Sunday 17 May 2020

The Awful Truth (1937 Leo McCarey)

Neither Cary Grant nor Irene Dunne trust one another (and with good reason) so they divorce, in Viña Delmar's comedy (McCarey of course also wrote on set) - ownership of Mr. Smith (Skippy) also a contentious subject. The dog cues one of the funniest scenes, where Dunne's hiding singing teacher Alexander D'Arcy in the spare room - Cary Grant then hides there also as Ralph Bellamy's come over - Grant gradually realising D'Arcy is there is like a sublime silent movie moment - then there's an offscreen fight, then Grant chases him out of the apartment...

Dunne is great again. Her killer moment is in performing an inappropriate dance to put off his fiancee's parents. McCarey has relaxed Grant into his first screwball performance. He's very cool.

McCarey's at Columbia this time - he does get about - so Joe Walker shot it, making Dunne's gowns sparkle with stars.

Cecil Cunningham is Aunt Patsy.


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