Melting Pot (1915)

Synopsis
The wide-ranging storyline of The Melting Pot takes its characters from the Jewish ghettoes of Russia to the Lower East Side of New York. Escaping the bloody Easter morning Kishinef massacre, a young Jew named David Quixano (Walker Whitman emigrates to America. Here he meets and falls in love with fellow Russian refugee, Vera Ravendal (Valentine Grant). Unfortunately, Vera's father is a nobleman, which may create insurmountable romantic roadblocks for the young couple. The question as to whether or not age-old ethnic differences can be forgotten in the "melting pot" of New York is not completely answered, though the solutions offered here were satisfactory within the context of the film. Featured in the cast as David's grandfather was Henry Bergman, better known for his comic supporting roles in the films of Charlie Chaplin. The Melting Pot was a largely successful adaptation of an equally well-received stage production, in which Walker Whitman was also starred. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide