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David Brian

David Brian

Actor · Died July 15, 1993, aged 78 · New York City, New York, U.S.

​From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.   David Brian (August 5, 1914, New York City – July 15, 1993) was an American actor and dancer. Description above from the Wikipedia article David Brian, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 5, 1914
Died
July 15, 1993 (aged 78)
From
New York City, New York, U.S.
Works as
Actor
Titles
24 on Motif · 59 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 39 days to Oct 28Down 20% in 30 days

What are David Brian's films like?

Across their 19 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Self.

Genres

Drama6 titlesTypical Motif score: 58th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Crime5 titlesTypical Motif score: 57th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Action2 titlesTypical Motif score: 51st percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Motif score: 54th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies

Their Motif films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Motif score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
36%
Self
23%
Power
18%
Survival
9%
Bonds
7%
Society
7%
Justice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption6 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 19 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 12 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 4 · Charged 9 · Intense 6

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 8 · Shifting 10 · Whiplash 1

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 15 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 1

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 11 · Relentless 3

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 9 · Engaged 10 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 17 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

13 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 5 of 13 analyzed roles.

Shadow
5 of 13
Hero
3 of 13
Mentor
2 of 13
Shapeshifter
2 of 13
Ally
1 of 13
Show the 13 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
15
Melancholic
8
Hopeful
6
Thrilling
6
Dread
3
Other
9

How their films linger

Bittersweet9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy7
  • Bittersweet9
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch David Brian's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 6 of their 24 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Pluto TV (3).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for David Brian's titles on Motif; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Motif score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

59 credits, 24 with a Motif page.

  • Police Story (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Search (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Man Hunter (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1972)

    as Walter Sinclair

  • The Immortal (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • The Girl Who Knew Too Much (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1969)

    as Had Dixon

  • Childish Things (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1969)

    as Jennings

  • The Name of the Game (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Elton Wakefield

  • The Destructors (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1968)

    as Hogan

  • Mannix(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Motif score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • Hondo (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Cimarron Strip (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Castle of Evil(1966)

    as Robert Hawley

    Motif score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Mission: Impossible(1966)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Motif score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Star Trek(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as John Gill

    Motif score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Love on a Rooftop (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Rare Breed(1966)

    as Charles Ellsworth

    Motif score: 55th percentile of all films

  • I Dream of Jeannie(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as P.J. Ferguson

    Motif score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Honey West (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as C.C. Rockwell

  • Laredo (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Branded (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

  • Profiles in Courage (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Charlton

  • Daniel Boone (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Maj. Horton

  • Kraft Suspense Theatre (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Mark Nelson

  • The Dakotas (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • How the West Was Won(1962)

    as Lilith's Attorney

    Motif score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Pocketful of Miracles(1961)

    as Governor

    Motif score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Target: The Corruptors! (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Cain's Hundred (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Frank Andreotis

  • The Rabbit Trap(1959)

    as Everett Spellman

    Motif score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Rawhide (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Thad Clemens

  • Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Ghost of the China Sea (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1958)

    Writer · as Martin French

  • Accused of Murder(1956)

    as Police Lt. Roy Hargis

    Motif score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • The White Squaw (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1956)

    as Sigrod Swanson

  • No Place to Hide (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1956)

    as Dr. Dobson

  • The First Traveling Saleslady(1956)

    as James Carter

    Motif score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Fury at Gunsight Pass(1956)

    as Whitey Turner

    Motif score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Gunsmoke (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Branch Nelson · as Clay White · as Tait Cavanaugh

  • Timberjack (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1955)

    as Croft Brunner

  • Dawn at Socorro(1954)

    as Dick Braden

    Motif score: 61st percentile of all films

  • The High and the Mighty(1954)

    as Ken Childs

    Motif score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Mr. District Attorney (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 59 episodes · Actor

  • Revlon Mirror Theatre (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Ambush at Tomahawk Gap(1953)

    as Egan

    Motif score: 36th percentile of all films

  • A Perilous Journey (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1953)

    as Monty Breed

  • General Electric Theater (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as David · as Frank Freeman

  • Million Dollar Mermaid(1952)

    as Alfred Harper

    Motif score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Springfield Rifle(1952)

    as Austin McCool

    Motif score: 66th percentile of all films

  • This Woman Is Dangerous(1952)

    as Matt Jackson

    Motif score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Phil Derringer · as Philip Gordon

  • Fort Worth(1951)

    as Blair Lunsford

    Motif score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison(1951)

    as Mark Benson

    Motif score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Inside Straight (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1951)

    as Rip MacCool

  • Breakthrough (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1950)

    as Capt. Tom Hale

  • The Great Jewel Robber(1950)

    as Gerald Graham Dennis

    Motif score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The Damned Don't Cry(1950)

    as George Castleman

    Motif score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Intruder in the Dust(1949)

    as John Gavin Stevens

    Motif score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Beyond the Forest (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1949)

    as Neil Latimer

  • Flamingo Road(1949)

    as Dan Reynolds

    Motif score: 83rd percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 93rd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 59 titles from 1949 to 1973; peak year 1961.

Biggest box office

Pocketful of Miracles (1961)

$10K worldwide

Highest rated

Intruder in the Dust (1949)

Motif 93rd

Most popular right now

The Rare Breed (1966)

Film career

19491973

Peak 1961 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 1 Motif title. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting59 of 59: 58 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Motif score64thWriting1 of 59: 0 only writing, 1 with another role

By decade

1940s3 · acting1950s28 · 28 acting · 1 crew1960s24 · acting1970s4 · acting

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 10% of 10 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Motif score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on Motif, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do David Brian's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Motif score in the 58th percentile, the median of all 20; across their 19 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 57th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

57thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Approval · how many liked their films

56thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Reach · how many have seen their films

43rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Motif score across 24 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up8
  • 50th to 74th9
  • 25th to 49th4
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

17 of their 24 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Crowd Pleaser17
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed3

Most divisive · actor

This Woman Is Dangerous (1952)

54th percentile spread · 19% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Intruder in the Dust (1949)

Motif 93rd · 83% liked

Reviewers score the acting 68/100 in their films, across 19 reviewed titles; fans 75, detractors 48. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Motif score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their Motif titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does David Brian work with?

People who share at least 2 of David Brian's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Joan Crawford shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers