Rent The Awful Truth (1937)
3.9 of 5 from 140 ratings
1h 27min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
In this Oscar-winning farce, Cary Grant (in the role that first defined the Cary Grant persona) and Irene Dunne exude charm, cunning, and artless affection as an urbane couple who, fed up with each others infidelities, resolve to file for divorce. But try as they might to move on, the mischievous Jerry can't help meddling in Lucy's ill-matched engagement to a corn-fed Oklahoma businessman (Ralph Bellamy), and a mortified Lucy begins to realize that she may be saying goodbye to the only dance partner capable of following her lead. Directed by the versatile Leo McCarey, a master of improvisation and slapstick as well as a keen and sympathetic observer of human folly, 'The Awful Truth' is a warm but unsparing comedy about two people whose flaws only make them more irresistible. - Actors:
- Irene Dunne, Cary Grant, Ralph Bellamy, Alexander D'Arcy, Cecil Cunningham, Molly Lamont, Esther Dale, Joyce Compton, Robert Allen, Robert Warwick, Mary Forbes, Claud Allister, Asta, Al Bridge, Wyn Cahoon, Ruth Cherrington, Dora Clement, Kathryn Curry, Edgar Dearing, Sarah Edwards
- Directors:
- Leo McCarey
- Producers:
- Leo McCarey
- Writers:
- Viña Delmar, Arthur Richman, Sidney Buchman
- Others:
- Viña Delmar, Al Clark
- Studio:
- Columbia Tristar
- Genres:
- Classics, Comedy, Romance
- Collections:
- 10 Films to Watch if You Like Sleepless in Seattle, Award Winners, Films to Watch If You Like..., Oscar's Two-Time Club, Oscars: Winners & Losers, The Biggest Oscar Snubs: Part 1, The Instant Expert's Guide, The Instant Expert's Guide to Howard Hawks, Top 10 Dangerous Dog Films, Top 100 AFI Laughs, Top 100 AFI Passions, Top Films
- Awards:
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 23/04/2018
- Run Time:
- 91 minutes
- Languages:
- English LPCM Mono
- Subtitles:
- English Hard of Hearing
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Full Screen 1.37:1
- Colour:
- B & W
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- B
- Bonus:
- New interview with critic Gary Giddins about director Leo McCarey
- New video essay by film critic David Cairns on Cary Grant's performance
- Illustrated 1978 audio interview with actor Irene Dunne
- Lux Radio Theatre adaptation of the film from 1939, starring Grant and Claudette Colbert
- An essay by film critic Molly Haskell
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Reviews (2) of The Awful Truth
Classic Comedy. - The Awful Truth review by Steve
This is Cary Grant's breakout role in Hollywood. And co-star Irene Dunne establishes herself as a screwball star too. Together they are dynamite as a married couple who divorce and seek new partners but never re-find that elusive chemistry. They drift back together, at first over the custody of the dog, but really for the elegance and wit, and then, for the sex.
Director Leo McCarey gets this superficial set-up to sparkle. Some of the situations and plot complications are inspired. Apparently he wrote most of the final script and gets wonderful performances too, largely through improvisation. And the innuendo is pretty risqué. It is amazing it got past the Hays Office... Maybe because it is so good!
Grant and Dunne are one of the great screwball partnerships. And Ralph Bellamy as Irene's rich, unsophisticated suitor, is outstanding too. The sparring cosmopolitans are so aloof they look down on anyone who isn't a New York sophisticate. But the film gets away with it because of the charm of the stars.
Grant rousting the blundering Bellamy to the mortification his ex-wife is hilarious, which Dunne matches in a scene where she pretends to be Cary's dipso sister to discredit him before his wealthy would-be in-laws. It never falters. Thanks to the all time great triangle of leads, this remains a consistent and compelling joy.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
“I told him the truth and strange enough, he believed me.” - The Awful Truth review by LJ
Considering that all the blame lies with the husband not trusting his wife, it is an unbalanced comedy as he continues to torment her and she only gets a tiny bit of revenge; the later film My Favorite Wife covers a similar plot with the same stars in a much pleasanter and more satisfying way.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.