La divorciada

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.

An intelligent, adult comedy-drama about men, women, marriage, double standards, and forgiveness. Thanks to the writing (often sophisticated), the direction (quite accomplished for a 1930 movie) and a first-rate cast, these characters, their feelings, their problems remain contemporary and relatable nearly 90 years later. *** out of 4.

It had a plot that couldn't possibly have been made under the strict enforcement of the film production code beginning in mid-1934. During the so-called 'Pre-Code' era, however, MGM's April 1930 "The Divorcee" was not only produced and released nationwide, but it became an enormous hit with both the public and the film critics. Based on the controversial bestselling 1929 novel by Ursula Parrott, 'Ex-Wife,' "The Divorcee" focuses on a couple whose husband has a fling three years into their marriage. Once she finds out, the wife decides the settle the score by having an affair herself. That sends the pair's marriage down a rocky slope.

"The Divorcee" shows Ted's (Chester Morris) wife Jerry(Norma Shearer), enjoying her extra-marital frolicks with a number of men after she separates from her husband, starting with their pal Don (Robert Montgomery). Under the new Production Code after 1934, Jerry would be required to feel painfully remorseful from her enjoying her new 'boyfriends.' But here, she doesn't harbor any deep regrets from her numerous romps. There may be a shallowness in her feelings, but she suffers no repercussions. MGM, worried about the potential backlash if word got out the studio was adapting the 'Ex-Wife' novel into a feature film, gave the production the working title 'The High Road.' MGM avoided any mention of the book's title in the movie's credits, simply stating "Based on a novel by Ursula Parrott."

Actress Joan Crawford was MGM producer Irving Thalberg's pick to play the role of Jerry when the studio bought the rights to Parrott's novel. However, Norma Shearer, Thalberg's wife, was immensely interested in the part. She was looking for a juicy role to break the public perception she was just a goodie-two-shoes. Thalberg nixed her from even thinking about playing Jerry. Determined, Shearer arranged a photography session where she dressed in a sheer lingerie posing provocatively. When Thalberg saw the photos of his wife, after he put his eyeballs back into their sockets, he agreed she could convincingly carry the role of an adulteress. The press heard about the behind the scenes drama and asked Crawford for a statement on Thalberg's decision. "What do you expect?" she said. "She sleeps with the boss."

Typical of "The Divorce's" positive reviews was this from Photoplay: "As neat an essay on marital unfaithfulness as has been made in Hollywood. It sets Norma Shearer at the very top of the acting class. You won't forget this picture, and you'll undoubtedly go home and have a good long talk with your spouse." Shearer's role as the get-even spouse won her the Academy Awards' Best Actress. The movie's director, Robert Leonard, a veteran of helming pictures since 1913, was nominated for Best Director. "The Divorcee" was also nominated for Best Picture (Outstanding Production) and John Meehan for Best Writing.

The Divorcée has much more to offer than the melodramatic plot may insinuate. Sparkling performances aside (including Norma Shearer's Oscar-winning turn), the film is full of witty dialogue, risqué subject matter, and a serious, adult look at divorce, not seen again for decades. The film not only showcases the largely-forgotten Shearer beautifully, an actress who continually pushed subject matter and fought for strong roles, but proves itself as a pivotal 1930's Hollywood product. The Divorcée is appreciable as a pre-code, and worth seeing for its unusually bold themes alone, but its surprising and often heartbreaking plot makes it an unusual gem.

The Divorcée (1930)

The start of this is such a busy, overlapping party scene in a country house, you can't help but get swept up in it. And if some of the acting or a few of the quips are not perfect, the best moments are really fun and spirited. The naturalism is really refreshing, and pace fast, and the dialog real. Then it spins out of control--the events, not the movie--and before fifteen minutes are up, there's a brief terrible moment that has two or three of the actors exploring an hysteria that a method actor would be proud of. It's intense, great stuff. Get at least that far in.

The rest of the movie follows suit, through quiet and fast moments, and the drama turns to melodrama and back, all pinned together by the ever convincing Norma Shearer. The themes--fidelity and infidelity, love and friendship, the superficial versus the things that matter--give it all something to chew on or laugh at at ever turn.

It's unnecessary to say that this is just two years after the full advent of sound, and it's a very developed, mature element in the movies. In fact, the density of things going on would never have been possible with intertitles, and it must have been a revelation to audiences and movie makers equally. Fast dialog and overlapping events are a natural extension of the theater, of course, but with the ability to shift scenes and zip down wooded roads with the camera is the essence of cinema.

So, in all, for how it's made, for the acting (the best of it), and for the serious, important themes, this is gem, an amazing movie, whatever its hiccups and flaws here and there. I wouldn't miss it.