Zeus

Humoresque (1920)

• Director
  • Frank Borzage
• Writers
  • Fannie Hurst
  • William LeBaron
  • Frances Marion
• Stars
  • Gaston Glass
  • Vera Gordon
  • Alma Rubens

  It's hard to believe that this picture and the 1946 Humoresque were based on the same Fannie Hurst novel -- they're completely different in focus. There's no Joan Crawford, or Joan Crawford-type in this picture, but there is an older woman who walks away with the acting honors: Vera Gordon, who plays Mama Kantor, the mother from New York's Jewish ghetto, who prays for a son that will become a musical genius. Her prayers are answered, and her boy brings fortune to his family while acquiring a sweetheart, Gina Berg (Alma Reubens). But when war breaks out, he enlists and returns from action with a wounded arm. He tells Gina that they cannot marry because he cannot work. But when she faints, he catches her and realizes that he can use his arm after all.