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6.8/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.8/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Smilin' Through remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Honestly, you probably already know if you are the target audience for Smilin' Through. If you love 1930s tearjerkers where people stand around looking tragic in nice dresses, you will have a ball. If you find old-school acting styles a bit stiff, you are going to be checking your watch every ten minutes. It is not for everyone, but it is certainly a mood.
Norma Shearer is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. She plays two roles, which is always a fun trick, but sometimes it feels like the movie is just showing off her wardrobe budget. There is this one scene where she is just wandering through a garden, and the lighting is so dramatic it makes you wonder if they were trying to invent the concept of 'mood' right there on the set. 🥀
The whole plot hinges on a guy who just cannot let go of a grudge. Like, dude, it has been decades! Fredric March shows up and he is trying his best to be the romantic lead, but the script keeps throwing obstacles in his way that feel like they were written by someone who really hated happy endings.
It reminds me a little bit of the melodrama found in Shadows, though this one has a much bigger studio shine to it. The drama is thick enough to cut with a knife. Sometimes it feels like the characters are just waiting for a cue to start crying.
Specific thoughts while watching:
It is not as snappy as Road to Rio, obviously. But it is not trying to be. It is trying to make you sad, and for the most part, it succeeds by sheer persistence. It just keeps pushing that same emotional button until it works.
The pacing is a bit weird. It drags in the middle, then suddenly rushes through the resolution like it’s late for a train. I found myself thinking about Woman to Woman and how that handled similar relationship dynamics with a little more space to breathe. Here, it is all very claustrophobic.
Anyway, watch it if you want a classic weepie. Don't watch it if you're feeling cynical. It will not be kind to you.
IMDb 6.3
1928
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