SMILIN’ THROUGH

US, 1941, 100 minutes, Colour.
Jeanette Mac Donald, Brian Aherne, Gene Raymond, Ian Hunter, Patrick O’ Moore.
Directed by Frank Borzage.

Smilin’ Through is a pleasant, very old-fashioned romantic drama with the inclusion of many familiar songs for Jeanette Mac Donald, Drink to me only with thine eyes, Smilin’ Through, the Kerry dancing. This film came in the final years of her quite long association in musicals with Nelson Eddy. It was not necessary for the leading men of this film to be singers.

The film had already been made in 1932 with Norma Shearer and Fredric March.

The setting is England in the late 1890s, the anniversary of Queen Victoria’s ascent to the throne. An English village is celebrating, especially with the minister, played by Ian Hunter, talking with the local landowner, Brian Aherne, who still laments the death of his wife 30 years earlier. The minister brings his young niece from Ireland and she becomes part of the household – the film then moving to the period of World War One, with Jeanette Mac Donald appearing as the dead wife as well as the adult niece. The young man (and his father in flashbacks) is played by Jeanette Mac Donald’s real-life husband, Gene Raymond.

Surprised by rain, she and a soldier friend, take refuge in a local mansion which had been abandoned by its owner. His son comes from the US to enlist and they fall in love – but, the past tragedy is revealed, that the man’s drunken father, in love with the Lord’s wife had attempted to shoot the Lord but his wife moved in front of him and died. The old man has remained embittered for many years and forbids his niece to have anything to do with the young man.

He returns after fighting for three years, wounded, in the film moves to some kind of resolution, the old men finally relenting, allowing the love of his wife to help him consent to the young people’s marriage. The film ends with the young people driving up a road while the elderly ghosts ride a horse and carriage in the opposite direction.

Direction is by Frank Borzage directed Seventh Heaven, A Farewell to Arms and some fine films at MGM at the outbreak of World War II including Three Comrades, The Mortal Storm.

1. A pleasing romance, old-fashioned, the end of the 19th century and Queen Victoria’s reign, the era of World War I?

2. Colour photography, English settings, the village, the church, mansions, the canteen? The atmosphere of the 19th century? The early 20th century?

3. The addition of songs for Jeanette Mac Donald? The range, old favourites, Drink to me only, Smile in Through, the Kerry dancing, the long road winding…? The placement of the songs?

4. The opening, the anniversary of Queen Victoria, the celebration in the church, the singing, Owen and his leading the service, John and his leaving, unable to join in, going to his wife’s grave? The friendship between the two? Owen explaining about the niece, her parents dead, her being in the next room, her prim manner, refusing offers, not necessarily liking John, getting to like him? His adopting her?

5. John and his memories, the insertion of the flashback about the wedding, Moonyean and her love for John, the celebration, the singing, Jerry drinking, in love with her, asking her not to marry, going into the church, the gun, her standing in front of John, her death and her promise to be with him always? The scenes of her appearance, John relying on her, his growing hardness of heart, her saying she was unable to reach him? The finale when he was kind and understanding, coming to meet him, his seeing his old body, getting into the coach and horse – a version of heaven?

6. John, old, 50-year-old memories, devotion to Kathleen, her place in the house? His playing chess with Owen? Their both getting involved?

7. World War I, Kent and hearing the guns from France and Belgium? The rain, Kathleen with Willie, taking shelter in the house, opening it up, the fire, Ken’s arrival, the embarrassment, drinking the port, the immediate attraction?

8. Ken, the portrait of his father, American, coming to join up for the war, Willie as a soldier, Kathleen and her help on the home front? Falling in love, the scenes between the two, the picnic, her talking with John, his hostility, seemingly implacable, his telling her the story of the wedding, her promise, to break with Ken, telling him the story, his leaving, unwilling to marry her?

9. Three years passing, his return, wounded, wanting to sell the house, going to the canteen, hearing Kathleen sing? Going to the house, Owen seeing him, telling John? Kathleen finding Ken, his coldness, her not being able to understand, going home? John and his relenting? Kathleen saying that remembering the loss had not helped John? His urging them to come, Owen arriving, playing chess, John’s death?

10. A happy ending, Kathleen and Ken in the car, John and being in in the carriage – The happy ending?