ふとしたことから離婚を決めた夫婦が巻き起こす騒動を描いたロマンティックコメディ。後に「めぐり逢い」「我が道を往く」などを手がけるレオ・マッケリー監督がメガホンをとり、1938年・第10回アカデミー賞で監督賞を受賞した。 ジェリーは妻ルーシーにフロリダへ行くと嘘をついて友人たちとポーカーを楽しみ、一晩家を開ける。しかし家に帰ると、ルーシーが他の男と外泊していたことが発覚。ジェリーの嘘もルーシーに暴かれ、2人は大喧嘩の末、離婚を前提に別居することを決める。互いのことが気になりながらも素直になれず、すれ違いを繰り返すジェリーとルーシーだったが……。
製作費: $600,000 (1億円)
興行収入: $3,000,000 (5億円)
推定収支: $2,400,000 (4億円)
※製作費・興行収入はTMDBのデータを参照しています。収支は(興行収入 - 製作費)で算出したFindKey独自の推定値であり、広告宣伝費や諸経費は含まれません (1ドル=150円換算)。
監督: レオ・マッケリー
脚本: ヴィナ・デルマー / アーサー・リッチマン / Milton Drake
音楽: Ben Oakland
制作: レオ・マッケリー
撮影監督: ジョセフ・ウォーカー
制作会社: Columbia Pictures
The rooster and the hen! Lucy & Jerry Warriner strain their marriage by suspecting each other of cheating, so much so, a day in court leaves them with a 90 day prelude to a divorce. Sure enough, though, love never quite runs as expected, and can indeed be a truly complex thing, especially when the other parties involved are human, a cheeky cat, and a rather smart and astute canine! The Awful Truth is tagged as part of the wonderful genre that encompasses the screwball comedy, and although to a degree that genre placement is true, I do believe that those not particularly fond of the high octane scattergun comedies from the genre, will certainly find this offering far more appealing with its pacing and lighthearted production values. The Awful Truth began life as a stage play in the early 20s, and was then adapted to film twice previously in 1925 & 1929, but here for the 1937 version, director Leo McCarey (Academy Award winner Best Director) improves the story big time with sharp witty dialogue and an appreciative knack for letting his actors improvise at free will in the name of comedy. Taking the lead roles of the Warriner's is Cary Grant & Irene Dunne, and it's a great pairing as they positively bounce of each other with almost carefree abandon. Adding greatly to the frivolity is Ralph Bellamy as tone death country bumpkin love interest Daniel, Alex D'Arcy as the suave but naive Armand, and Cecil Cunningham as the wry Aunt Patsy. It's a seamless enjoyable romp containing many laugh out loud sequences, and as much as the outcome my never be in doubt, the ending is still a joy to behold. Even if the cat and the clock invariably steal the show! Wonderful and highly recommended. 9/10
