Rating: 
Summary: it sure does try hard enough
Review: you gotta feel bad for poor Ralph Belemy (didn't he lose Roselyn Russel to Cary Grant in "His Girl Friday"? Some very funny moments encapsulated firmly in place by the standards (or should I say moral code) of its time. I don't know if this is the movie that firlmly placed Cary Grant into the catagory of Leading Man or not (he did not get first billing). But it should have. Nobody plays off scene or stays in character like cary grant. The scene at the club when his "dancer/singer" girl friend takes the stage is priceless. The banter between the characters is extrodinary and the dialogue is worth while just trying to keep up with. Do you self a favor. make yourself a nice cup of tea, get the popcorn, crank up the old 4x3 and have yourself a mindless time of it.
Rating: 
Summary: Who says the truth has to be awful?
Review: One of the best screwball comedies of '30's, right on par with Frank Capra's "It Happened One Night" and "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town". In their first screen paring, Cary Grant and Irene Dunne play Jerry and Lucy Warriner, a married high class couple who seem to be getting along fine. Until one night, when the two become convinced, for various small reasons, that there are infidelities in the relationship. They both reveal their feelings about one another ("I wouldn't go on living with you if you were dipped in platinum") and get a divorce. Lucy gets custody of the couple's beloved dog, Mr. Smith. But, Jerry is also able to get a court order allowing him to see the dog twice a week. And, although the divorce doesn't become final for 60 days, the two start forming other relationships, with each partner trying to sabotage the others romances. Lucy has a relationship with a millionaire Oklahoma rancher named Daniel (Ralph Bellamy), while Jerry has one with singer Dixie Belle Lee (Joyce Compton). However, Jerry is able to mess up that one when he and Lucy's voice teacher get caught in the same place and battle out of Lucy's apartment. This Daniel to remark "Well, I guess a man's best friend is his mother" (Similar to words later said by Norman Bates in 1960's "Psycho"). And Jerry's romance with Lee is short lived. He soon starts to go out with high-class socialite Barbara Vance (Molly Lamont). But one day, when Lucy visits Jerry's apartment (On their last day as husband and wife), Lucy answers the telephone only to find out it is Barbara. Jerry lies to Barbara that it's his sister, which causes Barbara to invite her along with Jerry over to her residence that night. Lucy (Or Lola, the name Jerry gave her as his sister) shows up drunk and makes a fool of Jerry, who decides to leave along with Lucy in her car. But, there is a problem with the car radio that causes them to get pulled over by the cops. And the "breaks" give out (Actually, Lucy lets them loose), causing the car to crash. The two are given rides by the policemen to Lucy's aunt's place, where they sleep in rooms that are next to one another. But, the door separating the two rooms has a problem of not staying closed. Now, what does one think of the things Jerry and Lucy do to one another in their relationships? It seemd to me, at first, that they were trying to put the other through hell. But, they seem to love one another more as they are doing it. For example, the scene where Jerry goes to Lucy's voice teacher's apartment. He expects to see her alone with the intructor, only to find Lucy is performing for a group. Jerry sits down and, in a funny moment, leans too far back and falls over. Lucy, in the middle of singing, makes a little laugh; she likes seeing Jerry make a fool of himself. But, she makes sure the laugh isn't noticed. This can be interpreted on that she loves how Jerry makes her laugh. The more they try to hurt one another, the more they see their mutual love for one another, which is the awful truth. Daniel puts it best to Lucy in these words: Daniel: Are you sure you don't like that fella?
Lucy: Like him? You saw the way I treated him, didn't you?
Daniel: That's what I mean. Back on my ranch, I got a little red rooster and a little brown hen and they fight all the time too, but every once in a while they make up again and they're right friendly. Dunne got an Oscar nomination for her hilarious, and beautiful looking, performance.. The film was also nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor (Ralph Bellamy), Best Screenplay and Best Film Editing, with Leo McCarey picking up the first of two Best Director Oscars (His second would be for 1944's "Going My Way", which I have also reviewed"). Strangely, Grant was ignored in the nominations (Though he would be nominated twice in the '40's for dramatic roles). I don't know what the Academy had against Grant. Since Grant was from England, was it patriotism for the U.S? If so, why did Charles Laughton get a Best Actor award in 1933 for "The Private Life of King Henry VIII"? Maybe Grant wasn't a team player? I must say this before I close the review: The dog, Mr. Smith, should have gotten an honorary award or nomination of some kind. He was very well trained, being able to cover his eyes during hide and seek and, in a clever (And often clichéd) scene, forced to decide on who should be it's master. He's also a great companion for Grant when he plays the piano during his visits. When will this be on DVD?
Rating:
Summary: A classic screwball comedy...
Review: The Awful Truth is one of my all-time favorite movies! It is an absolutely hilarious screwball comedy. Essentially, The Awful Truth is the story of Jerry (Cary Grant) and Lucy (Irene Dunne) Warriner: a rich, elegant couple that decides to get a divorce. The only problem is that they clearly still love each other. As they respectively figure this out, they do their best to sabotage each others' relationships - resulting in incredibly funny scenes. The Awful Truth has witty dialogue in the classic screwball style, hilarious situations, and great acting. Cary Grant is wonderful as the confident and charming husband - his facial expressions and muttered comments steal scene after scene. This movie is the first one in which Grant established his extraordinary screeen persona: a handsome, intelligent, and debonair man - and still a comedian more than willing to take a few pratfalls. His inspired performance makes the film work! Irene Dunne is equally excellent as his beautiful wife. She is the perfect, cool counterpart to Grant's often frantic behavior. The supporting cast also gets full honors. Overall, this movie is excellent, and can be watched over and over again. It is witty and hilarious: perfect for the whole family! I don't know how else to recommend this - get this movie, and enjoy a priceless screwball comedy from Hollywood's Golden Age.
Rating:
Summary: Hilarious romantic comedy
Review: This 1937 "screwball" comedy with Cary Grant and Irene Dunne is easily one of the most hilarious romantic comedies I have ever seen. A brilliant script, fantastic acting, good supporting, interesting direction, and good gags combine to pull it off. I randomly selected it from the store, and couldn't have been more surprised. Cary Grant is absolutely hilarious. His command of facial expression, self-effacement, and his timing make his performance perfect. Irene Dunne exudes wit and humor. Incisive writing makes for witty and often biting word-play, so the script is infinitely funnier and more sophisticated than the current drek like YOU'VE GOT MAIL. Although there are gags, the movie does not have to rely on people falling out of chairs to make it to the credits (although that scene is absolutely hysterical). I could go on, but why bother? See it for yourself, you won't regret it. My only complaint: The transfer to VHS was awful. The sound was often dead and the picture quality was sub-rate and scratchy. If they ever issue a DVD release, hopefully Columbia will have the class to do a better job on it.
Rating:
Summary: VINTAGE MOONSHINE
Review: THE AWFUL TRUTH was one of the most widely admired and popular zany comedies of the thirties. Stylishly written, directed and acted, it has warmth and charm that spring both from the excellent performances of the actors and from director Leo Mc Carey's creativity with his material. The comedy begins on a small scale and generally becomes more outrageous throughout the film. It's a perfect blend of the ridiculous and the romantic artful enough to win McCarey an AA for best direction. A veritable gold mine of "screwball" comedies abounded in the thirties, and this is one of the very best. Irene Dunne was nearly 40 here but you wouldn't know it; she had warmth, beauty and innate charm coupled with expert timing and a tongue-and-cheek sense of humour the likes of which only three other actresses could honestly compete: Colbert, Arthur and Lombard. The filming of the picture was largely done thru improvisation; Director Leo Carey let Dunne and Grant use their imaginations and encouraged naturalness and spontaneity-and the finished product was an immense hit in 1937. Rich with wit, farcial tomfoolery, inspired clowning by an expert cast, it was re-made as LET'S DO IT AGAIN (!) with Ray Milland and Jane Wyman - the less said of that little opus, the better!
Rating:
Summary: my favorite screwball comedy
Review: screwball comedies are romantic comedies from the thirties and forties. since back then it was not possible to display all the crassness and nudity of today's films the filmmakers had to get around this while still telling a comic love story with the storyline they wanted. the viewer may find the results are more satisfying than the in-your-face approach. The Awful Truth provides very quick dialogs, and a story which remains modern today. A man and a wife who longer trust each other's fidelity decide to go theirn own ways with ridiclous results of course.
Rating:
Summary: Screwball at it's best!
Review: One of the greatest screwball comedies ever made. Irene Dunne and Cary Grant star as a divorcing couple who realize they're still in love. They then try to make shambles out of each other's romances. If you're just discovering the beautiful Irene Dunne, the handsome Cary Grant or screwball comedies, this is a great place to start. This fast paced film features two of the greatest stars Hollywood has ever known and a lot of clever dialogue. Buy this one!
Rating:
Summary: Great screwball-fans of Hi Girl Friday take notice!!
Review: One of the great screwball comedies-right up there with Bringing Up Baby, His Girl Friday and the films of Preston Sturges. Cary Grant is hilarious and Irene Dunne is equally inspired. Very, very funny-see/buy it right now!
Rating:
Summary: One'f the Greatest: both as screwball & as remarriage comedy
Review: This film is so nostalgically 30's... It is light, elegant, and fun... The story is a classical re-marriage plot. The dynamics of the young, rich, care-free, and child-free couple [Grant and Dunne] is similar to the couple's, featured in "Topper" [hilarious comedy that Grant has done right before "The Awful Truth"]. Ralph Bellamy is the classic "third wheel"--rich mama's boy from Oklahoma. "Oh, I can see you right now...in Oklahoma, tsk-tsk"--Grant says. This line gets recycled in "His Girl Friday" [another screwball, re-marriage comedy with Grant as the divorced husband and Bellamy as the third wheel]. In "His Girl Friday", Oklahoma is replaced by Albany, but the sarcastic meaning remains unchanged. Despite seeming to be quite conventional [for the 30's], "The Awful Truth" actually have some very "brave" moments. For example, in the opening sequence Grant is on the tanning bed, disrobed and having a discussion about his infidelity; later, we see a "risky" floor show in a restaraunt; then, there are also those unending hints about Grant and Dunne's mutual infidelity. BUT WAIT... THE MOST AMAZING THING ABOUT THIS FILM IS THE POOCH, WHICH BECOMES THE CENTER OF LEGAL DIVORCE BATTLE. How absurd and cute is that? My favorite moment is WHEN GRANT COMES TO DUNNE'S DOOR TO EXERCISE HIS "VISITATION RIGHTS"...TO SEE HIS BELOVED POOCH. This is too funny! In the end, however, both Grant and Dunne throw their wackiness and unconventionality away, realizing that they still love each other and that they still want to be together. Or, did Grant simply use it as an excuse in order to be reunited with his little dog? WHO KNOWS....It was HIS dog, after all: he "saw it first and bought it", as he passionately explained to the judge, ealier in the film.
Rating:
Summary: Cary Grant a Irene Dunne
Review: This is the first pairing of Grant and Dunne and it is terrific. Dunne matches Grant,s comedic timing just fine and the supporting cast with Ralph Bellamy in his other man role works to a tee. ( Molly Lamont) etc Please to note the other two films with Grant and Dunne( My Favorite Wife and Penny Serenade) are fine films also. Peerless Comedy.
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