Leon Drey is an adaptation of a novel by a popular Jewish author from Odessa, Semyon Yushkevich. A social climber from a humble background, Leon Drey charms his way up the social ladder by seducing all the city’s rich women. Pleasure seeking and fearless, he massacres the hearts of these ladies, whether they are honest or not. Odessa’s Jewish upper middle-class that Leon breaks his way into contrasts with the  description of the lower classes, to which Leon’s parents belong, or professionals like the aspiring poet Saul. Nikolai Radine, a Russian, stars as Leon, and not Mosjoukine (for which he left that studio), and is surrounded by Jewish actors from the Korch Theater and Emma Bauer (the director’s Jewish wife).