Frank Borzage directed Smilin’ Through, MGM Technicolor musical film, based on the 1919 play by Jane Cowl and Jane Murfin.
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Theatrical release poster
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The film was a remake of MGM previous 1932 version, and was the third and the play’s final film version.
It starred Jeanette MacDonald, Brian Aherne, Gene Raymond, and Ian Hunter.
It was filmed in Technicolor and was remade as a musical for MacDonald with several older songs interpolated into the story.
The tale is essentially the same as in the play and previous film versions.
Kathleen (Jeanette MacDonald) is a young Irish woman in love with American Kenneth Wayne (Gene Raymond).
The romance, however, is opposed by her adopted father John Carteret (Brian Aherne), who recalls the painful memory of his tragic love for Kathleen’s aunt, Moonyean Clare (the roles of Kathleen and Moonyean are both played by MacDonald).
Cast
Jeanette MacDonald as Kathleen / Moonyean Clare
Brian Aherne as Sir John Carteret
Gene Raymond as Kenneth ‘Ken’ Wayne / Jeremy ‘Jerry’ Wayne
Ian Hunter as Reverend Owen Harding
Frances Robinson as Ellen
Patrick O’Moore as Willie
Eric Lonsdale as Charles, Kenneth’s Batman
Jackie Horner as Kathleen, as a Child
David Clyde as Sexton
Frances Carson as Dowager
Credits:
Directed by Frank Borzage
Written by Donald Ogden Stewart, John L. Balderston, based on Smilin’ Through, 1919 play by Jane Cowl and Jane Murfin
Produced by Borzage, Victor Saville
Cinematography Leonard Smith
Edited by Frank Sullivan
Music by Herbert Stothart (background music)
Distributed by MGM
Release date: October 1941
Running time: 100 minutes
Budget $1,105,000
Box office $ 0.868 million (Domestic); $1,536 million (Foreign)
