Broken Barriers (1919)
This 1919 silent is the first American film based on the same Sholem Aleichem stories as Fiddler on the Roof, but produced 50 years before the blockbuster musical. Unlike most adaptations of Aleichem’s work, Broken Barriers (Khavah) focuses not on Tevye the milkman, but on his daughter Khavah, who falls in love with the gentile boy Fedka and must navigate the reverberations from this with both her community and her family.
Director: Charles E. Davenport
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 76 min
Release Date: January 1, 1919
Cast
- Alice Hastings - Khavah
- Alexander Tenenholtz - Fedka
- Giacomo Masuroff - Tobias, Khavah's Father
- Billie Wilson - Khavah's Mother
- Sonia Radin - Parasha, Fedka's Mother
- Phil Sanford - Ivan, Fedka's Father
- Anna Kay - Khavah's Sister
- Raymond Friedgen - Fedka's Chum
Screenplay
- Sholom Aleichem
- Nat Dorfman (Writers' Production)
Editing: Nat Dorfman
Production: Zion Films
Country: United States of America
Language: No Language
Original Language: yi
Keywords
silent film, ostracism, religious persecution
More Films by Director: Charles E. Davenport
More Films in Genre: Drama
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Broken Barriers about?
- This 1919 silent is the first American film based on the same Sholem Aleichem stories as Fiddler on the Roof, but produced 50 years before the blockbuster musical. Unlike most adaptations of Aleichem’s work, Broken Barriers (Khavah) focuses not on Tevye the milkman, but on his daughter Khavah, who falls in love with the gentile boy Fedka and must navigate the reverberations from this with both her community and her family.
- Who directed Broken Barriers?
- Broken Barriers was directed by Charles E. Davenport.
- Who stars in Broken Barriers?
- Broken Barriers stars Alice Hastings, Alexander Tenenholtz, Giacomo Masuroff, Billie Wilson, Sonia Radin, Phil Sanford.
- How long is Broken Barriers?
- Broken Barriers has a runtime of 1h 16m (76 minutes).
- What genre is Broken Barriers?
- Broken Barriers is a Drama film.
- Where was Broken Barriers produced?
- Broken Barriers was produced in United States of America.