Smiles and Tears

Johannes Meyer, 1923, 59 min
Life at the boarding school is all fun and games for the two friends, Bess and Dott. However, one day Dott receives an ominous letter from her solicitor: Her wealth has dwindled, and she must leave the school! Hard times set upon the young woman who gradually loses everything. However, Bess is not soon to forget her good friend and she decides to come to poor Dott’s rescue.

The film has Danish intertitles. Note that the film contains language that, while widespread in the silent film period, strikes us as offensive today.

Director Johannes Meyer is best known for his acting. However, he did direct two Danish films, ‘Smiles and Tears’ and ‘One Lover Too Many’ the following year. Both his films feature a so-called jump scare towards the end. Meyer made a name for himself as the tyrant at home in Carl Th. Dreyer’s ‘Master of the House’ (1925), and stuck to acting for the rest of his career.

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