I rented Smilin' Through because it was nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, but I don't really know why it was. Basically, it's an earlier version of 1948's Enchantment, but not nearly as good. In both versions, a young actor plays an old man mourning the loss of his lover from decades earlier. His niece falls in love with a soldier, but others disapprove and threaten the match. But in Enchantment, David Niven is the lead, and in Smilin' Through, Leslie Howard is the lead. As Kevin Kline says in French Kiss, "Tough decision!"
I can't stand Norma Shearer, and whenever she's cast as a romantic lead, I spend the entire movie cringing. Everyone in the film plays a dual role, which is actually the most interest part of the movie, so Norma plays the niece and her aunt. Leslie plays the young and old versions of himself, and Fredric March plays a father and his son. In the "modern" timeline, Norma falls in love with Freddie, but Uncle Leslie forbids the match because Fredric's father stood in the way of his own happiness decades ago. As proved by Enchantment, this story could be entertaining, if done properly. Maybe because this was made in 1932, and Hollywood barely had a handle on talking pictures, this version isn't very good. None of the characters are likable, and Norma acts ridiculously spastic in the love scenes with Freddie. If this story interests you, rent Enchantment instead.
I can't stand Norma Shearer, and whenever she's cast as a romantic lead, I spend the entire movie cringing. Everyone in the film plays a dual role, which is actually the most interest part of the movie, so Norma plays the niece and her aunt. Leslie plays the young and old versions of himself, and Fredric March plays a father and his son. In the "modern" timeline, Norma falls in love with Freddie, but Uncle Leslie forbids the match because Fredric's father stood in the way of his own happiness decades ago. As proved by Enchantment, this story could be entertaining, if done properly. Maybe because this was made in 1932, and Hollywood barely had a handle on talking pictures, this version isn't very good. None of the characters are likable, and Norma acts ridiculously spastic in the love scenes with Freddie. If this story interests you, rent Enchantment instead.