The Awful Truth

As you can tell from prior posts, I've been pretty into classic films and screwball comedies from the 1930s. A new discovery for me are the handful of films Cary Grant made with Irene Dunne. Dunne is phenomenal in both comedic and dramatic roles, but for some reason is not well remembered. In "The Awful Truth" Dunne and Grant play a couple who decide to divorce after Grant suspects his wife of spending the night with her music instructor. In the 60 day period in which they wait to finalize their divorce, they work on sabotaging each other's new conquests.

The first clips shows a short conversation between Dunne and Grant just before their divorce becomes final. During the conversation, Grant's new girlfriend calls and Dunne answers. To cover up the awkwardness of a woman answering his phone in his apartment, he tells his girlfriend that it was his sister.

In the second clip, Cary is trying to impress his new girlfriend's aristocratic family when Dunne walks in pretending to be Grant's non-existent tawdry, heavy drinking, chorus girl of a sister. The timing and chemistry between Grant and Dunne in this second scene is amazing. She's working on two levels, first to destroy his chances with his new girlfriend, and second to win him back. The jokes in this scene are both subtle (mostly class-related remarks that Dunne makes) and slapstick (the more physical comedy).

Watch just enough of the first clip to get an idea of the character Dunne is playing, then watch the second to see her versatility as she takes on this new role to embarrass Grant: