The Awful Truth certainly isn't awful, but I don't see it as one of the best comedies of the 1930s. Leo McCarey does handle the material very well and the two leads are good but the overall story is weak in many spots. Still, I enjoyed if only for Cary Grant's performance.
Undoubtedly one of the greatest actors in cinema history, Grant started out in silly little screwballs such as this and Bringing Up Baby and you can clearly see his comedic side taking full effect. Grant was wonderful with facial expressions and delivering the fast-paced, sizzling dialogue. Here he does both with fine class. Irene Dunne also is charming and very lovely to look at, but I felt the supporting actors were rather weak and couldn't match the sophistication of Grant and Dunne. Still, this film is rather funny in some parts and Grant elevates the material to more than it is. See it if only for him.
Undoubtedly one of the greatest actors in cinema history, Grant started out in silly little screwballs such as this and Bringing Up Baby and you can clearly see his comedic side taking full effect. Grant was wonderful with facial expressions and delivering the fast-paced, sizzling dialogue. Here he does both with fine class. Irene Dunne also is charming and very lovely to look at, but I felt the supporting actors were rather weak and couldn't match the sophistication of Grant and Dunne. Still, this film is rather funny in some parts and Grant elevates the material to more than it is. See it if only for him.