The Younger Generation
"The story of a boy who climbed to the top of the ladder and found it was leaning against the wrong wall."
Plot
Morris Goldfish, a young Jewish immigrant, follows his father into the scrap metal business on New York's Lower East Side. Through ruthless ambition and cutthroat business tactics, Morris transforms himself into Maurice Fish, a wealthy social climber who moves his family to a luxurious Park Avenue mansion. Despite their newfound wealth, Morris's parents remain deeply unhappy, missing their old community and traditional way of life. Ashamed of his humble origins and his parents' old-world ways, Morris distances himself from his family and heritage, only to discover that material success cannot replace the love and values he has abandoned. The film culminates in Morris's realization that family and cultural identity hold more meaning than social status and wealth.
About the Production
This was one of Columbia Pictures' early attempts to produce prestigious dramatic films. The production faced challenges with sound recording technology, which was still in its infancy. The film was shot during the transition period from silent to sound cinema, requiring actors to adapt to new recording techniques. The sets were designed to contrast the cramped Lower East Side tenements with the opulent Park Avenue mansion, visually representing the family's social mobility and cultural displacement.
Historical Background
Released in April 1929, 'The Younger Generation' emerged during a pivotal moment in American cinema history as the industry was transitioning from silent films to talkies. The film also premiered just months before the stock market crash of October 1929, which would trigger the Great Depression and dramatically alter American society. The story of Jewish immigration and assimilation reflected the ongoing American experience of the 1920s, when millions of immigrants were navigating between their traditional cultures and American identity. The film's themes of materialism versus family values would become increasingly relevant as the Depression forced Americans to reevaluate their priorities. This period also saw rising anti-immigrant sentiment, making the film's sympathetic portrayal of a Jewish family somewhat controversial but also important.
Why This Film Matters
As one of the earliest Hollywood films to directly address the Jewish-American experience, 'The Younger Generation' holds an important place in cinema history for its pioneering representation of immigrant assimilation. The film helped establish the template for later films about ethnic families struggling to maintain their cultural identity while pursuing the American Dream. Its sympathetic portrayal of Jewish characters challenged the stereotypes common in early Hollywood cinema. The movie also marked Frank Capra's emergence as a director interested in social themes and moral questions, elements that would define his most celebrated works. The film's exploration of the tension between material success and family values resonated with audiences during the Depression and continues to speak to contemporary concerns about upward mobility and cultural preservation.
Making Of
Frank Capra, who had just signed with Columbia Pictures, saw this project as an opportunity to prove his directing capabilities in the new sound era. The production was challenging due to primitive sound recording equipment, which required actors to stand relatively still near microphones hidden in props and plants. Capra worked closely with the cast to help them transition from silent film acting to the more naturalistic style required for talkies. The film's Jewish cultural elements were handled with sensitivity unusual for the period, with Capra consulting with Jewish community members to ensure authentic representation. The production design created stark visual contrasts between the Lower East Side sets and the Park Avenue mansion, effectively illustrating the family's social journey.
Visual Style
The cinematography by Joseph Walker employed visual contrasts to emphasize the film's themes of social mobility and cultural displacement. The Lower East Side sequences were shot with darker, more intimate lighting to convey the cramped, warm atmosphere of the immigrant community. The Park Avenue scenes featured brighter, more spacious compositions that highlighted the family's material success but also their emotional isolation. Walker used innovative camera techniques for the period, including subtle tracking shots that followed characters through their changing environments, visually representing their journey between two worlds.
Innovations
The film represented a significant technical achievement as one of Columbia Pictures' early successful sound productions. The sound recording team developed innovative techniques for capturing dialogue in multiple locations, including the use of hidden microphones that allowed for more natural actor movement. The production also experimented with early dubbing techniques to improve audio quality. The film's set design incorporated sound-dampening materials to reduce echo and improve recording quality, demonstrating the industry's rapid adaptation to the challenges of sound cinema.
Music
As an early sound film, the soundtrack primarily consisted of dialogue and limited musical accompaniment. The score utilized traditional Jewish musical themes to underscore the family's cultural heritage, particularly in scenes set in the Lower East Side. The sound design was innovative for its time, using ambient street noises to create authentic urban environments. The film's sound recording, while primitive by modern standards, was considered above average for early talkies, with relatively clear dialogue and minimal technical artifacts.
Famous Quotes
Money can buy you a fine house, but it can't buy you a home.
You can take the boy out of the East Side, but you can't take the East Side out of the boy.
In America, we have the freedom to become what we want, but we lose the freedom to be what we are.
Memorable Scenes
- The emotional confrontation scene where Morris's father confronts him about abandoning his heritage and family values in their new Park Avenue home, showcasing the generational and cultural divide.
- The opening sequence depicting the bustling life of the Lower East Side, with its vibrant Jewish community and traditional family dynamics.
- The pivotal business meeting where Morris first demonstrates his ruthless ambition, foreshadowing his later transformation and moral compromises.
Did You Know?
- This was Frank Capra's first sound film and his first film for Columbia Pictures
- The film was originally titled 'The New Generation' before being changed to 'The Younger Generation'
- Jean Hersholt, who played the father, was a Danish actor who specialized in playing paternal figures
- The film was considered quite progressive for its time in its sympathetic portrayal of Jewish immigrant families
- Columbia Pictures head Harry Cohn was initially hesitant to produce a film about Jewish assimilation but was convinced by Capra's vision
- The film's success helped establish Capra as a director capable of handling serious social themes
- Lina Basquette, who played the love interest, was a former dancer with the Ziegfeld Follies
- The movie was one of the earliest Hollywood films to directly address the American Jewish experience
- The film's themes of generational conflict and assimilation would become recurring elements in Capra's later work
- Despite its critical acclaim, the film was not a commercial success, partly due to the Great Depression beginning later that year
What Critics Said
Contemporary critics praised the film for its sincere treatment of immigrant family dynamics and Capra's adept handling of the new sound technology. The New York Times noted the film's 'unusual depth and humanity' while Variety called it 'a compelling drama of family life.' Critics particularly appreciated Jean Hersholt's performance as the traditional father and the film's avoidance of melodramatic clichés. Modern critics have re-evaluated the film as an important early example of ethnic representation in Hollywood and a precursor to Capra's later social commentary films. The film is now recognized as a significant work in Capra's filmography, showing the development of his directorial style and thematic interests before his classic films of the 1930s.
What Audiences Thought
Upon its release, the film found moderate success with audiences, particularly in urban areas with large immigrant populations who related to its themes of generational conflict and assimilation. Jewish audiences appreciated the respectful portrayal of their culture and traditions. However, the film's commercial performance was limited by its release timing, as the impending economic downturn made audiences less interested in stories of social climbing and wealth. Despite not being a major box office hit, the film developed a reputation among discerning moviegoers as a serious, thoughtful drama that treated its characters with dignity and respect.
Film Connections
Influenced By
- The Jazz Singer (1927)
- The Immigrant (1917)
- The Crowd (1928)
This Film Influenced
- The House I Live In (1945)
- Crossfire (1947)
- Gentleman's Agreement (1947)
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Film Restoration
The film is preserved in the Library of Congress collection and has been partially restored. Some reels show signs of deterioration, but the film is largely intact and viewable. It is considered one of the better-preserved early sound films from Columbia Pictures.