Smilin' Through (1922 film)

Smilin' Through
Theatrical release poster
Directed bySidney Franklin
Written byJames Ashmore Creelman (scenario)
Sidney Franklin (scenario)
Based onSmilin' Through
1919 play
by Alan Langdon Martin (aka Jane Murfin and Jane Cowl)
Produced byNorma Talmadge
Joseph M. Schenck
StarringNorma Talmadge
Harrison Ford
Wyndham Standing
CinematographyJ. Roy Hunt
Charles Rosher
Distributed byFirst National Pictures
Release date
  • February 13, 1922 (1922-02-13)
Running time
96 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageSilent (English intertitles)
Box office$1 million (US/Canada)[1][2]
Smilin' Through

Smilin' Through is a 1922 American silent drama film based on the 1919 play of the same name, written by Jane Cowl and Jane Murfin (together under the pseudonym Alan Langdon Martin). The film starred Norma Talmadge, Harrison Ford, and Wyndham Standing. It was co-written and directed by Sidney Franklin, who also directed the more famous 1932 remake at MGM. The film was produced by Talmadge and her husband Joseph M. Schenck for her company, the Norma Talmadge Film Corporation. It was released by First National Pictures. Popular character actor Gene Lockhart made his screen debut in this film.[3][4]

The story is essentially the same as the popular Jane Cowl play, with Talmadge in the dual role of Kathleen and Moonyean. Kathleen, a young Irish woman, is in love with Kenneth Wayne but is prevented from marrying him by her guardian John Carteret. John is haunted by memories of his thwarted love for Kathleen's aunt, Moonyean.

The story was an especially popular one and was filmed twice more by MGM: in 1932 with Norma Shearer and 1941 with Jeanette MacDonald.

  1. ^ Variety list of box office champions for 1922
  2. ^ Quigley Publishing Company "The All Time Best Sellers", International Motion Picture Almanac 1937-38 (1938) accessed April 19, 2014
  3. ^ Smilin Through at the silentera.com database
  4. ^ Smilin Through as performed on Broadway during the 1919-1920 theatrical season; Jane Cowl starring