His People (1925)

Director:

Edward Sloman

Writers:

Isadore Bernstein (story)
Alfred A. Cohn (adaptation)

Release Date:

1 November 1925 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

The two sons of a poor Russian-Jewish pushcart peddler on New York's Lower East Side are causing their father grief...

Plot Keywords:

Lower East Side | New York | Irish | Domestic | Law

Cast

Rudolph Schildkraut	...	David Cominsky
Rosa Rosanova	...	Rose Cominsky
Robert Gordon	...	Sammy Cominsky, as a child (as Bobby Gordon)
George J. Lewis	...	Sammy Cominsky (as George Lewis)
Albert Bushaland	...	Morris Cominsky, as a child
Arthur Lubin	...	Morris Cominsky
Jean Johnston	...	Mamie Shannon, as a child
Blanche Mehaffey	...	Mamie Shannon
Kate Price	...	Kate Shannon
Virginia Brown Faire	...	Ruth Stein
Nat Carr	...	Chaim Barowitz
Bertram Marburgh	...	Judge Nathan Stein (as Betram Marburgh)

Also Known As:

Proud Heart

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

A Jewel release. Not owning a theater network, Universal utilized a 3-tiered brand system to sell its product until 1929: Red Feather (low budget programmers), Bluebird (mainstream) and Jewel (big budget prestige releases capable of drawing roadshow ticket prices).

A loving, warm and humorous portrayal of Jewish immigrant life in New York City

A loving, warm and humorous portrayal of a Jewish immigrant from Russia and his family. David (husband), Rose (wife), Morris (eldest son) and Sammy (second son) live in an immigrant ghetto that is populated by a mix bag of people with different country origins. The narrative revolves around two archetypal stories. First, how obeisance to traditions by elders clash with the carefree assimilation to a dominant culture by a younger generation. Second, the "good" son that turns out to be bad versus the "bad" that turns out "good".

This is a film from the closing years of the silent era. As such, the emotions are clearly laid out on the screen. Being an Hollywood product made to entertain immigrant crowds, redemptive and happy endings are expected. It is a reflection of the optimism of those who came to improve their lot in the land of opportunity.

The outside shots appear to have been filmed in New York City. The elevated subway line that shows up in a number of scenes no longer exists, so it is an interesting record of a faraway era.