Known for Directing
Willis O'Brien was an American special effects pioneer in the field of stop-motion animation.
Born
March 2, 1886
Died
November 8, 1962 (age 76)
Birthplace
Oakland, California
Filmography
33 films


Creation
1931 · 20m · US
A lost submarine discovers a secret island where dinosaurs still live. The film, 20 minutes long, was scrapped by RKO. Approximately 4 minutes survived.


Along the Moonbeam Trail
1920 · 14m · US
A magic aeroplane takes two children to the Moon, where they encounter prehistoric monsters and witness a battle between them. As far as is known this was the first film to combine realistic stop-motion dinosaurs and live-action actors in the same shot. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2008.


The Ghost of Slumber Mountain
1918 · 40m · US
In a dream Uncle Jack looks through a magic telescope owned by the ghost of a hermit and sees what life was like millions of years ago, including a battle between prehistoric monsters.


R.F.D., 10,000 B.C.
1917 · 13m · US
Set in prehistoric times, this short film was created for the Edison Company by Willis H. O'Brien, a pioneer of American stop-motion animation.
Prehistoric Poultry
Prehistoric Poultry
1916 · 4m · US
A caveman falls victim to a prehistoric prankster, but he is avenged by his pet chicken.


The Dinosaur and the Missing Link: A Prehistoric Tragedy
1915 · 5m · US
Two cavemen, The Duke and Stonejaw Steve, call on Miss Araminta Rockface. The hated rivals fight, and Steve wins when he throws The Duke into a pot of boiling water. A title card introduces a third rival, "our unassuming hero, Theophilus Ivoryhead." Miss Rockface invites the three men into her father's drawing room/cave, apologizing for not offering tea, since it has not been discovered yet. The Duke and Steve fight again, and everyone rushes out of the cave. Mr. Rockface notices his pot of food is empty; earlier, Wild Willie the Missing Link had eaten it. Mr. Rockface tells the three suitors they will have to procure their own dinner. Steve locates a desert quail and shoots an arrow at it, but the arrow misses the quail and happily (for Steve) hits The Duke's behind. Meanwhile, Wild Willie is still hungry and goes hunting for snakes. He finds a dinosaur's tail instead...


Morpheus Mike
1915 · 3m · US
A gentleman saves a woman's line of laundry from a goat that has eaten it up. Later, he has a pipe dream.