Smilin' Through

This first version of the hit play SMILIN' THROUGH was a huge hit in its day. Norma Talmadge was one of the greatest stars of her generation, though she quickly became forgotten and is more often remembered as a footnote now, either in the biographies of more well-remembered stars (Buster Keaton was her brother-in-law) or as possible inspirations for later works (Norma Desmond, the delusional silent movie queen in SUNSET BLVD, was allegedly named after Talmadge). Unfortunately, very little of her work is available for public consumption, leaving her ever more mired in obscurity.

A few of these movies are available online nowadays though. While not my favorite silent actress, Talmadge certainly took on a variety of projects and her work is certainly competent. SMILIN' THROUGH is a decent vehicle for her, allowing her to play the defiant Kathleen and the ethereal Moonyeen. The story is an old-fashioned weepie with a touch of the spiritualism that was in vogue during WWI. Cinema-wise, this production is plagued with numerous and very lengthy intertitles, as well as a lack of interesting camerawork. Still, it's a decent, sweet movie and not a bad way to spend 85 minutes. If you liked either version of THE ENCHANTED COTTAGE, this has a similar vibe.

When talkies began to predominate in 1929, younger sister Constance Talmadge abruptly retired, confident that she had done all she was capable of performing without embarrassing herself in the new technology. Her older sister, Norma, however, at first felt she could make the transition into sound, taking voice lessons for over a year before appearing in her first talkie, 1929's 'New York Nights.' But Constance soon sent her a telegram reading "Quit pressing your luck, baby. The critics can't knock those trust funds Mama set up for us."

Norma had appeared in bit parts of films from 1911 and became a star under D. W. Griffith's direction in 1916. Her fortunes took a decided upturn when she met and married wealthy film producer Joseph Schenck, who set up the Norma Talmadge Film Corporation. The enterprise, located in New York City, became very lucrative, with her sister Constance operating her very own studio under Schenck's umbrella as well as Roscoe Arbuckle's production house. This is where the middle sister, Natalie Talmadge, who was the studio secretary and part-time actress, met and fell in love with Fatty's sidekick Buster Keaton.

Under Schenck's personal supervision, Norma's movies became financially viable. Her most successful film was February 1922's "Smilin' Through." The movie, adapted from the play of the same name, was remade in 1932 and 1941 as film versions of Norma's motion picture. It tells of her character's guardian whose wedding that took place years earlier was interrupted by a jilted lover, shooting the intended bride. Years later, Norma, who eas the niece of the dead bride, falls in love with the son of her aunt's killer. The guardian, of course, doesn't approve of such a romantic link. However, a dream sequence with the spirit of the late bride comes back to haunt the guardian. Mary Pickford called "Smilin' Through" one of her all-time favorite movies, stating, "It deals with a subject which interests most women - that of spiritualism - which is so delicately and beautifully handled that it could offend no one."

The movie was also the film debut of character actor Gene Lockhart, whose most familiar role is that of the judge in 1947's 'The Miracle on 34th Street.'

This first film version of the hit play (which starred Jane Cowl) was a big hit starring Norma Talmadge in the dual role of Kathleen/Moonyeen.

The story is partly told in flashback to explain John's (Wyndham Standing) hatred of the Wayne family, which includes Kathleen's love Kenneth (Harrison Ford, who also plays Jeremiah in the flashback).

Years before, John was about to marry Moonyeen when her spurned lover Jeremiah burst into the wedding and fired a shot at John. Moonyeen jumps in front of her intended and is killed. From that day John has lived in bitter hatred of the Wayne family. So when Kenneth comes calling on Kathleen, John refuses to let Kathleen see him. But World War I is imminent and Kenneth goes away, swearing eternal love.

The melodramatic storyline is helped by the idea that the ghosts of John's youth watch over the living, waiting for them to join them. John is told by his friend (Alec B. Francis) that the hatred in his heart will always drive away the love Moonyeen had for him. She hovers but can't connect to the hateful old man.

Will the young lovers be united? Will John see the error of his ways? Norma Talmadge, with her dark eyes and expressive mouth is excellent here as the tragic heroine but also has a few light moments as when she's trying to ditch a young man (Glenn Hunter) at a dance. Harrison Ford gets to play the mooning lover but also the deranged Jeremiah. Standing seems pretty unappealing but he handles his acting chores well. And yes that's Gene Lockhart as the village rector, in his film debut.

This is a very nice production of the old fashioned and delicate story of love everlasting. The ghost of Moonyeen tells us that if people only lived their lives knowing what awaits them after death, they would go smilin' through life.

The title of this film in the opening credits is actually SMILING THROUGH.