Young Desire | 1930 | Drama

Title: Young Desire | 1930 | Drama Director: Lewis D. Collins Studio: Universal Pictures Starring: Mary Nolan, William Janney, Ralf Harolde, Mae Busch, George Irving, Claire McDowell Based on: Play *Carnival* by William R. Doyle Release Date: June 8 1930 Runtime: 68 minutes Format: Black and white with sound Country: United States Language: English Genres: Drama --- Chapters: 00:00:00 Helen Herbert at the carnival sideshow 00:10:00 Struggles and decision to leave 00:20:00 Meeting Bobby Spencer and first connection 00:30:00 Romance blossoms and optimism 00:40:00 Disapproval by Bobby’s family 00:50:00 Helen’s return to carnival life 01:00:00 Climactic resolution --- Summary: Young Desire is a 1930 American pre-Code drama in which Helen Herbert, a dancer in a carnival sideshow, grows weary of her exploitative existence and seeks a new life. When she meets the earnest young Bobby Spencer, they fall in love and he offers her a chance at stability and respectability in his hometown. Their relationship encounters resistance from Bobby’s parents, who disapprove of Helen’s past, prompting her painful decision to return to the carnival world she left behind. The narrative explores themes of social stigma, love constrained by class prejudice, and the clash between aspiration and societal judgment, culminating in a striking emotional turn that underscores the precarious hopes of those seeking to transcend their origins. --- Background: Directed by Lewis D. Collins and produced by Universal Pictures, Young Desire was released in mid-1930 during Hollywood’s pre-Code era. The screenplay, written by Winifred Reeve, C. Gardner Sullivan, and Matt Taylor, adapts William R. Doyle’s play *Carnival* and frames a melodramatic tale of a carnival performer whose romantic ambitions are thwarted by entrenched social barriers. --- Trivia: Mary Nolan’s portrayal of Helen Herbert was one of her final major studio roles before a tragic decline in her career. The film’s carnival setting provides a vivid backdrop that contrasts transient spectacle with the protagonist’s yearning for permanence and acceptance. Young Desire’s bleak thematic conclusion sets it apart from more conventional romantic dramas of its era. --- Public Domain / Rights: Original Release: June 8 1930 Original Studio / Distributor: Universal Pictures Copyright Status: Public Domain Renewal: Not applicable --- Hashtags: #YoungDesire1930 #MaryNolan #UniversalPictures #PreCodeDrama #ClassicCinema #PublicDomain