Mary H. O'Connor (sometimes credited as Mary Hamilton O'Connor) was an American screenwriter and film editor active during

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood, ...

's silent era.

Biography

She was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in 1872, the daughter of Thomas O'Connor and Bridget Nash. She came from a big family (which included a sister, Loyola O'Connor, who became an actress), and grew up in Minnesota, Oregon, and

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

. She began her career as a magazine and newspaper journalist in New York before

came calling. By 1913, she was living in Santa Monica and churning out scripts as a rapid pace under contract at Vitagraph. At the time, she said she hoped to become a director. Eventually, she was named chief of Triangle-Fine Arts' scenario department. She'd also work at Mutual and Famous Players–Lasky. In 1921, she left Hollywood to work at Paramount's then-new London studio, where she worked on scripts for films like '' Dangerous Lies'' and ''

The Mystery Road ''The Mystery Road'' is a 1921 British silent drama film directed by Paul Powell. Alfred Hitchcock is credited as a title designer. The film is considered to be lost. Cast * David Powell as Gerald Dombey * Nadja Ostrovska as Myrtile Sargot ...

''. She retired from screenwriting to work on creative fiction after those films.

Selected filmography

*''

The Lure of the Mask ''The Lure of the Mask'' is a 1908 novel by Harold MacGrath that was the Publishers Weekly list of bestselling novels in the United States in the 1900s#1908, fourth-best selling book in the United States for that year. In 1906-07, MacGrath made ...

'' (1915) *'' The Lonesome Heart'' (1915) *''

Up from the Depths ''Up From the Depths'' is a 1979 horror film directed by Charles B. Griffith and starring Sam Bottoms, Susanne Reed, Virgil Frye, Kedric Wolfe, and Charles Howerton. The film, along with many other natural horror films at the time of its releas ...

'' (1915) *'' A Yankee from the West'' (1915) *'' Infatuation'' (1915) *'' The Penitentes'' (1915) *'' Cross Currents'' (1916) *''

Hell-to-Pay Austin ''Hell-to-Pay Austin'' (also known, without hyphens, as ''Hell to Pay Austin'') is a 1916 American silent comedy-drama film directed by Paul Powell and starring Wilfred Lucas in the title role, with Bessie Love, Eugene Pallette, and Mary Alden ...

'' (1916) *''

The House Built Upon Sand ''The House Built Upon Sand'' is a 1916 American drama film directed by Edward Morrissey and starring Lillian Gish. This is a lost film. Cast * Lillian Gish as Evelyn Dare * Roy Stewart as David Westebrooke * William H. Brown as Samuel Stevens ...

'' (1916) *'' Intolerance'' (1916) *''

Nina, the Flower Girl ''Nina, the Flower Girl'' is a lost American 1917 silent drama film produced by D. W. Griffith through his Fine Arts Film Company and distributed by Triangle Film Corporation. The film starred Bessie Love, an up-and-coming ingenue actress. It a ...

'' (1917) *''

A Girl of the Timber Claims ''A Girl of the Timber Claims'' is a 1917 American silent drama film directed by Paul Powell and starring Constance Talmadge, Allan Sears and Clyde E. Hopkins. It is based on the story "The Girl Homesteader," by Mary H. O'Connor, who also wrot ...

'' (1917) *'' Cheerful Givers'' (1917) *''

Souls Triumphant ''Souls Triumphant'' is a 1917 American drama film directed by John B. O'Brien and starring Lillian Gish. This is considered to be a lost film. Cast * Lillian Gish as Lillian Vale * Wilfred Lucas as Robert Powers * Spottiswoode Aitken as Jos ...

'' (1917) *'' The Sins of Roseanne'' (1920) *''

'' (1921) *'' Dangerous Lies'' (1921)

References

External links

Mary Hamilton O’Connor, the Grande Dame of Scenarists…
* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:O'Connor, Mary H. American women screenwriters 1872 births 1959 deaths Mass media people from Saint Paul, Minnesota Writers from Minnesota American film editors 20th-century American women writers 20th-century American screenwriters Women film pioneers