''The Younger Generation'' is a 1929 sound part-talkie American drama film directed by

Frank Capra Frank Russell Capra (born Francesco Rosario Capra; May 18, 1897 – September 3, 1991) was an Italian-American film director, producer, and screenwriter who was the creative force behind Frank Capra filmography#Films that won Academy Award ...

and starring Ricardo Cortez. In addition to sequences with audible dialogue or talking sequences, the film features a synchronized musical score and sound effects along with English intertitles. The soundtrack was recorded using the Western Electric sound-on-film system. The film was produced by Jack Cohn for

Columbia Pictures Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc., Trade name, doing business as Columbia Pictures, is an American film Production company, production and Film distributor, distribution company that is the flagship unit of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group ...

. It was Capra's first sound film. The screenplay was adapted from a 1927 Fannie Hurst play, ''It Is to Laugh''.

Plot

The child of Jewish immigrants, Morris Goldfish (Ricardo Cortez) finds success as an art dealer. He moves his family to Fifth Avenue and changes his name to Maurice Fish. There, he finds his family to be damaging to his

social status Social status is the relative level of social value a person is considered to possess. Such social value includes respect, honour, honor, assumed competence, and deference. On one hand, social scientists view status as a "reward" for group members ...

. In the end he finds that there is more to life than money.

Cast

* Jean Hersholt as Julius (Pa) Goldfish *

Lina Basquette Lina Basquette (born Lena Copeland Baskette; April 19, 1907 – September 30, 1994) was an American actress. She is noted for her 75-year career in entertainment, which began during the silent film era. Talented as a dancer, she was paid as a gi ...

as Birdie Goldfish * Ricardo Cortez as Morris Goldfish *

Rex Lease Rex Lloyd Lease (February 11, 1903 – January 3, 1966) was an American actor. He appeared in over 300 films, mainly in Poverty Row Westerns. Biography Rex Lease arrived in Hollywood in 1924. He found bit and supporting parts at Film Booki ...

as Eddie Lesser * Rosa Rosanova as Tilda (Ma) Goldfish * Syd Crossley as Goldfish's Butler * Joe Bordeaux as Crook (uncredited) * Ferike Boros as Delancey Street Woman (uncredited) * Clarence Burton as Police Desk Sergeant (uncredited) * Paul Ellis as Crook (uncredited) * Otto Fries as Tradesman (uncredited) * Julia Swayne Gordon as Mrs. Striker (uncredited) * Donald Hall as Minor Role (uncredited) * Leon Janney as Eddie Lesser as a Boy (uncredited) * Julanne Johnston as Irma Striker (uncredited) *

Virginia Marshall Virginia Elizabeth Marshall (October 1, 1918 – January 30, 1982), also known as Little Virginia Marshall, was an American child actress in the silent film era between 1924 and 1930. Biography Virginia Elizabeth Marshall was born on October ...

as Birdie Goldfish as a girl (uncredited) * Jack Raymond as Pinsky (uncredited) * Bernard Siegel as Minor Role (uncredited)

Music

The film featured two theme songs. The first is entitled "A Bird Flew Into My Heart" and was composed by Lou Herscher. The second theme song is entitled "Because You Flew Away" and was composed by David Prince and Andrew B. Sterling.

Release

Home media

The film was never given a home media release until

Sony Pictures Entertainment Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. is an American diversified multinational mass media and entertainment studio conglomerate that produces, acquires, and distributes filmed entertainment (theatrical motion pictures, television programs, and rec ...

issued it in 4K UHD Blu-ray format as part of their limited edition multi-film ''Frank Capra at Columbia Collection'' set, which was released on November 19, 2024.

References

External links

* * 1929 films 1929 drama films American drama films American black-and-white films Columbia Pictures films Films about Jews and Judaism Films based on works by Fannie Hurst Films scored by Mischa Bakaleinikoff Films with screenplays by Sonya Levien Early sound films Part-talkie films Transitional sound films 1920s American films 1920s English-language films {{1920s-drama-film-stub