The Divorcee (1930)

Writers:

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

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 | Face | Party | Marriage | Divorce

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)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Neal Dodd	...	Hospital Minister (uncredited)
Charles R. Moore	...	First porter opening window (uncredited)
Lee Phelps	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
George Reed	...	Second porter (uncredited)
Carl Stockdale	...	Divorce judge (uncredited)
Jack Trent	...	Helen's bridge partner (uncredited)
Theodore von Eltz	...	Ivan (uncredited)

Directed by
Robert Z. Leonard		(uncredited)

Writing credits
Ursula Parrott		(novel "Ex-Wife")
Nick Grinde		(treatment) (as Nick Grindé) and
Zelda Sears		(treatment)
John Meehan		(dialogue and continuity)

Produced by
Robert Z. Leonard	....	producer
Irving Thalberg	....	producer (uncredited)

Cinematography by
Norbert Brodine		(as Norbert Brodin)

Film Editing by
Hugh Wynn
Truman K. Wood		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
Cedric Gibbons

Costume Design by
Adrian		(gowns)

Sound Department
Douglas Shearer	....	recording director
James Brock	....	sound engineer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (controlled by Loew's Inc.)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1930) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (199?) (USA) (VHS)
• Turner Entertainment (TV)

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:

Australia:G | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

The listing for Robert Z. Leonard as "producer" is actually in lieu of a director's credit. At the time, instead of crediting its directors as such, MGM frequently listed their names as "A [blank] Production" on the same card as the main title. Leonard's actual function on this film was director, not producer.

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: [to Ted] So look for me in the future where the primroses grow and pack your man's pride with the rest. From now on, you're the only man in the world that my door is closed to.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood (2008) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Auld Lang Syne

Norma Shearer's Oscar winning performance!

Not only did Norma Shearer win an Academy Award for her performance, but the film itself was nominated for best picture of that year. Not "politically correct" by today's standards, Shearer still is defiant when she learns that her husband has been untrue and fights the "double standard" of morality codes between men and women.