The Awful Truth

Cary Grant and Irene Dunne make a great comic duo in this screwball comedy. Grant and Dunne are both solid, strong-willed New Yorkers who are perfect for each other. But when Grant suspects his wife’s been having an affair, they arrange for a divorce. Dunne rebounds into the arms of an Okie, and Grant has no end of fun at their expense. His bitterness takes the form of clever pranks, calculated remarks, and inside glances (as only Cary Grant could have delivered them). When it appears that Grant has ruined Dunne’s chances for remarriage, she takes her turn at sabotaging his love life. McCarey directed the Marx Brothers in some of their best moments, and his knack for comedy is stamped on this film, too. It is a surprisingly tight and densely-packed comedy with excellent performances all around.