The Awful Truth

In the 1937 film "The Awful Truth," the witty and satirical comedic style of writers Leo McCarey and Robert Riskin shines through as they tackle the complexities of marriage and relationships. The story revolves around Jerry (Cary Grant) and Lucy Warriner, a high-society couple living in New York City in the late 1930s. The marriage has grown stale, and both partners have found themselves drawn to other people, but they have no intention of divorcing or pursuing these relationships seriously. The Warriners initially decide to separate and file for divorce citing incompatibility and an inability to live with each other. However, this decision is, in truth, merely the start of a game they play to sabotage each other's budding relationships with new partners. Jerry, a charming man with an insular and manipulative streak, discovers that his new love interest is none other than Arlene, his own ex-wife, who had left him several years ago. This situation sets Jerry off on a course to win her back. Lucy, on the other hand, starts to develop feelings for Dan Le Blanc, an opera singer. As she delves deeper into their relationship, Lucy realizes that Dan's affectionate personality is not as genuine as she first thought but is more a desperate attempt to gain her love and social status. Lucy finds this quite frustrating, realizing Jerry's manipulations have not only affected her own desires as well as influencing how Jerry perceives people. Jerry becomes increasingly invested in winning back Arlene, who seems to have been genuinely sorry for how they were parted, and they seem to have formed an undeniable bond. At this point in their lives, they start questioning what they want from life and from each other. The pair's attempts to undermine each other become more and more aggressive with each passing scene. Throughout this journey, the pair's relationship dynamics are turned upside down in unexpected ways, ultimately forcing them both to question their true motives and their perception of love, honesty, and relationships. "The Awful Truth" ultimately reveals itself to be an astute commentary about love, relationships, the consequences of societal standards, and ultimately whether Jerry and Lucy truly want to be together. In the climax of the film, as tensions between the couple reach a boiling point, they engage in a confrontation where Jerry finally comes to the realization that the only relationship he truly cherishes is the one he shares with Lucy, a feeling he had been trying to avoid in the first place. He realizes the games he was playing were just a defense mechanism. However, in the last few seconds he also understands that he is genuinely sorry for the pain he had caused her and genuinely wants to make a change to ensure the end result is a relationship with Lucy at its forefront, the way it was meant to be. As a result, the two reconcile, understanding their flaws and acknowledging the love they harbor deep within.