Irene Dunne

THE AWFUL TRUTH

Columbia, 1937.  Directed by Leo McCarey.  Camera:  Joseph Walker.  With Irene Dunne, Cary Grant, Ralph Bellamy, Alexander D'Arcy, Cecil Cunningham, Molly Lamont, Esther Dale, Joyce Compton, Robert Allen, Robert Warwick, Mary Forbese, Leonard Carey, Vernon Dent, Byron Foulger, Bobby Watson, Claud Allister, Al Bridge, Wyn Cahoon, Ruth Cherrington, Dora Clement, Kathryn Curry, Edgar Dearing, Sarah Edwards, Bess Flowers, Mitchell Harris, Dell Henderson, Arthur Stuart Hull, Scott Kolk, Bert Moorhouse, Miki Morita, Edmund Mortimer, Zita Moulton, George C. Pearce, Edward Peil, Sr., Frances Raymond, Bruce Sidney, Paul Stanton, John Tyrell, Lee Willard, Frank C. Wilson.

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Sophisticated New Yorkers Jerry and Lucy Warriner both have cause to suspect the other of having an affair, so they decide to divorce.  Although Lucy wins custody of their dog, "Mr. Smith," the lack of a suitable male escort keeps her at home every night.  Happily, Lucy's Aunt Patsy meets their neighbor, Oklahoma oilman Daniel Leeson, who is presentable and eligible, and introduces him to Lucy.

While they are all getting acquainted, Jerry arrives for his custody visit with Mr. Smith, and his rowdy antics with the dog drive the others out of the apartment.  By the end of the evening, Lucy and Daniel are infatuated.

During the next few months, Jerry does everything he can to break up their engagement but, when Daniel's mother, who is adamantly against the engagement, spreads gossip about Lucy, Jerry leaps to her defense.  Finally, because of a comedy of errors, Lucy and Daniel do separate but, in the meantime, Jerry has gotten involved with madcap heiress Barbara Vance.

On the night before the final divorce decree, Lucy, posing as Jerry's sister, visits the Vance home, pretends to get drunk, parodies the ridiculous cabaret act of one of Jerry's former girlfriends, and behaves so obnoxiously that Jerry is forced to drive her home.  Determined not to lose Jerry, Lucy tricks him into going up to Patsy's cabin, where they are reconciled just before the clock strikes midnight.

Notes
The film is based on the play The Awful Truth by Arthur Richman, (New York, September 18, 1922).

"Mr. Smith," the dog, is played by "Skippy," who also starred as Asta in MGM's The Thin Man series.  Leo McCarey won an Academy Award for direction and the film also received Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Actress (Irene Dunne), Supporting Actor (Ralph Bellamy), and Screenplay.  FD named the film one of 1937's best.  MPH credits Marguerite Churchill with the role of "Barbara Vance," but Molly Lamont is listed onscreen.  According to modern sources, much of the film was improvised by McCarey and the actors.  Modern sources list Alan Bridge as a "Motor cop."

Arthur Richman's play was also the basis for a silent film in 1925, directed by Paul Powell and starring Agnes Ayres and Warner Baxter.  It was filmed again in 1929 as a talkie, directed by Marshall Neilan and starring Ina Claire, who also headed the Broadway cast.  In 1953 it was remade by Columbia under the title Let's Do It Again, directed by Alexander Hall and starring Jane Wyman and Ray Milland.

Music includes "My Dreams Are Gone with the Wind," words and music by Ben Oakland and Milton Drake.

American Film Institute Catalog

Additional photos courtesy of Gary and Frances