Review of The Awful Truth (1937) by Antonius B — 12 Mar 2018

The story goes that director Leo McCarey told his actors to improvise in their comedy, and if it was good, he would use it. Cary Grant was skeptical at first, but then rolled with it. He's very good at comedy in addition to being the gold standard in debonair, and there were a few scenes in 'The Awful Truth' that had me laughing out loud. The most memorable is when he stands behind the door, and after getting bonked on the nose a few times, tickles Irene Dunne with a pencil as she listens to love poetry from her new beau (Ralph Bellamy).

You see, Grant and Dunne are in the process of getting a divorce, after he "went to Florida" in order to be with another woman, and she was in a hotel with her voice teacher "because their car broke down". After fighting for custody of their dog, Mr. Smith (Skippy aka Asta), they continue to trade playful barbs and play mischief on one another, sabotaging their new relationships. The movie is full of clever dialog, banter, and general zaniness. It's a little harsh on Okies, showing the cultural divide has always been with us, but it's in funny (and hopefully non-offensive) ways.

As cute as that all was, it was the final scene that really made the film for me. In an understated way, it's very sexy, with the tension having been built up from all Grant and Dunne's comments. It's clear they know each other perfectly, still love each other, and want each other. The idea they end up together will hardly come as a surprise, but the execution in that last scene is lovely, with a slow, almost teasing pace, and Dunne looking up at Grant demurely from her bed. McCarey won the Oscar for best director amidst several other nominations for the film, and while it's not the best of romantic or screwball comedies, it's very good, and well worth watching.