I’m a sucker for Cary Grant and those sad eyes, cleft chin, high-waisted pants and that “so ve-ry par-tic-u-lar wa-ay of tawl-king”. So, it’s no surprise that one of his less-remembered (by my generation anyway) films is my first entry for “Forgotten Flicks”.
THE AWFUL TRUTH, co-starring starring the hilarious and comedically ahead-of-her-time Irene Dunne, is based on the play from 1922 by Arthur Richman and is a story we’ve seen many times over since A Midsummer Night’s Dream… couple marries, divorces and gets married to each other again… but the on-screen chemistry between Grant & Dunne pos-i-ti-vely oozes through the black and white. There’s also a dog called Mr. Smith of whom our couple has joint custody, bringing them back together day in and day out while they both try and spoil the other’s new-found rebound romances. And then there’s the actress playing Dunne’s Aunt Patty and I don’t know who she is but she’s super saucy for 1937. On top of all this, Irene Dunne’s wardrobe is to die for.
I’m not a big fan of the poster (below) — it looks a little fluffy for the smart comedy The Awful Truth actually is, but I figured you ought to know what you’re looking for if you go rent it.
This is definitely one of those flicks to curl up on the couch and pay attention to. The comedy is in all the unwritten moments, so if you are just half-way watching you’ll probably be bored. And it’s probably funnier to watch with another person… even better with a date (if you can find a guy these days who won’t roll his eyes at the idea of a black & white movie).
For all the Cary Grant fans out there, I highly recommend watching Walk, Don’t Run. This was his last movie and he really went out in style. It is really, really funny. Set in Tokyo during the 1964 Summer Olympics, it centers around the farce that ensues when 2 men wind up staying with a single woman in her little apartment. The Olympic twist at the end is laugh out loud funny. Best when watched with a glass of wine (white, not red, in case you spit while laughing).
I love love LOVE this movie!!! I saw it a couple years ago. I love Cary Grant and Irene Dunne! They are great together! And Cary Grant isn’t too hard to look at.
Watched it last night! So good – and so funny! Awesome recommendation!
Thank You – Karen
Great film, Cary Grant is amazing!
i LOOOOOVE that movie and of course anything with Cary Grant
Um, and if you happen to be in San Francisco, you can see this TONIGHT in at the Castro Theater on the big screen! It’s playing as a double feature with Arsenic & Old Lace.
I can’t understand my friends when they say Cary Grant was untalented… It makes me question why I’m friends with them…
I love, love, love the Awful Truth! I bought myself a Cary Grant box set for Christmas a few years ago and this movie was included. I got it because it was the only format in which “Holiday” (Grant + Hepburn) was available, but I also discovered “Only Angels Have Wings” and “The Talk of the Town” which has become one of my favorite movies. You really cannot go wrong with Cary Grant.
Even the comments here seem to forget about this movie. But it is a good one.
The Thin Man movie series is one of my favorite old black and whites. Myrna Loy and William Powell have such great chemistry and the writing is smart and funny. If you haven’t watched these movies yet I highly recommend them. Powell plays an ex-PI who marries a wealthy heiress but can’t seem to get out of solving crimes. The snappy banter between Loy and Powell has great comedic timing and Loy’s wardrobe is to die for
This is a good movie… then again, I love watching Cary Grant in pretty much anything. I think it does have a lot to do with the chin!
His Girl Friday was a Cary Grant movie I loved. So funny! So classic!
I had this sitting in my DVR for awhile and finally watched it for the first time this past weekend. Very enjoyable! I’m a huge Cary Grant fan (who isn’t?), and I found myself laughing constantly throughout this film.