Smilin' Through (1941)

A young English lass (Jeanette MacDonald) falls in love with a young American (Gene Raymond). The romance is opposed by her guardian (Brian Aherne) who resents the young American, who is the son of the man (Gene Raymond) who murdered his great love (Jeanette MacDonald). Based on the 1919 play by Jane Cowl and Jane Murfin (previously filmed in 1922 and 1932) and directed by Frank Borzage (A FAREWELL TO ARMS). Boy, does this one positively creak! Unlike the previous film versions, musical numbers have been added to accomodate MacDonald but even so she's used here more as an actress than as a singer. She plays dual roles (an aunt and her niece) but if her characters didn't have different names, you'd never be able to tell the difference. In his dual roles, Gene Raymond fares somewhat better. Technicolor has also been added but it's a slog to get through. If you hadn't seen Borzage's better films, you'd never know he wasn't a hack judging by this one. Unfortunately, the print I saw had faded colors and the transfer I saw was on the soft side. Maybe if I had seen a pristine print, I might have enjoyed it more ..... maybe. With Ian Hunter and Patrick O'Moore.