Smilin' Through

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Smilin' Through

1941

1h 40m

Musical

Romance

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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.

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

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Dated weepie romancer.

Rated: C+

Jul 4, 2014

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steve d

It fails to work now.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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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

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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

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Audience Member

another winner from macdonald

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

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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

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Audience Member

A disappointing Borzage. Comes off as extremely silly, considering its source material.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

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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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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