That review summary means, before anybody is misled (as it does sound fairly misleading), that there is so much to love about 'Smilin Through' with pretty much everything being done beautifully. Despite what the title of the film may suggest, 'Smilin Through' is not what one would call a feel good film, if anything it is as close to a tear-jerker as any "classic" film can get. All three leads, Norma Shearer, Leslie Howard and Fredric March, have been responsible for some very good and more work.
'Smilin Through' is a truly beautiful film in every sense. Not just emotionally, but also in terms of production values and performances. Am hardly somebody who never cries watching films, have actually been known to get very weepy watching film, television, opera, theatre and ballet productions etc. 'Smilin Through' certainly made me cry, and not just a little, we're talking buckets. For me it is the single most poignant film seen in quite some time and one of the most touching in film history. And in a way that is genuine, never felt forced to be emotional.
Visually, 'Smilin Through' is the very meaning of lavish, maybe not quite as much as the otherwise vastly inferior re-make from 1941 with Jeanette MacDonald, Gene Raymond and Brian Aherne directed by Frank Borzage, but it's beautifully photographed and classily produced. The music avoids going overly melodramatic and is lush and sometimes haunting. Sidney Franklin's direction is very polished and at ease with the material, always making the drama nicely balanced and compelling and avoiding the over-sentimental route.
From a scripting point of view, there is a lot of honesty and sincerity and any mawkishness never gets over-the-top (actually didn't notice any). Any melodrama doesn't get overwrought or heavy-handed. The story is admittedly complicated and full attention is needed, but it didn't to me get over-convoluted and left me emotionally invested throughout. The ending is one of those heart-warming, stays with one forever sort of endings.
All the performances are top-notch and all three leads are perfectly cast. Shearer is particularly magnificent and found myself believing every word, emotion and action, one of her best. Howard is suitably distinguished and March is sympathetic and charming.
In conclusion, wonderful. 10/10.
'Smilin Through' is a truly beautiful film in every sense. Not just emotionally, but also in terms of production values and performances. Am hardly somebody who never cries watching films, have actually been known to get very weepy watching film, television, opera, theatre and ballet productions etc. 'Smilin Through' certainly made me cry, and not just a little, we're talking buckets. For me it is the single most poignant film seen in quite some time and one of the most touching in film history. And in a way that is genuine, never felt forced to be emotional.
Visually, 'Smilin Through' is the very meaning of lavish, maybe not quite as much as the otherwise vastly inferior re-make from 1941 with Jeanette MacDonald, Gene Raymond and Brian Aherne directed by Frank Borzage, but it's beautifully photographed and classily produced. The music avoids going overly melodramatic and is lush and sometimes haunting. Sidney Franklin's direction is very polished and at ease with the material, always making the drama nicely balanced and compelling and avoiding the over-sentimental route.
From a scripting point of view, there is a lot of honesty and sincerity and any mawkishness never gets over-the-top (actually didn't notice any). Any melodrama doesn't get overwrought or heavy-handed. The story is admittedly complicated and full attention is needed, but it didn't to me get over-convoluted and left me emotionally invested throughout. The ending is one of those heart-warming, stays with one forever sort of endings.
All the performances are top-notch and all three leads are perfectly cast. Shearer is particularly magnificent and found myself believing every word, emotion and action, one of her best. Howard is suitably distinguished and March is sympathetic and charming.
In conclusion, wonderful. 10/10.