IMDb > The Awful Truth (1937)
The Awful Truth
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The Awful Truth (1937) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
8.0/10   6,153 votes
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Up 29% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Viña Delmar (writer)
Arthur Richman (play)
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Contact:
View company contact information for The Awful Truth on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
21 October 1937 (USA) more
Genre:
Plot:
Unfounded suspicions lead a married couple to begin divorce proceedings, whereupon they start undermining each other's attempts to find new romance. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Won Oscar. Another 1 win & 5 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(8 articles)
Price of a Movie: 12.09.09
 (From Tribeca Film. 9 December 2009, 4:30 AM, PST)

Nathaniel Thanks You
 (From FilmExperience. 26 November 2009, 5:00 PM, PST)

User Reviews:
This movie is utter nonsense -- and it's great! more (71 total)

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)

Irene Dunne ... Lucy Warriner

Cary Grant ... Jerry Warriner
Ralph Bellamy ... 'Dan' Leeson
Alexander D'Arcy ... Armand Duvalle
Cecil Cunningham ... Aunt Patsy

Molly Lamont ... Barbara Vance
Esther Dale ... Mrs. Leeson
Joyce Compton ... Dixie Belle Lee
Robert Allen ... Frank Randall
Robert Warwick ... Mr. Vance
Mary Forbes ... Mrs. Vance
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Leonard Carey ... Butler (scenes deleted)
Vernon Dent ... Police Sergeant (scenes deleted)
Byron Foulger ... Secretary (scenes deleted)
Bobby Watson ... Hotel Clerk (scenes deleted)
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Additional Details

Runtime:
91 min
Country:
Language:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)
Certification:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Much of the film was improvised by director Leo McCarey and the cast during filming each day. more
Goofs:
Continuity: When Lucy has her chin on her hand, the position of her hand changes. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Jerry Warriner: Come on, Haig, get that sun lamp ready.
more
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
Home on the Range more

FAQ

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43 out of 49 people found the following review useful.
This movie is utter nonsense -- and it's great!, 24 August 1999
10/10
Author: eskridge from Houston, Texas

Nothing in this movie makes sense, and it really doesn't matter. It succeeds with its self-assured anarchy and the charm of its stars.

Cary Grant, Ralph Bellamy and especially Irene Dunne are in top form. Dunne has been unjustly overlooked for her comic talents. The contrast of her well-bred demeanor and inner wickedness is a delight -- like when she does a "hoochy" dance for a parlor of society snobs. She always appears to be on the edge of bursting out in laughter at the antics of Grant and the buffoonery of Bellamy. A wonderful nonsensical scene is of the musically skilled Dunne at the piano trying to sing "Home on the Range" with the hopelessly off-key Bellamy.

Grant is in the period of his career where he's not afraid of self-parody. He's at his best when he takes nobody and nothing seriously, and he's especially funny at tormenting the slow-witted Bellamy. And Bellamy is so good at playing dumb, you have to wonder if perhaps he's not really in on the joke. (Grant and Bellamy basically repeat their roles, with the same success, in "His Girl Friday," another first-rate comedy).

"The Awful Truth" is the masterpiece of Leo McCarey. There's really nothing else quite like it.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Awful Truth (1937)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
improv? geleafa
Jerry had an affair, Lucy didn't ho-aaron
Possible Plot Hole? telecaster57
One of the Greats csu16387
Asta the dog! HoferPM-1
*possible SPoiler* This has to be one of the funniest movies ever LOL sloanrules
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