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Humoresque

  • 19201920
  • 1h
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
188
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Bobby Connelly and Vera Gordon in Humoresque (1920)
  • Drama
  • War
The matriarch of a poor Jewish family nurtures her talented son's dream of being a great violinist, but as an adult, global events call for him to postpone his dream.The matriarch of a poor Jewish family nurtures her talented son's dream of being a great violinist, but as an adult, global events call for him to postpone his dream.The matriarch of a poor Jewish family nurtures her talented son's dream of being a great violinist, but as an adult, global events call for him to postpone his dream.
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
188
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Frank Borzage
  • Writers
    • Fannie Hurst(story)
    • William LeBaron(uncredited)
    • Frances Marion(scenario)
  • Stars
    • Gaston Glass
    • Vera Gordon
    • Alma Rubens
Top credits
  • Director
    • Frank Borzage
  • Writers
    • Fannie Hurst(story)
    • William LeBaron(uncredited)
    • Frances Marion(scenario)
  • Stars
    • Gaston Glass
    • Vera Gordon
    • Alma Rubens
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 3User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins

    Photos14

    Vera Gordon in Humoresque (1920)
    Miriam Battista and Bobby Connelly in Humoresque (1920)
    Sidney Carlyle and Vera Gordon in Humoresque (1920)
    Gaston Glass, Vera Gordon, and Alma Rubens in Humoresque (1920)
    Alma Rubens in Humoresque (1920)
    Gaston Glass in Humoresque (1920)
    Bobby Connelly and Vera Gordon in Humoresque (1920)
    Bobby Connelly and Vera Gordon in Humoresque (1920)
    Gaston Glass and Alma Rubens in Humoresque (1920)
    Bobby Connelly and Vera Gordon in Humoresque (1920)
    Bobby Connelly, Gaston Glass, Alma Rubens, and Ann Wallack in Humoresque (1920)
    Bobby Connelly, Gaston Glass, and Vera Gordon in Humoresque (1920)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Gaston Glass
    Gaston Glass
    • Leon Kantor (adult)as Leon Kantor (adult)
    Vera Gordon
    Vera Gordon
    • Mama Kantoras Mama Kantor
    Alma Rubens
    Alma Rubens
    • Gina Berg (formerly Minnie Ginsberg)as Gina Berg (formerly Minnie Ginsberg)
    Dore Davidson
    • Abraham Kantoras Abraham Kantor
    Bobby Connelly
    Bobby Connelly
    • Leon Kantor (child)as Leon Kantor (child)
    Helen Connelly
    Helen Connelly
    • Esther Kantor (child)as Esther Kantor (child)
    Ann Wallack
    • Esther Kantor (adult)as Esther Kantor (adult)
    • (as Ann Wallick)
    Sidney Carlyle
    • Mannie Kantoras Mannie Kantor
    Joseph Cooper
    • Isadore Kantor (child)as Isadore Kantor (child)
    Maurice Levigne
    • Isadore Kantor (adult)as Isadore Kantor (adult)
    Alfred Goldberg
    • Rudolph Kantor (child)as Rudolph Kantor (child)
    Edward Stanton
    • Rudolph Kator (adult)as Rudolph Kator (adult)
    Louis Stern
    • Sol Ginsbergas Sol Ginsberg
    • (as Louis Stearns)
    Maurice Peckre
    • Boris Kantoras Boris Kantor
    Ruth Sabin
    • Mrs. Isadore Kantoras Mrs. Isadore Kantor
    Frank Mitchell
    Frank Mitchell
    • Baby Kantoras Baby Kantor
    Miriam Battista
    • Minnie Ginsbergas Minnie Ginsberg
    • Director
      • Frank Borzage
    • Writers
      • Fannie Hurst(story)
      • William LeBaron(uncredited)
      • Frances Marion(scenario)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    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. —Jim Beaver <jumblejim@prodigy.net>
    • national film registry
    • f rated
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • The Smile on Life With a Tear Behind It. (Print Ad- Toronto World, ((Toronto, P.O.)) 17 September 1920)
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • War
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Fannie Hurst later adapted her story Humoresque into a play which premiered on Broadway on February 27, 1923, at the Vanderbilt Theatre and ran for 32 performances. Laurette Taylor played the leading role and the production was staged by J. Hartley Manners (then-husband of Laurette Taylor).
    • Connections
      Spoofed in Humor Risk (1921)

    User reviews3

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    In the ghetto (And his momma doesn't cry )
    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)
    helpful•8
    7
    • dbdumonteil
    • Jun 6, 2007

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 30, 1920 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • None
    • Also known as
      • ユーモレスク(1920)
    • Filming locations
      • Cosmopolitan-International Studios - 127th Street, East Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Cosmopolitan Productions
      • Paramount Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Silent
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

    Related news

    Béla Tarr, Japan Cuts, Summer of Silents
    Jun 13MUBI

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