The Divorce of Lady X (1938)

Divorce lawyer Everard Logan thinks the woman who spent the night in his hotel room is the erring wife of his new client.

Director:

Tim Whelan

Writers:

Lajos Biró (adaptation) (as Lajos Biro), Ian Dalrymple (scenario & dialogue)

Stars:

Merle Oberon, Laurence Olivier, Binnie Barnes

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Merle Oberon	...	Leslie Steele
Laurence Olivier	...	Everard Logan
Binnie Barnes	...	Lady Mere
Ralph Richardson	...	Lord Mere
Morton Selten	...	Lord Steele
J.H. Roberts	...	Slade
Gertrude Musgrove	...	Saunders - the Maid
Gus McNaughton	...	Room Service Waiter
H.B. Hallam	...	Jefferies - the Butler
Eileen Peel	...	Mrs. Johnson

Storyline

Laurence Olivier plays Logan, a barrister who falls in love with Leslie (played by Merle Oberon), the woman he thinks his client will soon be divorcing.

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Plot Keywords:

taming of the shrew | screwball comedy | female sexual predator | dysfunctional marriage | male female relationship | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

This movie was included in the first syndicated television presentation of a package of major studio movies on U.S. television. It premiered in Baltimore Friday, August 20, 1948 on WMAR (Channel 2), followed by Philadelphia Friday, August 27, 1948 on WFIL (Channel 6), by Cleveland Sunday, August 29, 1948 on WEWS (Channel 5), by Boston Sunday, September 5, 1948 on WBZ (Channel 4), by Chicago Monday, September 13, 1948 on WGN (Channel 9), by Los Angeles Thursday, September 23, 1948 on KTLA (Channel 5), by Atlanta Wednesday, November 17, 1948 on WSB (Channel 8), by New York City, on Friday, November 19, 1948 on WPIX (Channel 11), and by Dayton Sunday, March 20, 1949 on WHIO (Channel 13). Although filmed in Technicolor, these telecasts were in black-and-white, since color broadcasting was still in its experimental stage. The package consisted of twenty-four Alexander Korda productions originally released theatrically between 1933 and 1942.

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Goofs

In his chambers, Logan repacks Leslie's fancy dress into the suitcase after Slade had partially removed it. In doing so, he leaves a small part still exposed outside the suitcase when he closes the lid. He then places it on a shelf. Later, when Logan is in a meeting with Lord Mere, the suitcase is still on the shelf, but no part of the dress is now visible.

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Quotes

Logan: What am I doing, standing here, kissing you...
Leslie: And doing it very well, if I may say so.
Logan: ...when your husband is in there, and his solicitor, and...

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Connections

Remake of Counsel's Opinion (1933)

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Soundtracks

Mayfair in May
(reprise) (uncredited)
Music by Vivian Ellis
Arranged by Melle Weersma

User Reviews

Delightful british comedy!!

This short, unique and original screen-play proved no short of brilliant. It has a simple and entertaining plot of charming but mischevious young Leslie (known at first as Lady X) imposing herself on a foggy night on irritable young masoganistic barrister Everard Logan. Logan declares that he is not in the least bit stirred by her charms, however she finally ends up enjoying his bed, pyjamas and breakfast whilst he has the mattress next door. Ofcourse, being the eligible handsome typical thing that he is, he falls in love with her and vows to arrange her divorce for her, (despite the fact she has no husband!) Ralph Richardson as Lord Mere (Leslie's supposed husband) and Binnie Barnes (the REAL Lady Mere)also help to put him in the light at last. Hurt and irritated, Logan throws his affections for Leslie back in her face and leaves. She goes after him, and naturally, they agree to the marriage finally that Logan had always wanted, and Leslie finalises in curing Logan of his haughtily sexist views.

Some say Laurence Olivier is out of his depth in this sort of a film, since in no way is this Hamlet or Harry V or any great feat of literature such as Wuthering Heights, and in no way is he a born comedian. But he gives it unmatched gusto and IS HE SARCASTIC!! His scenes with Merle Oberon, who plays the sweet little charmer of a Leslie are delightful. Oberon is adorable and could not have been better as Leslie.

It's been said before that Oberon and Olivier had a wonderful chemistry on screen, just as well as Leigh did in fact; however it could be argued so. They were just as contrastingly wonderful in Wuthering Heights, a classic film which I adore.

If you're in the mood of a short but sweet comedy, you couldn't ask for better than this. Fantastic!

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 January 1938 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Divorce of Lady X

Filming Locations:

London Film Production Studios, Denham, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

GBP99,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

London Film Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording) (Western Electric Noiseless System)

Color:

Color (photographed in) (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1