The Awful Truth

 Tonight's Cary Grant fix is by way of the excellent screwball comedy, 1937's The Awful Truth. Also starring Irene Dunne and Ralph Bellamy, directed and ghost produced by Leo McCarey, with co-producer Everett Riskin.

Cary (Jerry) and Irene (Lucy) are man and wife until they start to get jealous. Jerry thinks Lucy is cheating on him with her foreign singing instructor, and Lucy thinks he is lying about his travels. They decide to get a divorce. But who will get Mr. Smith, their dog whom they both love? The court decides to let the dog choose, and he goes with Lucy.

Lucy moves in with Aunt Patsy and starts sulking because she misses her ex husband. Jerry gets visitation rights with the dog. One night Aunt Patsy scores a date for Lucy named Daniel played by Ralph Bellamy. He is an Okie visiting New York and Lucy thinks he is a bit of a dud. Jerry comes over to play with the dog so Lucy leaves with Daniel and third wheel Aunt Patsy. After one night on the town Daniel is in love. 

Before you know it, Lucy realizes Daniel has serious feelings for her, and realizes that she still has feelings for Jerry. Meanwhile Jerry does what he can to break off the engagement because he still loves her too.

Lucy still has contact with her singing instructor and he and Jerry get in a shuffle when they both get sent to her room to hide from Daniel. Once Daniel gets wind of all Lucy's men, he is over it. Jerry starts dating a rich heiress and they make plans to wed.

While visiting his future in-laws, Jerry finds himself in a pickle when his fabricated sister shows up at the party, and it is Lucy! She plays a boozer and the in-laws are not impressed. She and Jerry take off once it is clear there will be no wedding bells for anyone.

On the way back, they get pulled over by the cops, and after Lucy lets the car run into a tree, they need an escort back to her folk's house for the night. I love the safe way the cops let them ride on the motorcycles. In the end they make a truce and realize the awful truth about their relationship. 

I love this film for many reasons. 

One: Cary - I mean, look at him. He had mastered the art of timing early on, with this film coming before Bringing Up Baby, His Girl Friday, or Monkey Business where he really could perfect his craft.

Two: Lucy's wardrobe is beautiful thanks to Robert Kalloch who worked as chief costume designer for Columbia pictures starting in 1933 and the later MGM in 1941. Some of his highlights at Columbia were designs for Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, His Girl Friday, Holiday, and There's Always A Woman. 

And Three: The ultimate laughable scene where Jerry is hiding behind the door trying to make Lucy laugh while she is supposed to be serious with Daniel.

Cary tried to get out of finishing the picture due to the writers not telling the actors what scenes they would be doing the next day, which made Cary very anxious. Director Leo McCarey convinced him to stick it out, and The Awful Truth ended up being one of the best hits of the year. Irene said she and Grant "meshed from the first moment", and they would go on to star in two more pictures in the coming years.

1940's My Favorite Wife

What better for a lazy day after Christmas than to watch my favorite player Cary Grant in the adorable film My Favorite Wife. 

Grant plays Nick, a widow ready to remarry to Bianca, played by Gail Patrick. The two hit the courthouse to marry but Nick realizes he has to clear up some business. Wife number one was Ellen (Irene Dunne) who died seven years back in a shipwreck leaving Nick and twin babies to fend for themselves. Ready to move one, he needs to dissolved his first marriage by having her declared officially dead before he can get hitched again. 

Just as the new couple starts their honeymoon, Ellen returns. She tells her mother-in-law that she was stranded on a deserted island and was rescued. She is ready to see her family, but learns of her hubby's new marriage. They are even staying in the same hotel as they once did! Ellen goes to find Nick and they have a brief encounter. Nick finally sees his old bride - he thinks -  and before he can find out for sure, Ellen plays a prank by sending the newly weds champagne before he can get downstairs to understand what is happening. 

While Nick tries to rationalize what he just saw, Bianca is ready to get this vacation started. Nick is confused. He loves his wife but thought she was dead, like, really dead, but he also has a new bride. He gets Ellen her own hotel room so they can talk.

What the hell, Ellen?!

Nick is going to tell Bianca but he chickens out. He avoids her and calls her from the payphone in the lobby pretending to be on a plane. She obviously doesn't buy it.

Ellen goes to their home and tries to build a relationship with the children who don't know yet they she's their mother. When Nick returns home Ellen finds our he has not yet told Bianca the truth about who she is. Ellen is angry, but to be civilized, she pretends to be an old southern friend.

Nick hears during their conversation that Ellen was not alone on the island. His jealousy soars. He gets mad at Ellen as she says, "Well Nicky, it wasn't like it was arranged." Nick wants to spy on this mystery man for he is also staying at the same hotel.  To his dismay Nick discovers the man his wife spent the last seven years with in seclusion isn't a toad but a heartthrob. He watches in astonishment as his wife's island mate Stephen (played by Randolph Scott) does some fancy ring work as he dives in the hotel pool.  

Ellen knows Nick will be upset learning that she was alone with such an attractive man, so she gets an "unattractive" man to act as Stephen, played by character actor Chester Clute, so Nick will get off her back. She has no idea he knows the truth. 

Nick isn't buying it and takes Ellen back to the pool so she can run into Stephen.

Stephen learns that Nick has a new bride and tells Nick that he would like to marry Ellen. Some bickering occurs and Ellen takes a stand, all before falling into the pool, fur muff and all. Resting in her hotel room until her clothes are dry, Ellen asks Nick to get her more clothes. He isn't about to let her and Stephen be alone any longer and makes him tag along.

Back at the house, Nick's current wife is convinced her man has gone mad and hires a doctor. Nick tries to convince them what is going on but they think he is crazy, that is until he gets arrested for bigamy! The four of them end up in the courtroom.

Stephen wants Ellen, Bianca wants Nick, and the two actually married ones aren't sure what to do. 

Finally the children learn their mother's identity and they all head for the mountains to think things over. The rest of the film is funny and heartwarming as the family tries to move forward despite their current situations. 

Cary also dresses up as a playful Santa. 

Irene and Cary were a great match. My Favorite Wife started out as a sequel to their first film The Awful Truth from 1937. While The Awful Truth came together smoothly, My Favorite Wife had issues. The writers couldn't figure out an original story and they couldn't think of a third act. The Breen office found the idea of bigamy and newlyweds waiting to consummate their relationship while one person also wanting someone else a problem. The film did prove to be a success and with Grant now of such high fame, he also made two and a half percent of the film's gross earnings on top of his $50,000 salary. Irene and Cary would go on to play husband and wife one more time in 1941's Penny Serenade. 

Another score for 1939: Dark Victory

I wouldn't consider myself an uber-fan of Bette Davis, but over the years I believe she has grown on me. Her talent is immeasurable, and she isn't a "classic beauty" (which I like),  so I think I can join the throngs of fans and say that, "My name is Emily, and I too like Bette Davis." Blame Dark Victory. Said to be Bette's favorite role to play and her biggest box office draw up to that point, this film shows Bette at her best, with lots of melodrama and secrets.

Bette plays Judith, a rich, stubborn, party girl who loves horses and recently has been getting awful headaches. She and bestie Ann love to drink and smoke. After falling off her horse, running into people, and a laughable trip down the stairs (sorry Bette, but it is kinda funny) she decides to see the old family physician. He is clueless and sends her over to Dr. Steele, que in George Brent.

                             Yes, that is a young Ronnie Reagan playing bit part playboy lush, Alec.

Dr. Steele examines Judith and watches her behavior. She is in denial and is being difficult. Dr. Steele watches as she has trouble lighting her cigarette.

He tells Judith she needs brain surgery, and after a load of push back, she agrees. Before the surgery she is smoking, requesting she wear her own frocks, and complaining about her bed being too small, but isn't that what rich gals do?

Once it is all over Dr. Steele learns some terrible news. Judith has cancer and she will die. Oh no! He decides not to tell her and  figures she will discover this info sooner or later, like on her death bed. She will have no pain, but start going blind hours before the end. I love how doctors know so much. She has about six months to live. Ignorance is bliss.

Judith is full of life again and back to throwing parties and smoking like a chimney. She is so happy, but Dr. Steele is sad because he likes her and realizes she is going to die. He can't hold it in much longer and shares his secret with pal Ann. She must also keep the secret.

Judith tells Ann she is in love with Dr. Steele and Ann tells him. So very high school of her. He decides to marry her and make her few last months great. Before moving to Vermont with the doctor, Judith stumbles across her files and learns the truth!

Prognisis Negative!

Judith goes on a binge with Ronnie and then dumps the doctor.

After a night of too much booze, Judith meets up with horse handler Micheal played by contract player and virtually unknown Humphrey Bogart (with a really bad haircut). He usually helps with the horses but now he wants to be with Judith. They share some time in the barn and she realizes she must try to make the best of her days. She decides to go back with the doctor. Must have been one bad kiss!

Judith and the doctor get married and move to Vermont. They act like nothing is bad and are happy.

Ann comes to visit, and while gardening Judith starts to go blind. The end is near! She swears Ann to secrecy (she is good at that) sends hubby on his business trip, says goodbye to the doggies, and heads up stairs. 

This film has great acting, and because of "Gone With The Wind", and "The Wizard Of Oz", got mixed in the shuffle. Bette was nominated for best actress but did not win. This movie is not a happy ending type of film, but one with a solid plot and great performances. Directed by Edmund Goulding of Grand Hotel fame and produced by David Lewis and the great, Hal B. Wallis. During production, Bette was struggling personally as her marriage to Harmon Nelson. Wallis advised her to use her personal pain in her character. She had just come off her win for best actress for Jezebel, and would be nominated the next year for Dark Victory, with nominations for The Letter, Little Foxes, and Now, Voyager consecutively. 

Love the feather purse.