The Light Ahead (1939)

In a small town in Russia in the 1880s, two young but poor lovers are helped by a wise old bookseller.

Directors:

Henry Felt, Edgar G. Ulmer

Writers:

Chaver Pahver, Mendele Mocher Sforim (novel),

Stars:

David Opatoshu, Helen Beverly, Isidore Cashier

Cast

Complete credited cast:
David Opatoshu	...	Fishke (the lame)
Helen Beverly	...	Hodel (the blind)
Isidore Cashier	...	Mendele Moicher Sforim
Rosetta Bialis	...	Drabke [alt. Dropke]
Anna Guskin	...	Gitel
Wolf Mercur	...	Getzel [alt. Getsl] (the thief)
Jenny Cashier	...	Dobe (the hunchback [alt. Dube])
Judel Dubinsky	...	Isaak (the stutterer)
Leon Seidenberg	...	Alter
Morris Shorr	...	Hershel
Leon Shachter	...	Frechman
Wolf Goldfaden	...	Wecker
Israel Mandel	...	Yisrolick
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ben Adler	...	(as Benny Adler)
Helena Benda

Storyline

Impoverished and disabled lovers Fishke nd Hodel dream of life in the big city of Odessa, free from the poverty and stifling old-world prejudices of the shtetl. Made on the eve of World War II, The Light Ahead is at once romantic, expressionist, and painfully conscious of the danger about to engulf European Jews. One of four Yiddish features directed by Edgar Ulmer.

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Plot Keywords:

yiddish | jewish

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

Yiddish

Release Date:

22 September 1939 (USA)

Also Known As:

Di klyatshe

Filming Locations:

Newton, New Jersey, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Collective Film Producers Inc., Ultra Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Film debut of David Opatoshu.

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Connections

Featured in Almonds and Raisins (1984)

User Reviews

The Lame Leading the Blind

Greatly enjoyed this Jewish produced film which contained a great deal of humor, sadness and romance. This film was produced in 1939 and most of these Yidish pictures were shown in Theatre's on the East Side of New York City. Fishke,(The Lame) young man was very poor and did everything he could to make a living and was made fun of by the local towns people. Fishke took a liking to a young girl named Hodel,(The Blind), who was completely blind and was also a sort of misfit and unable to find herself in the society. Local politics plays a great deal in this film and the upper class wants to build a hospital, however, the local middle class people want better water and sanitation facilities. It is a rather sad film, because it depicts 1939, the beginning of WW II when many Jewish people from various European countries will have to face the horrors of the Nazi tortures. Excellent film and a great Classic.