Several people posting reviews for "Symphony of Six Million" have made some terrific points. One is that the title of this film, about Jews in New York, eerily suggests the Holocaust - well, that's why I watched it, in fact. I didn't read the description too clearly, saw the word Jewish, and I thought it was about Jews in Germany escaping to New York. The second comment was that it is a depiction of a Jewish family that several years later would not have been done in Hollywood for various reasons.
"Symphony of Six Million" stars Ricardo Cortez, Gregory Ratoff and Irene Dunne. It's the story of a young Jewish boy, Felix Klauber (Cortez) who grows up in the ghetto wanting to be a doctor who helps the people there. All is well until he is pressured by his brother Magnus (Noel Madison) to help the family get out of the ghetto so his father doesn't have to work so hard, his sister can marry well, etc., none of which he can do working for the poor. So Felix gives up his dream and moves to the upper West Side and then to Park Avenue, becoming more and more unhappy. Then there is a tragedy, and Felix is forced to re-look at his life.
The Fannie Hurst story is dated, melodramatic and is filled with stereotypical dialogue such as "you want I should" with a sing-songy voice throughout. Yet it shows the life of an immigrant in the ghetto that moves up and manages to hold interest, mainly because the family exhibits warmth, love, humor and charm. Gregory Ratoff is terrific as Mr. Klauber. Cortez, always an affable actor, has some of the heaviest dialogue, so at times his acting seems overdone. Noel Madison as Felix's brother has the right energy for his role and is a little reminiscent of the actor Phil Casnoff. As others have pointed out, Irene Dunne isn't low-class enough as Felix's crippled girlfriend, and one wonders throughout why she and Felix didn't get married. She is so pretty as a brunette, however, and has a lovely quality.
This is the first fully-orchestrated talkie, and the music is completely distracting with its weeping violin sounds. The other distracting thing is that characters speak off camera and it sounds as if the actors are being fed lines by a director's assistant - the sound has no presence at all as it isn't miked.
What makes this film especially dated is the idea of someone becoming a doctor to work in a clinic and help people and not care about money. This may have been the America of 1932; it sure isn't now. Well worth seeing.
"Symphony of Six Million" stars Ricardo Cortez, Gregory Ratoff and Irene Dunne. It's the story of a young Jewish boy, Felix Klauber (Cortez) who grows up in the ghetto wanting to be a doctor who helps the people there. All is well until he is pressured by his brother Magnus (Noel Madison) to help the family get out of the ghetto so his father doesn't have to work so hard, his sister can marry well, etc., none of which he can do working for the poor. So Felix gives up his dream and moves to the upper West Side and then to Park Avenue, becoming more and more unhappy. Then there is a tragedy, and Felix is forced to re-look at his life.
The Fannie Hurst story is dated, melodramatic and is filled with stereotypical dialogue such as "you want I should" with a sing-songy voice throughout. Yet it shows the life of an immigrant in the ghetto that moves up and manages to hold interest, mainly because the family exhibits warmth, love, humor and charm. Gregory Ratoff is terrific as Mr. Klauber. Cortez, always an affable actor, has some of the heaviest dialogue, so at times his acting seems overdone. Noel Madison as Felix's brother has the right energy for his role and is a little reminiscent of the actor Phil Casnoff. As others have pointed out, Irene Dunne isn't low-class enough as Felix's crippled girlfriend, and one wonders throughout why she and Felix didn't get married. She is so pretty as a brunette, however, and has a lovely quality.
This is the first fully-orchestrated talkie, and the music is completely distracting with its weeping violin sounds. The other distracting thing is that characters speak off camera and it sounds as if the actors are being fed lines by a director's assistant - the sound has no presence at all as it isn't miked.
What makes this film especially dated is the idea of someone becoming a doctor to work in a clinic and help people and not care about money. This may have been the America of 1932; it sure isn't now. Well worth seeing.