Based on a Fannie Hurst book ,"Humoresque " tells the story of Jewish family .Mama had always thought that one of her sons (the other one is an imbecile)would become a great musician .Her faith was so strong she did believe that her prayers could do anything.
The version I saw -which oddly was partly in color- is totally silent and it's the main drawback: we need to hear Leon's violin when he "weeps his very blood" ,when he plays "Humoresque" this piece which laughs at life with a tear behind it,and in the final scenes when love brings Leon around.If you have had the chance to see "I will always you" (1946) you've probably noticed Borzage's wonderful use of music and the way the two heroes communicate through it.
The best scene is Leon's farewell before leaving for WW2.Borzage makes it last longer than the usual tear-jerker .These brief hours ,the characters have got to make the best of them,savor them .Borzage would take this kind of scene to its absolute peak with his sensational "street angel" (1927)when Janet Gaynor,about to be arrested ,spends an hour -which seems to last a thousand ones- with her husband Charles Farrell .
The beginning deals with childhood love which would inspire Henry Hathaway for " Peter Ibbetson " (1936).
No other director overwhelmed his characters with tenderness as Borzage did.Even if you are not a believer,even if you are down in the dumps ,after watching one of his works (there are plenty of them crying to be seen ;someone who has never seen a film by this great man might choose "the mortal storm" (1940)),you will smile,weren't it only for a little while.
Remade (but with a completely different screenplay) by Jean Negulesco.(1947)
