☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
The
Awful Truth (1937) – L. McCarey
A
screwball comedy of remarriage that exudes charm and a certain sense that it
was all made up on the spot, with plenty of in-jokes between cast members
(Irene Dunne and Cary Grant, primarily).
Dunne and Grant are happily wed but begin to become suspicious of each
other’s possible extracurricular attachments and a quick argument leads to
divorce proceedings (but don’t worry because this is screwball comedy!). They fight over custody of Mr Smith (the same
dog who played Asta in the Thin Man series) who winds up with Dunne. On the rebound, she strikes up a romance with
Oklahoma oilman Ralph Bellamy, who plays the unsophisticated country boy (still
living with his mama) to a tee. Of
course, Grant can’t help but poke fun at her and she comes to see how silly
things are since she is clearly an urbane New Yorker fond of the
nightlife. By the time she comes around,
Grant is also nearly engaged to a wealthy debutante – but it doesn’t take much
for Dunne to do to ruin his prospects.
Of course, they end up back together (another “comedy of remarriage”). Director Leo McCarey won the Best Director
Oscar for this film which can’t help but bring a smile to your face (even after
a bad day at work – or especially after a bad day at work!). One of the best of its kind.
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