Smilin' Through

Jeanette MacDonald stars in "Smilin' Through," a 1941 remake of the Norma Shearer-Leslie Howard movie. Besides MacDonald, the film stars Brian Aherne and MacDonald's real-life husband, Gene Raymond.

MacDonald and Raymond play dual roles. Brian Aherne plays the lonely Sir John Carteret, whose wife, Moonyean (MacDonald) was killed at their wedding by a jealous suitor, Jeremy Wayne (Raymond). Each year, he goes to the spot where they were married and sees a vision of her. Cartaret takes in his young niece, who grows up as MacDonald and falls for Kenneth Wayne, Jeremy's son, also Raymond. The bitter Sir John implores her not to see Kenneth again. The story stretches into World War II.

MacDonald is just beautiful in this color film, and she's in great voice. Aherne was underrated in Hollywood, probably too similar to Errol Flynn, but he's very good as usual. It's a shame he never got a real breakthrough role. I've never been very impressed with Gene Raymond.

The story is sweet and sentimental, a real tear-jerker, with some lovely music sung by MacDonald. The period scenes and costumes are opulent. Worth seeing.