The Awful Truth (1937) in Color — Starring Irene Dunne & Cary Grant

The Awful Truth (1937) — Buy This Classic in Color

Discover The Awful Truth, Leo McCarey’s 1937 Academy Award-winning screwball comedy starring Irene Dunne and Cary Grant, now available as a professionally colorized version. Own this classic movie in color as a DRM-free MP4 digital download for just €15.00.

Plot Summary

Jerry Warriner (Cary Grant), a charming, sophisticated New York socialite, returns from a supposed vacation in Florida with a suspiciously deep tan that came from a sun lamp rather than actual sunshine, only to discover that his beautiful, equally sophisticated wife Lucy (Irene Dunne) has spent the night away from home with her handsome French music teacher Armand Duvalle (Alexander D’Arcy) after their car allegedly broke down on the road. Neither spouse fully believes the other’s innocent explanation, and in a moment of wounded pride and mutual suspicion, they impulsively agree to divorce — a decision both immediately regret but are too proud to admit.

As the ninety-day waiting period before their divorce becomes final ticks away like a romantic time bomb, Jerry and Lucy embark on increasingly elaborate and hilariously disastrous attempts to move on with their lives while simultaneously sabotaging each other’s new relationships with escalating cunning and barely concealed jealousy. Lucy begins courting Daniel Leeson (Ralph Bellamy), a sweet, earnest, hopelessly unsophisticated Oklahoma oil millionaire whose mother accompanies him everywhere and whose idea of a good time involves square dancing and early bedtimes. Jerry retaliates by pursuing a glamorous nightclub performer, provoking Lucy into ever more creative acts of interference. The custody battle over their beloved fox terrier Mr. Smith becomes a comic battleground, with the clever dog serving as an unwitting messenger of the couple’s undying affection. Lucy’s devastating impersonation of Jerry’s fictitious sister — a vulgar, drunken nightclub singer — at a crucial society gathering is one of the greatest comedy set pieces in cinema history, reducing Jerry’s social pretensions to rubble while simultaneously proving that no one knows him better or loves him more. As the final hours of their divorce decree approach, the couple finds themselves together in a country cabin where a broken door, a persistent cat, and the undeniable truth of their love conspire to produce one of the most perfectly timed, brilliantly choreographed reconciliations in the history of romantic comedy.

Cast & Crew

Director: Leo McCarey

Stars: Irene Dunne, Cary Grant, Ralph Bellamy, Alexander D’Arcy, Cecil Cunningham, Molly Lamont, Esther Dale, Joyce Compton, Robert Allen, Robert Warwick

Irene Dunne delivers a career-defining performance of dazzling comic versatility, effortlessly shifting between elegant sophistication and broad physical comedy while maintaining the emotional vulnerability that makes Lucy Warriner one of the most fully realized characters in screwball comedy. Cary Grant, in the role that essentially defined his screen persona, discovered the suave, self-deprecating comic timing that would serve him for the next three decades. Ralph Bellamy is endearingly hapless as the well-meaning but outmatched rival. Leo McCarey won the Academy Award for Best Director, largely by encouraging his brilliant cast to improvise freely, creating a spontaneous energy that scripted comedy rarely achieves.

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

The Awful Truth was originally filmed in black and white, capturing the glamour and wit of 1930s Manhattan high society with elegant pacing. This professionally colorized restoration brings frame-by-frame precision to Irene Dunne’s stunning wardrobe of silk gowns and fur stoles, Cary Grant’s impeccable suits, the art deco elegance of Manhattan apartments and nightclubs, and the warm, cozy timber tones of the pivotal country cabin. The colorized version adds visual depth and atmospheric intensity to this restored classic film, enhancing the contrast between the glittering social world and the intimate moments where genuine emotion breaks through the comedy. Now also available in colour.

Buy The Awful Truth in color today for just €15.00. Your DRM-free MP4 download is available for instant access.

Historical Significance

The Awful Truth won the Academy Award for Best Director and received nominations for Best Picture, Best Actress for Irene Dunne, Best Supporting Actor for Ralph Bellamy, and Best Editing, cementing its status as one of the defining achievements of Hollywood’s golden age of screwball comedy. The film essentially created Cary Grant’s iconic screen persona and established the template for sophisticated romantic comedies built on the battle of the sexes. Its influence extends through decades of romantic comedy, from The Philadelphia Story to When Harry Met Sally, and it remains one of the most perfectly crafted, consistently hilarious films ever made. Through colorization, this screwball masterpiece is preserved for modern audiences.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4 digital download
• Resolution: HD restored
• Colorized: Professionally colorized from original black and white
• Audio: Original mono restored
• Runtime: Approximately 91 minutes
• DRM-free: Yes — watch on any device
• Instant download: Available immediately after purchase
• Price: €15.00

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: Did The Awful Truth win any Academy Awards?
A: Yes, Leo McCarey won the Academy Award for Best Director, and the film received additional nominations for Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Editing.

Q: What role does the dog Mr. Smith play in the comedy?
A: Mr. Smith the fox terrier is a scene-stealing comic presence whose custody becomes a battleground for the couple’s unresolved feelings, and whose reactions to the escalating chaos provide some of the film’s biggest laughs.

Q: How does colorization enhance this screwball comedy?
A: Colorization brings radiant life to the glamorous 1930s world of Manhattan society — the elegant gowns, the art deco interiors, the nightclub scenes — while adding warmth to the intimate moments where the characters reveal their true feelings beneath the sparkling comic surface.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: The film is delivered as an MP4 file compatible with virtually any device or media player.

Q: Is there DRM on the file?
A: No. The download is completely DRM-free so you can watch it on any device without restrictions.

Q: How quickly can I watch after purchase?
A: Your download link is available instantly after payment, so you can start watching within minutes.

Related Colorized Classics

• Bringing Up Baby (1938)
• His Girl Friday (1940)
• It Happened One Night (1934)
• My Man Godfrey (1936)
• The Philadelphia Story (1940)