The Awful Truth
The Awful Truth is a 1937 American screwball comedy film directed and produced by Leo McCarey, with a screenplay by Viña Delmar adapted from Arthur Richman's 1922 play of the same name.[1][2] Starring Irene Dunne as Lucy Warriner and Cary Grant as her husband Jerry, the film follows the sophisticated New York couple as they file for an amicable divorce amid mutual suspicions of infidelity, only to sabotage each other's subsequent romantic pursuits and reconcile before the decree becomes final.[1][2] Released on October 21, 1937, by Columbia Pictures, it runs approximately 90 minutes and features notable supporting performances by Ralph Bellamy as Lucy's suitor Daniel Leeson and the dog Mr. Smith, played by Skippy (also known as Asta from The Thin Man series).[1][2] Much of the film's dialogue and action were improvised by McCarey and the cast during its six-week production from June 21 to August 17, 1937, contributing to its spontaneous wit and natural performances.[1][2] The Awful Truth received six Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actress for Dunne, Best Supporting Actor for Bellamy, Best Screenplay, and Best Film Editing, with McCarey winning Best Director for his work.[1][2] It has been recognized as a cornerstone of screwball comedy, influencing later films and earning preservation in the United States National Film Registry in 1996 for its cultural and historical significance.[2] The 1922 play was previously adapted into silent (1925) and early talkie (1929) films, and later remade in 1953 as Let's Do It Again; the 1937 version remains the most acclaimed.[2]Synopsis
Plot
Jerry Warriner returns home late one night after what he claims was a business trip to Florida, only to find his wife Lucy with her singing instructor, Armand Duvalle, whose car had broken down on the way back from a lesson.[3] Suspecting infidelity, Jerry questions Lucy's alibi, while she counters by doubting his own story, noting his suspiciously even tan and the California origin of the "Florida" oranges in his luggage.[4] Their mutual jealousy escalates into a bitter argument, leading the couple to file for divorce.[1] In divorce court, the judge grants an interlocutory decree with a 90-day waiting period before it becomes final, and the couple agrees to share custody of their fox terrier, Mr. Smith, who amusingly chooses to stay with Lucy by responding to her toy lure.[2] A month later, Lucy attends a concert with her aunt, Patsy, and meets the wealthy but naive Oklahoma oilman Dan Leeson, who becomes smitten and proposes marriage after a whirlwind courtship.[5] Jerry, exercising his visitation rights with Mr. Smith, interrupts their budding romance by showing up unannounced at Lucy's new apartment, where the dog playfully joins him in a piano duet, much to Lucy's annoyance.[3] As the divorce deadline approaches, Jerry begins romancing the snobbish heiress Barbara Vance and her controlling mother at their lavish estate.[2] Lucy sabotages this by impersonating Jerry's wild sister Lola and staging a chaotic performance, complete with a terrible Southern accent and flirtatious antics, that horrifies Barbara and her family.[4] In turn, Jerry disguises himself as a folksy Oklahoma musician named "Joe" to infiltrate Dan's circle and test Lucy's loyalty, leading to awkward encounters where his accent slips and he nearly exposes the ruse.[1] The comedic tensions peak when Lucy performs a risqué hula dance in a talent show organized by Aunt Patsy, which Jerry attends incognito, his jealousy boiling over as he watches her captivate the audience.[3] Later, with only hours left before the divorce is finalized, Lucy lures Jerry to Patsy's remote mountain cabin under false pretenses during a fierce thunderstorm; as rain pours and thunder crashes, their lingering affections resurface, culminating in a passionate kiss that reignites their bond.[4] After the talent show and further antics, they spend the night talking and reconciling at the cabin, driving home together with Mr. Smith the next morning and choosing not to finalize the divorce.[2] The couple reconciles before the decree becomes final, embracing the "awful truth" of their enduring, if tumultuous, love.[5]Cast
The principal cast of The Awful Truth features Irene Dunne as Lucy Warriner, the divorcing wife at the center of the film's comedic custody battle, and Cary Grant as her husband Jerry Warriner.[6]| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Irene Dunne | Lucy Warriner |
| Cary Grant | Jerry Warriner |
| Ralph Bellamy | Dan Leeson |
| Alexander D'Arcy | Armand Duvalle |
| Cecil Cunningham | Aunt Patsy |
| Molly Lamont | Barbara Vance |
| Esther Dale | Mrs. Leeson |
| Joyce Compton | Dixie Belle Lee |
| Robert Warwick | Mr. Vance |
| Skippy | Mr. Smith (dog) |