Young Leon Kanter dreams of being a great violinist. His parents scrape up the money for a violin and for lessons, and Leon rewards them by becoming a great player. But as an adult, Leon ...
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Title: Humoresque (1920)
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2 wins.
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Gaston Glass | ... | Leon Kantor (adult) | |
| Vera Gordon | ... | Mama Kantor | |
| Alma Rubens | ... | Gina Berg (formerly Minnie Ginsberg) | |
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Dore Davidson | ... | Abraham Kantor |
| Bobby Connelly | ... | Leon Kantor (child) | |
| Helen Connelly | ... | Esther Kantor (child) | |
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Ann Wallack | ... | Esther Kantor (adult) (as Ann Wallick) |
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Sidney Carlyle | ... | Mannie Kantor |
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Joseph Cooper | ... | Isadore Kantor (child) |
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Maurice Levigne | ... | Isadore Kantor (adult) |
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Alfred Goldberg | ... | Rudolph Kantor (child) |
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Edward Stanton | ... | Rudolph Kator (adult) |
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Louis Stern | ... | Sol Ginsberg (as Louis Stearns) |
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Maurice Peckre | ... | Boris Kantor |
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Ruth Sabin | ... | Mrs. Isadore Kantor |
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
Young Leon Kanter dreams of being a great violinist. His parents scrape up the money for a violin and for lessons, and Leon rewards them by becoming a great player. But as an adult, Leon finds that people want more from him than just music. Written by Jim Beaver <jumblejim@prodigy.net>
Taglines:
The Smile on Life With a Tear Behind It. (Print Ad- Toronto World, ((Toronto, P.O.)) 17 September 1920)Genres:
DramaParents Guide:
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Details
Country:
USARelease Date:
30 May 1920 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Humoreszk See more »Filming Locations:
Cosmopolitan-International Studios - 127th Street, East Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USACompany Credits
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IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Sound Mix:
SilentColor:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1
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Trivia
The film played twelve weeks at New York City's prestigious Criterion Theatre, breaking records for that time. See more »Frequently Asked Questions
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Based on a Fannie Hurst book ,"Humoresque " tells the story of Jewish family .Mama had always thought that one of her sons (the other one is an imbecile)would become a great musician .Her faith was so strong she did believe that her prayers could do anything.
The version I saw -which oddly was partly in color- is totally silent and it's the main drawback: we need to hear Leon's violin when he "weeps his very blood" ,when he plays "Humoresque" this piece which laughs at life with a tear behind it,and in the final scenes when love brings Leon around.If you have had the chance to see "I will always you" (1946) you've probably noticed Borzage's wonderful use of music and the way the two heroes communicate through it.
The best scene is Leon's farewell before leaving for WW2.Borzage makes it last longer than the usual tear-jerker .These brief hours ,the characters have got to make the best of them,savor them .Borzage would take this kind of scene to its absolute peak with his sensational "street angel" (1927)when Janet Gaynor,about to be arrested ,spends an hour -which seems to last a thousand ones- with her husband Charles Farrell .
The beginning deals with childhood love which would inspire Henry Hathaway for " Peter Ibbetson " (1936).
No other director overwhelmed his characters with tenderness as Borzage did.Even if you are not a believer,even if you are down in the dumps ,after watching one of his works (there are plenty of them crying to be seen ;someone who has never seen a film by this great man might choose "the mortal storm" (1940)),you will smile,weren't it only for a little while.
Remade (but with a completely different screenplay) by Jean Negulesco.(1947)