Hearts of Humanity (1932)
Directed by Christy Cabanne
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Synopsis by Hal Erickson
The descriptive phrase "melting pot" is elucidated in the sentimental drama Hearts of Humanity. Jean Hersholt stars as a golden-hearted Jewish pawnbroker whose daughter Caludia Dell falls in love with Irish-Catholic policeman Charles Delaney. When another Irish cop is killed by a burglar, Hersholt adopts the dead man's son Jackie Searl (here taking a break from his usual "nasty kid" roles). Jackie repays the favor by proving to be more loyal and upright than even Hersholt's own son (George Humbert). Evidently, the film was supposed to end with the young Searl's death; his miraculous recovery would seem to indicate that the preview audiences had something to say about the film's denouement.
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Keywords
accident, adoption, antique-dealer, antiques, child-rearing, friendship, Ireland, Judaism, killing, police, shoot-out, son, wound [injury]