The World Changes

"The World Changes" is a saga that is intended to teach a lesson on morality and the worthlessness of relying solely on worldly possessions. It begins in the 1850s in the Dakotas and follows Orin Nordholm (Paul Muni) from life on a small farm to immense wealth. Along the way, he marries a woman who is well-bred and haughty....and unfortunately, she passed this haughtiness down to her children and grandchildren. As a result of this and Orin's constant work striking it rich, the family is eventually worthless and without any sort of values.

The story is obviously a morality play...and a darned good one. In fact, about six months later, the film's message was very much copied in Mary Pickford's last film, "Secrets"....though "The World Changes" is significantly better and still packs a powerful punch today. Well acted, well written and never dull, this one is well worth seeing....even if Orin's mother somehow lives to be at least 100+ and with the body and mind of a 70 year-old. See the film...you'll see what I mean.