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Young America (1932);
Song O' My Heart (1930)

Young America (1932)
March 15, 2009 - 7:00 pm
In-person: 
Robert Gitt, Preservation Officer, UCLA Film & Television Archive.

Young America (1932)


Directed by
Frank Borzage

The typical Borzage film of the early ‘30s was characterized by pictorial lyricism and a tender portrayal of young lovers who found poetry and beauty in the midst of poverty. In Young America, Borzage's usual pair of lovers was replaced by two male school chums in their early teens, Art Simpson (Tommy Conlon) and Edward "Nutty" Beamish (Raymond Borzage, the director's nephew). Borzage so invests their friendship with chaste ardor and transformative power that the young actors easily outshine stars Spencer Tracy and Doris Kenyon as a married couple who take responsibility for Art after a scrape with the law.

Fox Film Corp/Frank Borzage Production. Screenplay: William Conselman. Cinematographer: George Schneiderman. Editor: Margaret Clancy. Cast: Spencer Tracy, Doris Kenyon, Ralph Bellamy, Tommy Conlon, Raymond Borzage.

35mm, 71 min.

Song O' My Heart (1930)


Directed by
Frank Borzage.

The great Irish tenor John McCormack made his talking picture debut in this sentimental drama about a disconsolate concert singer who retires to a country village until the unexpected return of his former sweetheart and her two children inspires him to resume his career. In English-speaking countries, the film was released in an all-talking version, but a special version with additional songs and silent intertitles instead of spoken dialogue was prepared for international release. We will screen the talking version in its entirety, followed by excerpts from the international version.

Fox Film Corp. Scenario: Tom Barry, Sonya Levien. Cinematographer: Al Brick. Camera: Tom Clifford. Editor: Margaret Clancy. Cast: John McCormack, Alice Joyce, Maureen O'Sullivan, J. M. Kerrigan.

35mm, 85 min.