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Robert Emmett Tansey

Robert Emmett Tansey

Writer, director and producer · Died June 17, 1951, aged 53 · Brooklyn [now in New York City], New York, USA

Robert Emmett Tansey was an American film director, producer, and screenwriter, primarily known for his work in the Western genre during the 1930s and 1940s. He directed and wrote numerous films, including Badman's Gold (1951) and Timber Terrors (1935). Tansey's contributions to B-Westerns were significant, often working with limited budgets to produce engaging stories that resonated with audiences of the time. His ability to manage multiple roles in film production showcased his dedication and versatility in the industry.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 28, 1897
Died
June 17, 1951 (aged 53)
From
Brooklyn [now in New York City], New York, USA
Works as
Writer, director and producer
Titles
46 on Motif · 108 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 14% in 30 days

What are Robert Emmett Tansey's films like?

Across their 45 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Drama40 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 28th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 13th percentile
: browse their Action movies

Their Motif films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits 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
64%
Bonds
14%
Society
11%
Power
5%
Self
4%
Survival
2%
Justice40 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity12 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception12 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds8 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty9 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge4 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 45 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 39 · Serious 6 · Dark 0

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 40 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 31 · Charged 14 · Intense 0

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

Steady 41 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 15 · Some laughs 29 · Funny 1

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

Slow burn 15 · Even-paced 30 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 41 · Engaged 4 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 45 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Thrilling
31
Tense
21
Hopeful
23
Warm
10
Joyful
6
Other
17

How their films linger

Fun28 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good28 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy39
  • Bittersweet6

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 Robert Emmett Tansey's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 45 of their 46 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (27).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Robert Emmett Tansey's titles on Motif; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits 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

108 credits, 46 with a Motif page.

  • Western von gestern (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 2 episodes · Screenplay · Story

  • Adventures of the Texas Kid: Border Ambush (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1954)

    Director · Writer

  • Cattle Queen (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1951)

    Director · Story

  • Badman's Gold (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1951)

    Director · Screenplay · Story

  • Federal Man(1950)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Fighting Stallion(1950)

    Director · Associate Producer

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Forbidden Jungle(1950)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Riders of the Dusk (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1949)

    Screenplay

  • Kimbar of the Jungle (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1949)

    Director

  • Shaggy (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1948)

    Director

  • The Enchanted Valley (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1948)

    Director

  • The Tioga Kid(1948)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Wild West(1946)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Stars Over Texas(1946)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Driftin' River(1946)

    Director · Producer · Story

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Tumbleweed Trail(1946)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Colorado Serenade(1946)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Caravan Trail (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1946)

    Director · Producer · Story

  • Romance of the West(1946)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • God's Country (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1946)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Song of Old Wyoming (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1945)

    Director

  • Wildfire(1945)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Harmony Trail (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1944)

    Director · Associate Producer · Story

  • Sonora Stagecoach(1944)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Outlaw Trail(1944)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Arizona Whirlwind(1944)

    Director · Producer · Story

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Westward Bound(1944)

    Director · Producer · Story

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Death Valley Rangers(1943)

    Director · Producer · Story

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Blazing Guns(1943)

    Director · Original Story · Producer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Law Rides Again(1943)

    Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Wild Horse Stampede(1943)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Haunted Ranch (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1943)

    Director

  • Two Fisted Justice (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1943)

    Director

  • Trail Riders (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1942)

    Director · Writer

  • Texas to Bataan(1942)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Arizona Roundup(1942)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Where Trails End (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1942)

    Director · Story

  • Western Mail(1942)

    Director · Producer · Story

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Lone Star Law Men (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1941)

    Director · Story

  • Riding the Sunset Trail (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1941)

    Director · Screenplay · Story

  • The Driftin' Kid(1941)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Dynamite Canyon(1941)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay · Story

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Wanderers of the West(1941)

    Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Silver Stallion(1941)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Pioneers (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1941)

    Writer

  • Rollin' Home to Texas (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1940)

    Screenplay

  • Pride of the Bowery(1940)

    Production Manager

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Take Me Back to Oklahoma(1940)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • The Cowboy from Sundown(1940)

    Production Supervisor · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Arizona Frontier (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1940)

    Screenplay

  • Rainbow Over the Range (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1940)

    Assistant Director · Production Supervisor · Screenplay

  • The Golden Trail (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1940)

    Screenplay

  • Pals of the Silver Sage (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1940)

    Screenplay

  • Rhythm of the Rio Grande (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1940)

    Production Supervisor · Screenplay

  • Texas Renegades (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1940)

    Story

  • Westbound Stage (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1939)

    Story

  • Overland Mail (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1939)

    Screenplay · Story

  • Across the Plains(1939)

    Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • The Man from Texas (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1939)

    Writer

  • Trigger Smith (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1939)

    Producer · Screenplay

  • Lure of the Wasteland (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1939)

    Screenplay

  • Drifting Westward (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1939)

    Original Story · Production Supervisor

  • Wild Horse Canyon (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1938)

    Screenplay · Story

  • Gun Packer (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1938)

    Supervising Producer · Writer

  • Where the Buffalo Roam (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1938)

    Screenplay · Story

  • The Mexicali Kid (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1938)

    Screenplay

  • Man's Country (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1938)

    Screenplay · Story

  • Gunsmoke Trail (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1938)

    Story

  • The Painted Trail(1938)

    Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Romance of the Rockies (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1937)

    Screenplay

  • Danger Valley (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1937)

    Screenplay · Story

  • Where Trails Divide(1937)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Stars Over Arizona (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1937)

    Screenplay

  • God's Country and the Man(1937)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Riders of the Dawn (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1937)

    Screenplay

  • Riders of the Rockies(1937)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Sing, Cowboy, Sing(1937)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Hittin' the Trail(1937)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Trouble in Texas(1937)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Headin' for the Rio Grande(1936)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Song of the Gringo(1936)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Men of the Plains(1936)

    Assistant Director · Screenplay · Story

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Pinto Rustlers(1936)

    Screenplay · Story

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Roamin' Wild (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1936)

    Story

  • The Oregon Trail (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1936)

    Screenplay

  • The Law of the 45's(1935)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Alias John Law (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1935)

    Assistant Director

  • The New Frontier (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1935)

    Screenplay · Story

  • Courage of the North(1935)

    Director · Supervising Producer

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Westward Ho(1935)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Paradise Canyon(1935)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Timber Terrors (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1935)

    Director

  • West of the Law (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1934)

    Director · Dialogue · Story

  • The Way of the West (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1934)

    Director · Dialogue

  • The Lone Rider (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1934)

    Director · Story

  • Pals of the West (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1934)

    Director

  • Carrying the Mail (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1934)

    Director · Writer

  • Sundown Trail (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1934)

    Director · Story

  • Arizona Cyclone (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1934)

    Director

  • Pals of the Prairie (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1934)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Badge of Honor(1934)

    Assistant Director · Story

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Call of the Coyote: A Legend of the Golden West (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1934)

    Screenplay

  • Riders of the Rio (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1931)

    Director · Producer · Writer

  • Romance of the West (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1930)

    Director · Writer

  • Riding to Fame (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1927)

    as Spec (as Bert Tansey)

  • Daily Dozens (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1926)

    Director

  • The Girl with the Jazz Heart (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1921)

    as Jimmie

  • The Witch Woman (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1918)

    as Paul Martinet (as Robert Tansey)

Career shape

A full career of 107 titles from 1918 to 1978.

Highest rated

Westward Ho (1935)

Midcredits 29th

Most popular right now

The Cowboy from Sundown (1940)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting3 of 107: 3 only acting, 0 with another roleDirecting50 of 107: 16 only directing, 34 with another role · typical Midcredits score29thWriting78 of 107: 41 only writing, 37 with another role · typical Midcredits score24thProducing20 of 107: 2 only producing, 18 with another role · typical Midcredits score33rdOther crew8 of 107: 2 only other crew, 6 with another role

107 titles, 43 with more than one role — writing and directing overlap on 28 of them.

By decade

1910s1 · acting1920s3 · 2 acting · 1 crew1930s49 · crew1940s47 · crew1950s6 · crew1970s1 · crew

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 Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on Motif, shown from 5 scored.

How do Robert Emmett Tansey's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Midcredits score in the 26th percentile, the median of all 46; across their 45 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 33rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

33rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 45

Approval · how many liked their films

20thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 45

Reach · how many have seen their films

6thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 45

Midcredits score across 46 titles, by percentile

  • 50th to 74th4
  • 25th to 49th21
  • Below 25th21

Shape of the crowd

42 of their 46 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Panned1
  • Crowd Pleaser2
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed42

Most divisive · director

Federal Man (1950)

68th percentile spread · 31% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director, writer, producer

Wild West (1946)

Midcredits 59th · 54% liked

Reviewers score the dialogue 33/100 and the plot and story 33/100 in their films, across 30 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a writer.

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 Midcredits 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 Robert Emmett Tansey work with?

People who share at least 2 of Robert Emmett Tansey's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Frances Kavanaugh shares the most, 21.

Directors

Writers

Actors

  • Charles King11 titles    See all 11 shared titles with Charles King
  • Forrest Taylor9 titles    See all 9 shared titles with Forrest Taylor
  • Gene Alsace9 titles    See all 9 shared titles with Gene Alsace
  • Eddie Dean8 titles    See all 8 shared titles with Eddie Dean

Cinematographers and editors

Producers