Love Wins In The End

[Leslie Howard and Norma Shearer taking a stroll in between takes
on the MGM lot where they were filming Smilin' Through, 1932]

Smilin' Through is the story of Sir John Carteret (Leslie Howard), a man who suffers a life-long feeling of loss and loneliness after losing his bride, Moonyeen Clare (Norma Shearer), at the very moment they are to share their wedding vows. Their mutual friend, Jeremy Wayne (Fredric March), shows up at the church to kill Carteret out of jealousy because
Moonyeen has chosen Carteret and not him, but Moonyeen blocks Carteret and is killed by mistake. Wayne flees and is never found. Carteret becomes despondent and bitter but when Moonyeen's sister and her husband are killed in an accident, he makes the choice to adopt their five year old daughter, Kathleen (Cora Sue Collins). Carteret is then given the chance to love again, but this time as a father. Kathleen grows up (now played by Shearer) and in a chance meeting on a rainy day meets the son of her aunt's killer, Kenneth Wayne (also played by Fredric March), who is on his way to see action in WWII France. They quickly fall in love not knowing that Kenneth's father killed Moonyeen's aunt, but knowing they have so little time together and may never see each other again. Despite the young lovers' affection for each other, when Carteret sees Kenneth, all his feelings of bitterness and resentment are revived and he forbids Moonyeen to see Wayne again.

The difference in this story and others with similar themes and what made it so appealing to Leslie Howard is that the spirit of Moonyeen has been visiting, consoling and advising Sir John all throughout his life. But at the time he needs her most, when confronted by his enemy's son, Moonyeen again leaves him—his anger and hatred have caused a breach that she cannot cross.

The New York Times in its October 1932 review of Smilin' Through called the production "beautiful" and Leslie Howard's performance "splendid...so nicely restrained during his scenes that it is a joy to witness his interpretation at all times." The film was a huge financial success and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture of 1932. It also prompted Norma Shearer's comments about Leslie Howard which can be seen in my Friday, August 5, post, "I Love My Husband, But—"


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