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Smilin' Through

Play trailer Poster for Smilin' Through 1941 1h 40m Musical Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 2 Reviews 46% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
After his wife, Moonyean (Jeanette MacDonald), is murdered on their wedding day, John Carteret (Brian Aherne) is determined to live a life of solitude, only communing with his wife through the spirit world. He soon hears of his wife's orphaned niece, Kathleen (also MacDonald) and agrees to take her in. As she grows older she resembles Moonyean more and more. John is shocked, however, to find she's fallen in love with the son of Moonyean's murderer, and he tries to keep her from him.

Critics Reviews

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Dan Callahan Slant Magazine This material had served as a tear-milking vehicle for Norma Talmadge in the '20s and Norma Shearer in the '30s, and it was a touch threadbare even when they did it. Rated: 2/4 Jul 28, 2006 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Dated weepie romancer. Rated: C+ Jul 4, 2014 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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steve d It fails to work now. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member a bit on the cheesy side skid this see the 1932 or 1929 versions Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member This lush MGM Technicolor production, directed by sentimental master Frank Borzage, serves Jeanette MacDonald's fans well; it's also the only film she made opposite husband Gene Raymond. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member another winner from macdonald Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Audience Member Solid melodrama, excellent MGM production. The cast is great, Norma Shearer is radiant and gives a fine performance. Fredric March is fine as well. Very sentimental, but its so well done. Good story, excellent art direction. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Audience Member A disappointing Borzage. Comes off as extremely silly, considering its source material. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/24/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Smilin' Through

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Cast & Crew

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Frank Borzage

Director

Jeanette MacDonald

Kathleen

Brian Aherne

Sir John Carteret

Gene Raymond

Kenneth Wayne

Ian Hunter

Reverend Owen Harding

Jackie Horner

Kathleen as a child
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Smilin' Through

Smilin' Through (1941) Smilin' Through (1941) Smilin' Through (1941) Smilin' Through (1941) Smilin' Through (1941) Smilin' Through (1941) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis After his wife, Moonyean (Jeanette MacDonald), is murdered on their wedding day, John Carteret (Brian Aherne) is determined to live a life of solitude, only communing with his wife through the spirit world. He soon hears of his wife's orphaned niece, Kathleen (also MacDonald) and agrees to take her in. As she grows older she resembles Moonyean more and more. John is shocked, however, to find she's fallen in love with the son of Moonyean's murderer, and he tries to keep her from him.
Director
Frank Borzage
Producer
Victor Saville, Frank Borzage
Screenwriter
Donald Ogden Stewart, John L. Balderston
Production Co
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre
Musical, Romance
Original Language
English
Release Date (DVD)
Sep 13, 2011
Runtime
1h 40m