Humoresque
About Humoresque
Leon Kantor grows up poor in New York's Jewish ghetto. On his ninth birthday he wants a four-dollar violin, but his father Abrahm steers him to a cheaper music box, and his mother Sarah gives him his brother Isadore's old one. He becomes a concert violinist, the family moves to Fifth Avenue, and he plans to marry Gina, his childhood friend. He enlists in the war, plays Humoresque at a farewell concert, and comes home with an arm the doctors say he will not use again. He sends Gina away, then finds the arm works, and plays.
Cast & crew
More about Humoresque
Frank Borzage directed for Cosmopolitan Productions, William Randolph Hearst's company. Frances Marion and William LeBaron adapted Fannie Hurst's 1919 story in Cosmopolitan. Famous Players-Lasky and Paramount released it on May 30, 1920.
Themes
Background
Hurst's story and the film send the Lower East Side violinist into the American army in World War I.
Music
Hugo Riesenfeld wrote the music. Leon's farewell piece is Humoresque, the story's title tune.
Preservation
UCLA restored a print. In 2015 the Library of Congress placed the film on the National Film Registry.
Notes
- Gaston Glass plays the adult Leon. Bobby Connelly plays him as a boy. Vera Gordon is Sarah. Dore Davidson is Abrahm. Alma Rubens is Gina, also called Minnie Ginsberg. Miriam Battista plays Gina as a child.
- Gilbert Warrenton was the cameraman.
- In 1921 it was the first film given the Photoplay Medal of Honor, awarded to Cosmopolitan Productions.
- Leon performs for the Italian royal family before the family leaves the ghetto.
Awards
- Photoplay Medal of Honor (1921)
Scenes
- Leon finds he can use the injured arm and plays.
Influenced by
- Humoresque, the 1919 Fannie Hurst story
Also available
- Internet Archive (silent-humoresque)
- Wikimedia Commons (Humoresque (1920 film).webm)
