The Awful Truth (1937)

91% of critics liked it
(23 reviews)
87% of users liked it
(7,076 ratings)

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… More 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

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 30 min.
Directed By: Leo McCarey
Written By: Viña Delmar, Arthur Richman
Genres: Romance, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1937 Wide
On DVD: Mar 11, 2003
Studio: Columbia

Critic Reviews

Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
Leo McCarey's largely improvised 1937 film is one of the funniest of the screwball comedies, and also one of the most serious at heart.
B.R. Crisler, New York Times
To be frank, The Awful Truth is awfully unimportant, but it is also one of the more laughable screen comedies of 1937, a fairly good vintage year.
, Film4
A joy.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...has earned its reputation as one of the most effective screwball comedies from the 1930s.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
One of the best screwball comedies (of remarriage) ever made, based on the astute mise-en-scene of director Leo McCarey (who won an Oscar) and superb turns from Cary Grant and Irene Dunne as the sparrying partners.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Zappy, sophisticated screwball comedy with Grant and Dunne displaying perfect timing.
Kent Turner, Film-Forward.com
The look of love [Grant] gives co-star Irene Dunne, captured not in a close-up but a medium-wide shot, could melt anyone.
Steven D. Greydanus, Decent Films Guide
One should be rooting for Cary Grant to get the girl, which means he ought to deserve her — and if that's more or less the case here, well, it's only because the girl turns out to be no great shakes either.
James Plath, Movie Metropolis
A bit too easy--the equivalent of hitting a bulls-eye on the side of a barn--to make jokes at the rich 'bumpkin's' expense.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
A smart screwball comedy from the 1930s that's given the Lubitsch touch by director Leo McCarey.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Its sophistication convinced the Academy that it was more than "just" a comedy and they awarded McCarey the Best Director Oscar
Nick Davis, Nick's Flick Picks
Episodic but sublime screwball comedy, with Grant and Dunne at their most alluring.
Elbert Ventura, PopMatters
As pleasurable as anything a Hollywood studio and the star system ever produced.
Matt Brunson, Creative Loafing
Cary Grant ... delivers one of the greatest comic performances we'll ever have the pleasure of witnessing.
Marjorie Baumgarten, Austin Chronicle
This comedy is a hilarious match-up between Cary Grant and Irene Dunne, with the wonderful Ralph Bellamy cast in his pigeonholed role as the fifth wheel.

Read all 15 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

I enjoyed this movie, great cast, good story, and it's funny.
First L

Cary Grant and Irene Dunn play a couple who rather impulsively decide to divorce and then spend the rest of the movie trying to undo their mistake while simultaneously undoing each other's new relationships. I'm not sure how taboo divorce was in their time, but the whole… More
Cary Grant and Irene Dunn play a couple who rather impulsively decide to divorce and then spend the rest of the movie trying to undo their mistake while simultaneously undoing each other's new relationships. I'm not sure how taboo divorce was in their time, but the whole thing is played for laughs, with the two arguing over who gets custody of "mr. smith", their dog (who led to their first meeting). Actually, the dog is alot of fun, probably the best movie dog outside of Asta (the Thin Man's dog). What makes this film good is the chemistry Grant has with his leading lady (which he tends to have with every leading lady, which is a big part of what makes him so great). He not only plays a straight man to her hijinks, he also gets in some slapstick of his own.
Jennifer D

Reminded me of His Girl Friday, only older and much more tamer... Ralph Bellamy plays another dumb-witted moron while Grant plays the smooth, suave and debonair prince. Cute, but I still prefer His Girl Friday.
Jennifer X

I think I just have something against McCarey, because I usually love screwball and this is supposed to be the "definitive" one or whatever. Cary Grant is an excellent stock character who can just be dropped into a movie in a second and he can do this thing. Irene Dunne I… More
I think I just have something against McCarey, because I usually love screwball and this is supposed to be the "definitive" one or whatever. Cary Grant is an excellent stock character who can just be dropped into a movie in a second and he can do this thing. Irene Dunne I hadn't heard of before, and she's not too magnificent. She's not pretty at all, which shouldn't count but does, and lacks the chops to match up with Grant's automatic suaveness. The sister number was decently cute but never cut it with me. But I didn't HATE her or anything. I mean, it could be worse...she's not as bitchy or annoying as Maureen O'Hara in The Shop Around the Corner.
Ken S

Not my favorite Screwball comedy, but it will do in a pinch. Also featuring Asta from the thin man series!
Stella D

silly screwball with the ever charming cary grant and irene dunn. also asta from the thin man films! here known as mr smith. and it's still really funny ;)
Lanning :

Imagine if you will, Irene Dunne out-Cary-Granting Cary Grant. There is a point, when we hit the motorcycle sequence, that I wish they'd reined her in a bit. If I'd edited, I'd have cut that entire sequence. But she is so darn good. What an actress. So smart she… More
Imagine if you will, Irene Dunne out-Cary-Granting Cary Grant. There is a point, when we hit the motorcycle sequence, that I wish they'd reined her in a bit. If I'd edited, I'd have cut that entire sequence. But she is so darn good. What an actress. So smart she makes acting dumb, as in the "sister" scene, look like a master class on dumbing UP : )
moon r

by many judges one of the best of this genre. it does stand the test of time, so that says something, doesn't it?
Matthew Y

The awful truth is that I didn't much care for The Awful Truth..."Hey, who let all these crickets in here?". Anywho, the film stars Cary Grant and Irene Dunne as two couples who suspect each other of infidelity (though neither has committed it) and decide on a trial… More
The awful truth is that I didn't much care for The Awful Truth..."Hey, who let all these crickets in here?". Anywho, the film stars Cary Grant and Irene Dunne as two couples who suspect each other of infidelity (though neither has committed it) and decide on a trial divorce (or separation in today's lingo). Both fight over a beloved dog the two share, which is played up like a surrogate child. Of course a few uncomfortable screwball cliques where one spies on the other (though never admitting they miss them) conclude with some drunken slapstick and a night of "maybe there's still something here" affair. A decent screwball comedy of the 30's, I've seen better, I've seen worse although it is very highly regarded for whatever reason.
Sunil J

One of the less charming comedies of Cary Grant. He and his wife break up thinking the other one had an affair and drag out a reconciliation by trying to make each other jealous. Watchable but not a classic.
Marion R

Why does everyone rate this film so highly? It was just okay. Everything about this film felt average and I didn't really find it funny.

Read all 11 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Cary Grant as Jerry Warriner

            Irene Dunne as Lucy Warriner

            Ralph Bellamy as Daniel Leeson

            Robert (Tex) Allen as Frank Randall

            Cecil Cunningham as Aunt Patsy

            Mary Forbes as Mrs. Vance

            Alex D'Arcy as Armand Duvalle

            Molly Lamont as Barbara Vance

            Esther Dale as Mrs. Leeson

            Joyce Compton as Dixie Belle Lee

            Claud Allister as Lord Fabian

            Zita Moulton as Lady Fabian

            Al Bridge as Motor Cop

            Wyn Cahoon as Mrs. Barnsley

            Leonard Carey as Butler

            Marguerite Churchill as Barbara Vance

            Edgar Dearing as Motor Cop

            Vernon Dent as Police Sergeant

            Bess Flowers as Viola Heath

            Byron Foulger as Secretary

            Mitchell Harris as Jerry's Attorney

            Miki Morita as Japanese Servant

            Ed Mortimer as Lucy's Attorney

            George C. Pearce as Caretaker

            Edward Peil Sr. as Bailiff

            Paul Stanton as Judge

            John Tyrrell as Hank

            Bobby Watson as Hotel Clerk

            Robert Warwick as Mr. Vance

            Frank Wilson as M.C.

            Colton Scott as Mr. Barnsley

            Alexander D'Arcy
            
See full cast

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