.” So color me red: I am in error to rush to romanticize O’Brien’s life as that of a straight man at peace with himself as a single man. What fascinates me here is that when I looked his name up on the index available at the Green Mountain Cemetery’s website, the O’Brien cluster clearly lists his name – but when I went to the cemetery I could not find his grave marker. All the other O’Brien’s had grave markers: J.H., Susan, Joseph, George, Kate, but not a single mention for Eugene. And yet, he was buried there. Family discord? Looking in the Boulder phone book I can find almost 40 people listed under O’Brien and I am not sure how I would proceed with the query. But I have other ideas that I might pursue.

By: kjolseth

kjolseth — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 18:04:52 +0000

I’ll answer Grace’s question first and then get to Medusa’s observation separately. A cursory look into what films starring Eugene might readily be available on vhs or dvd is not very promising. So far, I can’t find anything.And, no, I have not seen any of his films and just emailed Ray Tuomey, a friend of mine who used to program the Chautauqua Silent Film Series here in Boulder. His answer: “No, unfortunately I did not have the great honor of presenting any of his films that I know of. I’m forwarding this to both Rodney Sauer of Mont Alto (Motion Picture Orchestra) and (pianist) Hank Troy.”I agree that it would be a stellar idea to somehow revive Eugene’s work here in Boulder. The only thing that seems to be available, so far, is a 16mm print of SECRETS (1924) from MoMA, but it’s not yet clear if it’s available for exhibition. A call has been placed and I am waiting for their response.

By: Medusa

Medusa — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 14:55:34 +0000

Unfortunately I can't access the article from home here, but Anthony Slide in his "The Silent Closet" article in Film Quarterly (July 1999) evidently discusses that O'Brien's confirmed bachelorhood was more about him being in the closet, and certainly not the only Hollywood idol who was at that time.Not that there's anything wrong with that, of course! Just makes his life even more interesting, and it's too bad that he was one of those silent actors who never made the transition to sound at all.I love the story that he was trying to do anything but become an M.D.. Boy, he must have bucked a lot of family and societal pressures during his lifetime. Couldn't have been easy. Eugene sounds like an all-right guy. Thanks for a great story!

By: GraceAN

GraceAN — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 13:00:09 +0000

This was a very enjoyable glimpse at Eugene O'Brien, an unfortunately forgotten actor. I particularly enjoyed your photo of the art deco exterior of the Boulder Theater too. Are any of O'Brien's films available on vhs or dvd? Fine Manners (1926) with Gloria Swanson and The Romantic Age (1927) directed by Robert Florey seem to be two films that may have been preserved from this period since they have comments about them in IMDb. Have you had a chance to see this actor's films? Perhaps a film society in the Boulder area might be interested in promoting this native son? Thanks so much for bringing this man to my attention.