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28 out of 30 people found the following review useful: A Neglected Landmark, More Often Discussed Than Actually Seen, 12 April 2005 Author: gftbiloxi (gftbiloxi@yahoo.com) from Biloxi, Mississippi
THE Divorcée was created in the first wave of "all talking pictures," an era in which directors, writers, and actors often struggled to find styles appropriate to the new technology. At the time, it was hailed as a masterpiece of realism; today, however, it is a film more often discussed than actually seen, for there is no escaping the fact that the film is stylistically dated. Even so, it remains a landmark of its era--and given its historical importance it should be seen by any one with a serious interest in the history of American cinema.The film is "pre-code," which is to say that it was made during a handful of years in the early 1930s when Hollywood's self-censorship was more the subject of jokes than of reality, and THE Divorcée was among the first Hollywood talkies to openly address both female sexuality and the sexual double standard. The story finds Jerry (Norma Shearer) and Ted (Chester Morris) happily married--but on their third anniversary Jerry discovers that Ted has been unfaithful, something that Ted dismisses with the words "it doesn't mean a thing." Angry and hurt, Jerry responds by having a one night stand of her own--and then is astonished by Ted's hypocrisy when he declares that her infidelity "isn't the same thing." The same story has been told so often that today we take it for granted, but in 1930 it was extremely controversial, and the cast plays it out with considerable intensity. Most notable is star Norma Shearer; although changing styles have left her sadly neglected, in her own era she was considered among the finest actresses on the screen and noted for her unusual beauty, memorable speaking voice, and tremendous star quality. In THE Divorcée she gives it everything she has, and her power is such that most viewers will find she quickly transcends the stylistically dated aspects of both the film and her own performance.Over the years I've seen the film several times--most impressively on the big screen, where the larger than life performances seem considerably less affected--and I've enjoyed it quite a bit every time. If you are interested in exploring early 1930s Hollywood films, you could do considerably worse than to begin with THE Divorcée, which was my own introduction to that film era. If you are already interested in early 1930s film and have never seen it... this one belongs on your shelf, and no excuses.Gary F. Taylor, aka GFT
26 out of 29 people found the following review useful: Controversial Drama That Has Lost Some of its Edge, 25 August 2005 Author: nycritic
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
One of the many productions to tackle issues later forbidden by the Hays Code, THE Divorcée is a completely modern account about a marriage gone bad due to the infidelities and debaucheries of not only the man, but the woman. That the woman in question was none other than Norma Shearer in a very risky move which paid off and gave her the Oscar for Best Actress proves the mettle in Shearer, but also proved the implicit involvement of Irving Thalberg.Like early talkies, there is a tinny, flat quality to the sound which lessens some of the emotional impact from the movie, and the way these people talk is a little too rapid at times, with an emphasis in staging every sentence with meaning -- a holdover from the silent movie days. Harsh lighting doesn't help, as some of the cuts between scenes and dissolves which indicate either the passing of time (and their debauchery) and Jerry's liaisons with other men, shown awkwardly in close-ups of their hands and off-screen dialog.This is a movie to view as a study of American culture at the very end of the Roaring Twenties when women were assuredly emancipating their position in society, but there isn't a dated bone in this story's body: women even today are still punished in many societies, including ours, if they decide to take matters into their own hands, a point THE Divorcée makes very well. The only segment in which it falters is right at the end, when Jerry decides she loves Ted after all and would like to renew their marriage: on seeing their brittle relationship, it somehow comes off false although Shearer's performance and the way her character is written does not make it so. However, her choice to be happily married over being a swinging baby comes off as a reflection of not only women but people even today, and in that way, this film is a great example.Shearer gave much better performances than the one she was awarded for; however, it's up to the viewer to decide if hers Oscar-worthy. Considering her competition, it must have been tight.
16 out of 16 people found the following review useful: No Wonder Shearer Was Queen of The MGM Lot, 20 August 2001 Author: Roy P Bower from Miami
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!
16 out of 17 people found the following review useful: One of the best women's films of its time (or any time), 22 February 2004 Author: Claire Gerety-Mott from Los Angeles, CA
SPOILERS The Divorcee takes a hard look at the double standard. This is one of my personal favorite films of the Pre-Code Era because it's exactly the kind of film that the Code guarded against. Norma Shearer's character is extremely strong-willed and essentially proposes to her boyfriend at the beginning of the film. Later on she finds out her husband has cheated on her, and she does the only thing she could think of to do: she "balances their accounts." Ted cannot handle being cheated on himself and when she states plainly what she has done he asks her for divorce. Throughout the rest of the film though they both regret not being together, it is Ted who dips the lowest, becoming too drunk to even go to work. Jerry is still strong (sad that it had to end the way it did, but strong) and has many exploits with various men, but she knows she still loves Ted. In the end it is Ted who needs Jerry the most, and they end up back together on New Year's. The moral of this story is not that the married couple gets back together where it should be-- the moral of this story is that no double standard should ever exist. A woman is not going to sit idly by while her man cheats on her, nor should she. A man has to realize that he cannot ask for forgiveness if he is not willing to forgive the same act. That is why this film defines Pre-Code in my mind-- Jerry states at the beginning that they'll have a go at it only if they are equals. She finds out that she is not his equal-- she is the better man. This movie would not only never have been made after the Code was enforced (due to the adultery, allusions to sex, and the strong female protagonist)-- I don't think it would be made now. What a great female protagonist-- Shearer is magnificent (as she usually is). Chester Morris is great and Robert Montgomery is the fun-loving best friend, who acts as an organ- grinder's monkey at one point-- just delightful! Needless to say I recommend this movie to anyone and everyone!
14 out of 15 people found the following review useful: Norma Shearer gives one of the all-time great performances, 9 February 2005 Author: emdragon from Reno, Nv
The Divorcée, set in 1930 New York, profiles a pair of party-making revelers amidst an entire circle of friends in high society. . .before and after they dare to turn their lives over to the institution of marriage, which in this world of around the clock carousing is a far cry from what is expected of them by their partying circle of friends. Norma Shearer, in what truly is one of the silver screen's great performances, plays the creatively witty and sweetly charming high society gal Jerry Martin. She can have any man in the group, but chooses Ted. They are married, and enter into an enduring period of romantic fairytale bliss (3 Years). Then, on the eve of their 3rd wedding anniversary everything unravels in a sea of infidelity, bitter honesty, and emotion. Norma Shearer's performance completely enraptures, and in an honest portrayal of ensuing emotional fallout, we see the inner struggles of the modern enlightened woman of her time. Robert Mongomery, in a supporting role, shines as well as the veritable proprietor of the circle of friends and one of the reveling agents of promiscuous redress. The film's direction is interesting, the makeup slightly absurd (it is 1930), and the cinematography non-existent. . .yet Ms Shearer's riveting abilities entrance the audience, and more than carry the day.
14 out of 16 people found the following review useful: Romantic Soap Opera, 16 April 2000 Author: Ron Oliver (revilorest@juno.com) from Forest Ranch, CA
A vivacious and happily married young woman discovers that her husband has been unfaithful. Embittered, she embarks on a brief affair of her own. Her marriage soon over, THE DIVORCEE quickly enters a downward spiral of escalating sexual promiscuity. How can she ever regain her husband & the happiness they once knew?Norma Shearer won the Best Actress Oscar for her performance in this well-acted soap opera. Running the range of emotions, she is ably backed up by Chester Morris, Conrad Nagel & Robert Montgomery as the three very different men in her life. (Montgomery exhibits the sophisticated charm which quite shortly would make him one of the biggest stars at MGM.) Zelda Sears, a top writer at the Studio, has the role of Hannah the maid - and she gets some of the best lines.The very elastic morality of the plot shows the pre-Production Code status of the film, while, oddly, the twin beds in the bedroom of Shearer & Morris point out that not all the restrictions of the initial Hays period had completely died away.In 1930, talkies were still in their infancy in Hollywood & audio awkwardness was common in many studio's output. At MGM, Norma Shearer's brother Douglas was Recording Director and his department learned their new lessons quickly. Look at the opening scene in THE DIVORCEE, set in the large living room of a mountain lodge. Notice the action & dialogue going on at various levels - with the radio playing `Singing In The Rain' in the background - and it's easy to see that MGM had mastered the mysteries of the microphone.
11 out of 13 people found the following review useful: Norma Shearer's Oscar winning performance!, 22 September 1998 Author: Patrick Sullivan (sullivpj@sce.com) from Los Angeles, California
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.
10 out of 12 people found the following review useful: Excellent relationship and karma movie, 25 August 2005 Author: chris-2701 from United States
OK, it's in black and white and if you're used to computer animation and pyrotechnics, it'll seem "different." I thought it was sensitive and insightful and mirrored some of real life's difficult lessons. I thought it moved quickly and was very engaging. The fact that it was made in 1930 and was still as good as it is is a testimony to the screenplay and the underlying themes. If you like any variety of chick-flicks, you'll like this movie. If you have any interest in relationships, you'll like this movie. If you watch the movie and you don't like it because it's not in color, there are no special effects, etc. then you need to get used to these old movies. Some of them are fabulous, and this is one of them. I shouldn't focus on the dating of it, but I enjoy considering the fact that this was made in 1930. This is 2005 and things haven't changed much, if at all.By the way, the acting was very good.
9 out of 11 people found the following review useful: Shearer is Excellent, 30 September 2006 Author: kscmtgrove from United States
The scene where Norma Shearer begs Chester Morris to stay together in their marriage is truly riveting and powerful . It is one of the most truly amazing performances on film. I remember being so genuinely blown away by the beauty and power of that performance that I jumped out of my chair to grab the rental box positive she must have won an Oscar, she had. Very sexy movie, Robert Montgomery is smooth as always. I see some people found it hokey or contrived, I did not, The emotions covered here are as relevant today as in 1930. Attractive, complex characters. For the romantic in all of us, where decency and honor will prevail.
7 out of 11 people found the following review useful: A Sudsy Look At A Sometimes-Sexy Norma Shearer, 10 February 2009 Author: ccthemovieman-1 from Lockport, NY, United States
This is a very dated soap opera but I wanted to see it because I often like classic films and I've never actually sat through one that starred Norma Shearer.Was Norma Shearer a sexy woman? I found her just okay, nothing special. At times she's attractive; other times not so. She giggles in here a lot and - like Jean Harlow - likes slinky dresses.The dialog in most "talkies" up until the later 1930s is very dated, especially in the "Pre-Code Era." Actually, I find it fun to hear these odd expressions of the day, but all the "darling" this and "darling" that get a little nauseating after a short time and the corny lines, hysterical women, sexist men, etc., wear thin fast.In essence, this was a woman's movie with the message that it's NOT all right for a man to cheat on her husband but bad if a woman does. I buy that. As you all know, it's bad if either does! That's the only problem. This idiot husband, played by Chester Morris, makes an absolute ton of stupid remarks after admitting he had an affair with "Janice" and that "it doesn't mean a thing."However, that same night after he shuffles off to Buffalo for a work assignment, she hits the sack (not shown) with a buddy. Two wrongs make a right? Of course not, but Shearer's character "Jerry" and her response to the whole thing is interesting to watch. And, yes, she slowly sees the error of her ways and "repents" at the end. That ending may be predictable, but it will still draw a tear or two to your eyes.The film gets really sudsy the last half, especially in the last hour. I thought, "Wow, this would play well on the Lifetime Network - what a women's soaper." So, if you like that sort of thing - nothing but men and women in and out of all kinds of relationships and talking about them - then this film, dated or not, is for you.
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