True Confession (1937)

60% of users liked it
(195 ratings)

Carole Lombard stars as Helen Bartlett, a compulsive liar who always tips the audience to an oncoming whopper by sticking her tongue in her cheek. Helen is married to a Kenneth Bartlett, a scrupulously honest lawyer whose integrity has always held him back professionally. Hoping to help Kenneth get… More Carole Lombard stars as Helen Bartlett, a compulsive liar who always tips the audience to an oncoming whopper by sticking her tongue in her cheek. Helen is married to a Kenneth Bartlett, a scrupulously honest lawyer whose integrity has always held him back professionally. Hoping to help Kenneth get ahead, Helen confesses to a murder she obviously didn't commit, confident that he'll get her off and make his reputation. But things don't go exactly as planned, thanks largely to a mysterious eccentric named Charley (John Barrymore), who assures the heroine over and over that she'll "fry." Once considered a prime example of screwball comedy, True Confession is now regarded by film buffs as one of Carole Lombard's worst pictures: it wasn't much better when remade by Betty Hutton in 1946 as Cross My Heart. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 25 min.
Directed By: Wesley Ruggles
Genres: Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Dec 24, 1937 Wide

No Critic Reviews Found…

Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

What a mess this thing is! Both lead characters are fools and irritating in the bargain. Carole's native intelligence shines through which actually weakens the movie since it reminds you that a woman obviously this smart would never do things so stupid. Fred's part is a… More
What a mess this thing is! Both lead characters are fools and irritating in the bargain. Carole's native intelligence shines through which actually weakens the movie since it reminds you that a woman obviously this smart would never do things so stupid. Fred's part is a dullard simp and even he would never believe the ridiculous things his wife comes up with. John Barrymore, or rather what's left of him at this point, is beyond hammy with another character that makes no sense. The only bright spot is Una Merkel who gives a sprightly cute performance of the only person in the picture who seems like she would actually exist. Aside from her the movie is a dog.

Cast

            Carole Lombard as Helen Bartlett

            Fred MacMurray as Kenneth Bartlett

            John Barrymore as Charley

            Una Merkel as Daisy McClure

            Porter Hall as Prosecutor

            Edgar Kennedy as Darsey

            Richard Carle as Judge

            John T. Murray as Otto Krayler

            Lynne Overman as Bartender

            Fritz Feld as Krayler's Butler

            Hattie McDaniel as Ella

            Tom Dugan as Typewriter Man

            Beaudine Anderson as Autograph Hunter

            Herbert Ashley as Juror

            Frank Austin as Caretaker

            Irving Bacon as Coroner

            Chester Clute as Juror

            Nick Copeland as Guard

            Anne Cornwall as Juror

            Martin Faust as Door Attendant

            Byron Foulger as Ballistic expert

            Wesley Giraud as Autograph Hunter

            Elmer Jerome as Juror

            Gwen Kenyon as Uncredited

            Arthur Lake as Attendant

            Wally Maher as Assistant Prosecutor

            Bradley Metcalfe Jr.
            
            Peggy Montgomery as Autograph hunter

            Garry Owen as Tony Krauch

            Gertrude Simpson as Juror

            Walter Soderling as Juror

            Bernard Suss as Pedestrian

            Jim Toney as Juror

            Monte Vandergrift as Guard

            Pat West as Juror

            Toby Wing as Suzanne Baggart

            George B. French as Juror

            Seesel Ann Johnson as Autograph Hunter

            George Ovey as Juror

            Dudley Clements
            
            Harry Fleischmann as Policeman

            C.L. Sherwood
            
            Rosita Butler
            
            Sharon Lewis as Yvonne Bolero

            Jane K. Loofbourrow
            
            Billy O'Brien
            
            Don Roberts as Court attendant
See full cast