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The Awful Truth Details

1937 Certificate U
  • Rated:
  • 70
  • from 1521 members

In one of the supreme screwball comedies, young husband and wife Jerry and Lucy (Cary Grant and Irene Dunne, respectively), suspicious that the other is having an affair, start divorce proceedings and see each other only when Jerry visits their dog, who is held in joint custody. As Lucy shows signs of falling for her oil-tycoon .. Read more

Starring Cary Grant, Irene Dunne, Ralph Bellamy, Alexander D'Arcy
Director Leo McCarey
Genres Comedy

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The Awful Truth

In one of the supreme screwball comedies, young husband and wife Jerry and Lucy (Cary Grant and Irene Dunne, respectively), suspicious that the other is having an affair, start divorce proceedings and see each other only when Jerry visits their dog, who is held in joint custody. As Lucy shows signs of falling for her oil-tycoon neighbor, Jerry goes to outrageous lengths to break them up. And Jerry's own whirlwind courtship of a social darling hits snags as Lucy pretends to be his inebriated showgirl sister during Jerry's meeting with his girlfriend's parents. Stuck in an isolated cabin the eve their divorce becomes final, Lucy and Jerry discover the awful truth that they still love each other. The wonderful Leo McCarey directed THE AWFUL TRUTH, which was based on the 1922 play by Arthur Richman.

Starring Cary Grant, Irene Dunne, Ralph Bellamy, Alexander D'Arcy, Cecil Cunningham, Molly Lamont, Joyce Compton, Esther Dale, Mary Forbes
Director Leo McCarey
Studio SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Run time DVD: 1 hr 27 mins
Certificate Certificate U
Genres Comedy
Language DVD: English
Released DVD: 24 Mar 2003
Production year: 1937
Format DVD
  • Critics' reviews (3) of The Awful Truth

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  • 5 stars out of 5

    A wonderful example of Cary Grant at his screwball comic best as one half of a sniping, divorcing couple, who trade insults like gunfire and seek to spoil each other's future plans. Irene Dunne is the superb foil for Grant's laconic asides, and the two leads are assisted by a great supporting cast, which includes Ralph Bellamy and Cecil Cunningham. Leo McCarey's assured and fluid direction was rightly rewarded with an Oscar. Many stars, including Tom Hanks and Hugh Grant, have laid claim to Grant's mantle, but this movie illustrates once again that they are light years away from the man at his best.

    • Radio Times
  • 3 stars out of 4

    Classic screwball comedy of the thirties, marked by a mixture of sophistication and farce and an irreverent approach to plot.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
  • Most helpful member's review of The Awful Truth

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  • 5 out of 5 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Not the best film but Cary grant on top form

    Though the plot is at best tenuous, this film gets five stars from me because of the wonderful, mostly ad-libbed, dialogue between Grant, his (ex) wife and her new boyfriend.

    If you are already a Cary Grant fan, watch this to reinforce your opinion that Cary Grant's charm, wit and perfect timing can not be matched. If you are not a fan yet, start with a different Grant film, perhaps Charade or His Girl Friday, or my personal favorite (somewhat contraversially!) Arsenic and Old Lace.

      • SALT from London
  • Most recent members' review of The Awful Truth

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  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Great lighthearted film

    This was a great easy-going film -- somehow the story-lines always seem better in the oldies.

    Definitely worth watching.

      • leonie from Sussex
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Rating breakdown

1,521 Member ratings
  • 100
149
  • 90
135
  • 80
275
  • 70
251
  • 60
287
  • 50
149
  • 40
91
  • 30
72
  • 20
74
  • 10
38

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    • The Awful Truth
      In one of the supreme screwball comedies, young husband and wife Jerry and Lucy (Cary Grant and Irene Dunne, respectively), suspicious that the other is having an affair, start divorce proceedings and see each other only when Jerry visits their dog, who is held in joint custody. As Lucy shows signs ...