The Younger Generation

For the hip-hop group known originally known by this name, see Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. For the play by Stanley Houghton, see The Younger Generation (play).

The Younger Generation
Film poster
Directed by	Frank Capra
Written by	Howard J. Green (dialogue) Sonya Levien
Based on	It Is to Laugh by Fannie Hurst
Produced by	Jack Cohn
Starring	Jean Hersholt Ricardo Cortez Lina Basquette
Cinematography	Ted Tetzlaff
Edited by	Arthur Roberts
Music by	Mischa Bakaleinikoff
Production company	Columbia Pictures
Distributed by	Columbia Pictures
Release date	March 4, 1929 (1929-03-04)
Running time	75 minutes 84 minutes (Turner Classic Movies print)
Country	United States
Languages	Sound (part-talkie) English intertitles

The Younger Generation is a 1929 sound part-talkie American drama film directed by Frank Capra 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. It was Capra's first sound film. The screenplay was adapted from a 1927 Fannie Hurst play, It Is to Laugh. ^[1]

Plot

The Younger Generation (1929)

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. In the end he finds that there is more to life than money. ^{[1] [2]}

Cast

• Jean Hersholt as Julius (Pa) Goldfish
• Lina Basquette as Birdie Goldfish
• Ricardo Cortez as Morris Goldfish
• Rex Lease 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 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 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. ^[3]

See also

• List of early sound feature films (1926–1929)

References

1. "The Younger Generation". Turner Classic Movies . Retrieved November 5, 2015.
2. "The Younger Generation (1929)". IMDb.com. Retrieved November 5, 2015.
3. "The Younger Generation 4K Blu-ray". Blu-ray.com. Archived from the original on January 16, 2025.

External links

• The Younger Generation at IMDb
• The Younger Generation at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films