Line #35 Film/TheAwfulTruth


1	[[quoteright:305:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/img_0840.JPG]]
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3	->'''Daniel "Dan" Leeson:''' Are you sure you don't like that fella?
4	->'''Lucy Warriner:''' ''Like'' him? You saw the way I treated him, didn't you?
5	->'''Daniel "Dan" Leeson:''' That's what I mean. Back on my ranch, I got a little red rooster and a little brown hen and they fight all the time too, but every once in a while they make up again and they're right friendly.
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7	Released in 1937, this ScrewballComedy is the third film version of Arthur Richman's 1923 play of the same name. It was directed by Creator/LeoMcCarey and stars Creator/IreneDunne and Creator/CaryGrant as Lucy and Jerry Warriner, a bickering married couple. The supporting cast includes Creator/RalphBellamy, Alexander D'Arcy, Cecil Cunningham, Molly Lamont, and Esther Dale.
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9	Jerry comes home from a mysterious trip (the film never says where he actually went), and lies, saying that he went to Florida on business. At home, he finds Lucy in the company of her music teacher under suspicious circumstances. After Lucy finds out Jerry lied about going to Florida, they file for divorce.
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11	The divorce decree is granted, to be effective in 90 days, and both Lucy and Jerry move on to other romantic partners. However, they still have to decide who gets custody of Mr. Smith, their dog. This winds up bringing Jerry and Lucy together again, and romantic sparks fly.
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13	Nominated for six [[UsefulNotes/AcademyAward Oscars]], only one of which it won (Best Director for Leo [=McCarey=]). Placed in the UsefulNotes/NationalFilmRegistry. Not to be confused with the AwfulTruth trope.
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15	----
16	!! This film provides examples of:
17	* TheAllegedCar: The incident between [[WhereWereYouLastNight Lucy and her music teacher]] which let to the divorce. Lampshaded by Lucy, saying that the car was very old to begin with, but Jerry doesn't believe her story.
18	* [[AmicablyDivorced Amicably Separated]]: With a pinch of [[BelligerentSexualTension BST]].
19	* BattleButler: The music teacher has one. Jerry learns this first hand.
20	* BelligerentSexualTension: Between Lucy and Jerry for 95% of the film.
21	* BreakupMakeupScenario: Lampshaded by Dan when giving the analogy of a rooster and a little hen on his farm.
22	* CountryMouse: Dan doesn't care much for New York City and he can't wait to return to Oklahoma.
23	* DearJohnLetter: When Lucy decides to break off her engagement with Dan she prepares a letter for him explaining why. However, Dan ends up getting this letter ''after'' he and Lucy have split up.
24	--> '''Dan:''' I certainly learned about women from you.
25	--> '''Aunt Patsy:''' [hands Dan the letter] [[DeadpanSnarker Here's your diploma.]]
26	* DisposableFiance / RomanticFalseLead: Two of them, both disposed of in spectacular fashion.
27	** Ralph Bellamy had a nice career in the 1930s and '40s playing handsome, polite men who never got the girl. This time, he's Dan Leeson, an Oklahoma oil baron who grows fond of Lucy.
28	** Then after Bellamy exits, Molly Lamont plays Barbara Vance, Jerry's rather shrewish fiancée.
29	%%* DivorceIsTemporary: Except that the couple is only ''almost'' divorced.
30	* DrivingADesk:
31	** Some unconvincing shots of the Warriners being driven down a country road and then getting lifts from two cops on motorcycles.
32	** Jerry and Barbara when they are racing a speedboat together.
33	* FormallyNamedPet: Mr. Smith, the Warriner's dog, who is the catalyst for getting them back together (they are disputing custody).
34	* FourthDateMarriage: Typical [[TheThirties Thirties]] trope. Dan falls in love with Lucy very quickly and wants to marry her after a couple of dates. She hesitates.
35	* FrenchJerk: Lucy's music teacher, whom Jerry finds very irritating. Jerry believes that Lucy is having an affair with him.
36	* GoodTimesMontage: With Barbara and Jerry enjoying themselves in different locations. Could also be seen as a [[AllLoveIsUnrequited one-sided]] FallingInLoveMontage.
37	* GreenEyedMonster: Everyone seems to fall victim at some point.
38	* {{Hypocrite}}: Lucy's lawyer tells her that "marriage is a wonderful thing" while yelling at his wife to shut up and stop nagging him about dinner.
39	* LetHimChoose: How the custody of Mr. Smith is determined. Lucy wins by procuring a dog toy from her purse.
40	* LongingLook: Lucy is giving these to Jerry during the movie's climax.
41	* LoveEpiphany: Lucy has one.
42	* LoyalAnimalCompanion: Mr. Smith.
43	* LyingFingerCross: Jerry does this behind his back where only Lucy can see it while he's waxing poetic about her wonderful fidelity to Dan.
44	* MaliciousSlander: From Mama Leeson, who spreads rumors that Lucy was sleeping around on Jerry in order to discourage Dan.
45	* ManicPixieDreamGirl: Lucy turns into this for the movie's third act.
46	* MarilynManeuver: The basis of a nightclub act (much to Jerry's embarrassment, as he was on a date with the nightclub singer in question). When Lucy does her own version later, she mimes the skirt-blowing effect.
47	* MommasBoy: Dan Leeson. Despite being a successful businessman he still lives with his mother and frequently seeks her approval.
48	* MyBelovedSmother: Dan's mother takes an entirely too active interest in his love life, actively discouraging his relationship with Lucy. In the end, he decides his mom was right.
49	* MyGirlIsNotASlut: Dan's reaction to the rumors (see MaliciousSlander above).
50	* NotWhatItLooksLike: Over and over again.
51	* OnTheRebound: Aunt Patsy advices Lucy not to go down that path.
52	* OohMeAccentsSlipping: Creator/RalphBellamy's country accent comes and goes.
53	* PlayingDrunk: Lucy, in order to embarrass Jerry at the Vance house.
54	* PrettyInMink: Lucy wears a few furs like a white fox coat, and a Persian lamb coat and muff (which she hides a dog toy just to mess with Jerry).
55	* RichInDollarsPoorInSense: Lucy thinks this of Barbara Vance.
56	* SexyDiscretionShot: The film's final FadeOut.
57	* SucksAtDancing: Dan. Not for a lack of enthusiasm, mind you...
58	* TemptingFate: Jerry's "Nothing's going to hurt me anymore." is prompting the piano to come down on his hand.
59	** Happens again in the car. Jerry asks, "What else can happen to us?". Cue the police sirens.
60	* ThatCameOutWrong: "That's right, Armand, no one could ever accuse you of being a great lover."
61	* TickleTorture: Jerry to Lucy from behind a door, as Lucy's both trying to hide him and trying to keep a straight face as Dan recites a cornball love poem to her.
62	* VehicularSabotage: Lucy engages in some, sending her own car into a ditch in order to force Jerry to spend the night in the cabin with her.
63	* WhenTheClockStrikesTwelve: The divorce decree becomes final at midnight.
64	* WhereWereYouLastNight: Jerry expects to find Lucy home when he returns. She's not. It all goes downhill from there.
65	* WorstNewsJudgmentEver: Jerry and Barbara's love life conveniently making the newspapers, giving more fuel to Lucy's jealousy.

Context Film / TheAwfulTruth