The Awful Truth 1937 Criterion Collection
When Jerry Warriner (Cary Grant) returns from Florida, he can't account for his lack of a suntan, and his wife Lucy (Irene Dunne) refuses to make excuses for the time she's been spending with Armand Duvalle, her vocal teacher (Alexander D'Arcy). They divorce out of picque, with Lucy getting custody of the family terrier who brought them together in the first place. Both parties are too proud to admit they've made a mistake. Lucy starts up a romance with Oklahoma millionaire cowboy Dan Leeson (Ralph Bellamy), while Jerry chases socialite Molly Lamont (Barbara Vance). As the 90-day waiting period for the divorce to become final clicks away, each is subconsciously determined to thwart the other's romantic plans.

This very charming and perhaps somewhat deceivingly simple film won Leo McCarey an Academy Award for Best Director in 1938. It is based on the popular play by Arthur Richman, which was already adapted twice for the screen in 1925 and 1929.
In 1996, the film was chosen by the National Film Preservation Board to be one of the motion pictures preserved on the National Film Registry at the Library of Congress.

Director: Leo McCarey
Cast: Irene Dunne, Cary Grant, Ralph Bellamy, Cecil Cunningham
Country: USA
Genre: Comedy, Romance

BD50 + DVD9 | 1080p AVC, NTSC | 01:31:02 | 41.7 Gb + 6.74 Gb + 3% rec
Language: English
Subtitles: English

Extras:

Lux Radio Theatre - presented here is a Lux Radio Theatre adaptation of The Awful Truth, starring Cary Grant and Claudette Colbert. It originally aired on September 11, 1939. In English, not subtitled. (60 min, 1080p).

Tell Me Lies About Cary Grant - in this new video essay, critic David Cairns discusses the 'classic' Hollywood image of Cary Grant and the manner in which the iconic actor crafted it, his relationship with director Leo McCarey and the evolution of his career, and his involvement with The Awful Truth. In English, not subtitled. (16 min, 1080p).

Gary Giddins - in this new video interview, critic Gary Giddins discusses Leo McCarey's directing methods and improvisational techniques, the evolution of the comedy genre in Hollywood after WWII, some key themes in his films, the style narrative construction of The Awful Truth, etc. The interview was recorded exclusively for Criterion in New York City in January 2018. In English, not subtitled. (24 min, 1080p).

Irene Dunne - presented here is an archival illustrated audio interview with Irene Dunne in which the actress discusses her work with director Leo McCarey and Cary Grant in The Awful Truth. The interview was conducted by film scholar James Harvey in 1978. In English, not subtitled. (7 min, 1080p).