The Awful Truth

The Awful Truth ( Original: The Awful Truth ) is an American screwball comedy starring Irene Dunne and Cary Grant from 1937 The film is based on the eponymous play by Arthur Richman. .

Action

Jerry and Lucy Warriner are a wealthy couple that has lived apart somewhat over the years. After to have both mutually suspicious, affairs, they end up probably unintentionally in divorce court. Everything is settled by agreement, is up to the custody of the common Fox Mr. Smith, Lucy, who uses a ruse awarded. The judge who has some doubts as to the seriousness of divorce intention granted the Warriners a cooling off period of 90 days, only after the judgment becomes final. While Jerry so at odds to have received only granted visitation rights for Mr. Smith, Lucy is dissatisfied with their own overall situation, because she has to stay every night alone in the apartment because Mr. Smith. It is her Aunt Patsy, which makes Lucy familiar with the oil millionaire Daniel Leeson. Both begin to see more than just sympathetic, which in turn Jerry rankles that packs the jealousy. He leaves the next few weeks no stone unturned to separate the two lovers, however, reached the opposite order. But when Daniel's imperious mother, who is against the connection of Dan and Lucy begins to drag the reputation of Lucy in doubt Jerry is the first to defend them. In parallel, he has a relationship with Barbara Vance, an overwrought member of the High Society of New York, began. Jerry and Barbara are soon the talk of the town, which, however, Lucy can not unmoved, as she hopes actually.

On the last day of the 90 -day period to Lucy and Jerry meet in his apartment, where there will be all sorts of complications. The two discover yet - married people, how much they still love and do it, but to come together two minutes before midnight.

Background

Irene Dunne had become after countless appearances in melodramas to a highly paid star when she by the appearance in Theodora Goes Wild the middle of 1936 managed a successful transition towards a comedienne. She received her second Oscar nomination for the film and it was agreed that their next production for Columbia Pictures should be a comedy. The actress finally selected as a project, an adaptation of the play The Awful Truth by Arthur Richman, which had already been filmed twice: 1925 with Agnes Ayres and Warner Baxter, and in 1929 as a sound film with Ina Claire and Henry Daniell in the lead roles under the direction of Marshall Neilan. As a male partner Dunne chose the emerging Cary Grant, who had proved in the previous year for his appearances alongside Jean Harlow in Suzy and Joan Bennett in Big Brown Eyes his talent for comedy.

Director Leo McCarey made ​​the film without a finished script and let the show Spier as often as possible to improvise. While Dunne had so few problems, was Cary Grant, a fee of $ 50,000 was awarded for his appearance at the beginning bit from this method of working with actors thrilled. He wanted to buy out at a time even from the current contract, but studio boss Harry Cohn refused to give his consent. The collaboration with Irene Dunne, in which he should turn, two other films was not easy. Grant still lacking in the necessary experience and he was always unhappy no matter what Leo McCarey also tried.

Irene Dunne commented in a later interview about the massive problems of the actor:

" Cary reacted very sensitive about every little thing back then. He was so sensitive that he was almost sick. If he did not like something in the script, the director, to an actor or at the scene, he reacted very emotional. "

At the end all participants benefited from the finished result: Irene Dunne received her third Academy Award nomination, Cary Grant established herself as a specialist in romantic comedies and the studio had a huge financial success. The fox terrier Skippy, who played Mr. Smith had been in the pleased as Asta the couple Nick and Nora Charles, alias William Powell and Myrna Loy The Thin Man series. In the following year he was George in leopard kisses you not next to Katharine Hepburn and a leopard to see.

The studio filmed the material for a fourth time in 1953 under the title Let's Do It Again with Jane Wyman and Ray Milland.

German version

The German synchronous processing was only in 1981 on behalf of the ARD television broadcasts.

Reviews

" One, screwball comedy ' in perfection that lives by wit of the dialogue and the wit of the main character. Even the minor characters are waiting for with some funny surprises. "

Awards

The film went with a total of six nominations in the Academy Awards in 1938, but won only one of the begeherten Trophies:

  • Best Film - Nomination
  • Best Director - Won - Leo McCarey
  • Best Supporting Actor - Nomination - Ralph Bellamy
  • Best Screenplay - Nominated - Viña Delmar
  • Best Editing - Nominated - Al Clark
1937 in film Film score Ben Oakland Joseph Walker (cinematographer) Marshall Neilan Suzy (1936 film) Skippy (dog) 10th Academy Awards
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