The Divorcee (1930)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Writers:

Ursula Parrott (novel)
Nick Grinde (treatment) ...

Release Date:

19 April 1930 (USA)

Genre:

Romance | Drama

Tagline:

A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer All Talking Picture!

Plot:

When a woman discovers that her husband has been unfaithful to her, she decides to respond to his infidelities in kind.

Plot Keywords:

Infidelity | Divorce | Marriage | Face | Party

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 3 nominations

Cast

Norma Shearer	...	Jerry Martin
Chester Morris	...	Theodore 'Ted' Martin
Conrad Nagel	...	Paul
Robert Montgomery	...	Don
Florence Eldridge	...	Helen Baldwin
Helene Millard	...	Mary, Dot's sister
Robert Elliott	...	Bill Baldwin
Mary Doran	...	Janice Meredith
Tyler Brooke	...	Hank
Zelda Sears	...	Hannah, Jerry's maid
George Irving	...	Dr. Bernard, Jerry's father
Judith Wood	...	Dorothy 'Dot' (as Helen Johnson)

Runtime:

84 min (copyright length) | USA:82 min (Turner library print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Prior to this film, Norma Shearer had primarily played very "proper," ladylike roles. She was eager to change her image and do parts that were more sensuous, so she launched a campaign to get the part of Jerry. MGM producers were skeptical--none more so than Irving Thalberg, who was also Shearer's husband. To convince him that she could handle a more "sexy" role, Shearer did a photo shoot with her posing provocatively in lingerie, and after seeing the pictures, Thalberg agreed to cast her. The decision paid off, as Shearer won Best Actress at the Academy Awards that year.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: 1928 was Jerry's 3rd Wedding Anniversary, yet, the band in the nightclub/speakeasy is playing "Happy Days are Here Again" which was not composed for another year.

Quotes:

Jerry Bernard Martin: [slipping on a diamond ring] Oh, I couldn't think of accepting such a valuable gift!
Offscreen man: But, my dear, my feeling for you is purely platonic.
Jerry Bernard Martin: Really? I've heard of platonic love, but I didn't know there was such a thing as platonic jewellery.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Irving Thalberg: Prince of Hollywood (2005) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Auld Lang Syne

No Wonder Shearer Was Queen of The MGM Lot

This picture redeems Ms. Shearer's supposed reliance on her husband Irving Thalberg's influence to get her and keep her in good roles. She emotes, she sparkles, she holds your attention throughout this picture and brings life to what might have been just another early talkie pot-boiler.

Some of the dialogue and sound are a little clumsy, probably due to lack of technique in the early talkie era. One can almost sense the hidden microphones on the set!

Conrad Nagel is great in this too.

Worth seeing at least once!