We Americans (1928) - A messy but sweet look at the immigrant grind

If you have a soft spot for those old silent dramas that wear their hearts on their dusty sleeves, We Americans is a solid way to spend an afternoon.

It is perfect for anyone who likes seeing how people used to imagine the 'American Dream' before everything got so complicated. But if you hate movies where the music and the title cards tell you exactly how to feel every second, you will probably want to skip this one. 🎬

The story is basically about the Levines, a family that moves to New York and realizes that 'becoming American' isn't just about getting a new passport. George Sidney plays the dad, and he has this way of looking at his kids that is just so heartbroken and proud at the same time.

There is this one scene in a night school classroom where all these grown men are trying to learn the alphabet. It is kind of funny but also makes you feel a bit of a lump in your throat. You can see the actual effort in their eyes, which is something you don't always get in modern acting.

I noticed that the sets for the tenements look almost too clean. Like nobody ever actually cooked a greasy meal or had a leak in those kitchens. Everything is just a bit too tidy for 1920s New York, but that's just how movies were then.

The kids, played by people like George J. Lewis and Patsy Ruth Miller, are desperate to ditch their heritage. They want to be 'modern,' which mostly seems to mean wearing fancy clothes and going to parties. It’s that classic generational gap stuff that never really goes out of style.

There is a subplot with John Boles that feels like it belongs in a different movie entirely. Maybe something more like The Secret Garden but with way more social pressure and fewer birds.

The way the movie handles the war—World War I, obviously—is very sudden. One minute they are arguing about dinner, and the next, everyone is in a uniform. It is a bit jarring, honestly. 🪖

I really liked the bit where the mother, played by Beryl Mercer, tries to keep the old traditions alive while her kids are basically rolling their eyes. We have all seen that family dynamic before, right? It doesn't matter if it is 1928 or today, kids are always going to think their parents are embarrassing.

Some of the title cards are a bit long-winded and use words that feel a bit too 'written.' But then you see a close-up of a face and you forget about the text. It is not as gritty as something like The Stealers, but it has way more heart.

One thing that stuck out was a random extra in the background of a street scene who looked like he was genuinely lost. He just stares at the camera for a second too long. I love little mistakes like that because it reminds you real people were there.

The ending is exactly what you think it is going to be. It is very patriotic and involves a lot of flag-waving, literally. It’s a bit much for my taste, if I'm being real. 🇺🇸

But after seventy minutes of watching them struggle, I guess they earned a happy ending. It is a weirdly cozy movie for something that deals with such big themes. Just don't expect it to be a masterpiece of cinema.

It is just a nice story about people trying their best in a city that doesn't care. If you liked The Far Cry, you might find this one a bit more grounded and easier to follow. It's not perfect, but it's human.