The Awful Truth (1937)
- Starring:
- Cary Grant, Irene Dunne, (more)
- Director(s):
- Leo McCarey
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- NR
- Format(s):
- DVD
| Digital SD
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Synopsis of The Awful Truth
Leo McCarey directed this classic screwball comedy in which Cary Grant and Irene Dunne play Jerry and Lucy Warriner, a couple whose marriage is starting to fall apart. Jerry informs Lucy that he's taking a vacation alone in Florida; instead, he holes up with his buddies and plays poker for a week (while sitting under a sun lamp so he'll have an appropriate tan). Lucy concludes that Jerry was never in Florida just as Jerry discovers that Lucy was spending her time with Armand Duvalle (Alex D'Arcy), a handsome voice teacher. Both Jerry and Lucy believe the other was unfaithful, so they agree to a trial divorce, with a bitter battle fought over custody of Mr. Smith, the dog (Lucy gets the dog, but Jerry has visitation rights). Determined to make Jerry jealous, Lucy continues keeping company with Armand while also dating Daniel Leeson (Ralph Bellamy), a wealthy oil man from Oklahoma. Convinced that turnabout is fair play, Jerry starts going out with Dixie Belle Lee (Joyce Compton), a brassy nightclub singer, as well as socialite Barbara Vance (Molly Lamont). However, Lucy has belatedly decided that she wants Jerry back, and she hatches a plan to win him back by making a spectacle of herself at a party. The Awful Truth was based on a play which had been filmed twice before, but McCarey gave his superb comic cast free reign to improvise and add new business, and the results were splendid; you haven't lived until you've heard Irene Dunne attempt to sing "Home on the Range." ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 90 mins
Complete Cast of The Awful Truth
- Cary Grant - Jerry Warriner
- Ralph Bellamy - Daniel Leeson
- Cecil Cunningham - Aunt Patsy
- Alex D'Arcy - Armand Duvalle
- Esther Dale - Mrs. Leeson
- Claud Allister - Lord Fabian
- Robert Warwick - Mr. Vance
- George C. Pearce - Caretaker
- Paul Stanton - Judge
- Miki Morita - Japanese Servant
- Edward Peil Sr. - Bailiff
- Scott Colton - Mr. Barnsley
- Leonard Carey - Butler
- Mitchell Harris - Jerry's Attorney
- Bess Flowers - Viola Heath
- Marguerite Churchill - Barbara Vance
- Irene Dunne - Lucy Warriner
- Robert (Tex) Allen - Frank Randall
- Mary Forbes - Mrs. Vance
- Molly Lamont - Barbara Vance
- Joyce Compton - Dixie Belle Lee
- Zita Moulton - Lady Fabian
- John Tyrrell - Hank
- Wyn Cahoon - Mrs. Barnsley
- Ed Mortimer - Lucy's Attorney
- Edgar Dearing - Motor Cop
- Byron Foulger - Secretary
- Al Bridge - Motor Cop
- Bobby Watson - Hotel Clerk
- Vernon Dent - Police Sergeant
- Frank Wilson - M.C.
- Director(s):
- Leo McCarey
- Writer(s):
- Vina Delmar
- Producer(s):
- Leo McCarey
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- NR(Adult Situations)
- 1937 - Film Daily - 10 Best Films
- 1996 - Library of Congress - U.S. National Film Registry
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