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Children of the Ghetto
(1915) United States of America
B&W : Five reels
Directed by Frank Powell
Cast: Wilton Lackaye [Reb Shemuel], Ruby Hoffman [Hannah], Ethel Kaufman (Ethel Kauffman) [Esther Ansell], Frank Andrews [Moses Ansell], Luis Alberni [Pincus, the poet], Irene Boyle [Leah], Victor Benoit [Reb Shemuel’s son], David Bruce, Riley Hatch, J. Albert Hall
[?] Box Office Attractions Company or Fox Film Corporation? production; distributed by [?] Box Office Attractions Company or Fox Film Corporation? / Scenario by Edward José, from the novel Children of the Ghetto: A Study of a Peculiar People by Israel Zangwill. Presented by William Fox. / Released 20 February 1915. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / Alberni’s film debut.
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Old Reb Shemuel, clinging in the midst of modern conditions to the God of His Fathers, bears blow after blow with unflinching resignation. His son is killed in a cabaret brawl; his daughter contracts a marriage that estranges her from him. His beloved wife dies. But in the end his gray hairs are comforted by the return of his daughter, and his simple and unwavering faith is rewarded in the sunset of his days.
Reviews: [The Moving Picture World 27 February 1915, page ?] To one who has not read the original story. “The Children of the Ghetto,” by Israel Zangwill, the film version being presented by William Fox. will appeal as a strong and interesting film production. On the other hand, to one having read and absorbed the atmosphere of this truly great novel, something which it contains will be found lacking in the picture. Just what this “something” is will be hard to define, yet the vacuum left by its absence is most surely felt. “The Children of the Ghetto,” as Zangwill created it, presents a great sociological and racial problem, and the reach of its philosophy is doubtless difficult of concentration into a few thousand feet of film. However, a thorough criticism, or any kind of satisfactory discussion of the subject is impossible in so short a space. Wilton Lackaye, in the role of Rab. Shemuel, leaves nothing to be desired. Ethel Kaufman, as Esther Ansell, is perhaps the most satisfying of the feminine characters; her interpretation of the role is sympathetic. Others of the cast who have done good work are Ruby Hoffman, David Bruce, Wm. R. Hatch and Irene Coyle. The picture has been directed by Frank Powell and the story picturized by Edward Jose.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 30 October 2022.
References: Sloan-Loud pp. 40, 146; Tarbox-Lost pp. 188, 208 : Website-IMDb.
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