The Divorcee - Sex~Kitten.net

The story center’s around Jerry (Norma Shearer) & Ted (Chester Morris), who fall in love, get married, and then falter when Jerry forces Ted to admit to an infidelity. Ted does admit it, but perhaps feeling too secure that his wife would never give up their posh home & lifestyle, suggests his wife "snap out of it."

She does, but not just the way he intended: Jerry retaliates by having sex with his best friend.

Now, of course, the marriage must end. Husbands never have to ‘snap out of it,’ do they?

Amazingly, neither character is portrayed as evil. Nor are they reduced to the comical or become caricatures of themselves. Both retain their human dignity (as much as cheating spouses can!) & behave in a believable fashion. It is because of this that Jerry & Ted retain the audience’s affection.

The movie tries to show that Shearer ought to have the same privileges of freedom as Morris ~ but neither Morris nor society at large agree. While he is free to sleep around, she isn’t. Even when divorced & single, it seems she is judged. Has anything changed?

For many, this double standard isn’t exactly eye opening. But considering the age of the movie, it is quite astonishing. Made in 1930, it was one of the last movies to squeak in morally questionable material before the strong enforcement of The Hays Code. (For additional information, please also read our review of Complicated Women.) It was largely due to the fact that Shearer was previously known for her more ‘virtuous roles,’ & the agreement with the studio that a more ’conventional ending’ be used, that the movie finessed the censorship issue & was able to be made at all.

(For those that criticize the traditional Hollywood ending, I ask you to consider the 1995 making of Something to Talk About. Sixty-five years later, and there's an ending that makes me blush with shame!)

The Divorcee is an excellent classic film, though often overlooked, despite the fact that it brought in that years Oscar for Best Film, as well as an Oscar for Shearer. Perhaps it is cynical of me, but I suspect the success of this film & it’s popularity with audiences was dampened by the studio’s unwillingness to continue to release it during the code’s strong years.

For even with it’s pc (Production Code) ending, the movie has some startling moments. Upon first viewing, I found myself saying (out loud), “Did they know what that meant?!”

Here, try for yourself ~ Click the pic & watch a clip!

We all know sex has been around forever, but sometimes we forget.

Besides being a great filmed version of an experiment in feminism, the film is enjoyable & well made. The supporting cast is excellent. The sub-plots are also interesting ~ including a story regarding drinking & driving (I think this is the oldest film I have seen that makes that point).

And all the things we love about classic films ~ including those vintage fashions ~ are here.