The Divorcee

The Divorcee is considered as one of the first real pre-code film, certainly the first to be a commercial success and rouse controversy and interest nationally. This film lead to many others of its kind and shaped the pre-code era we know today.

It stars Norma Shearer, who won an Oscar for best actress for her role. Shearer, much like Miriam Hopkins, was the poster-girl for the 20s and 30s and certainly pre-code films. She played strong, sexually liberated women and by doing so, was granted the title of a 'sex-symbol'. Shearer was the wife of MGM production head Irving Thalberg, whom brought the rights to the book Ex-Wife in which the film was then based on. He originally wished for Joan Crawford to play the role, as he did not believe Shearer had enough sex-appeal. Yet Shearer arranged a photo session with photographer George Hurrell and convinced Thalberg that she could indeed play the role. It also stars Chester Morris, who was also the leading male in Red-Headed Woman. The film was directed by Robert Z. Leonard; this earned him an Academy Award nomination for best director.

This film was originally created to counter-act and reflect the hard times of The Great Depression. It was an attempt to get the American public back into cinemas at a very hard time.

The synopsis is as follows:
Jerry and Ted are young, in love, and part of the New York 'in-crowd'. Jerry's decision to marry Ted crushes a yearning Paul. Distraught Paul gets drunk and wrecks his car, disfiguring young Dorothy's face in the process. Out of pity, Paul marries Dorothy. Years later, the apparent perfect marriage of Ted and Jerry falls apart from infidelity on both sides. Inwardly unhappy, popular Jerry lives a party life while Ted sinks into a life of alcoholism. Jerry then runs into Paul, who still loves her. After spending time together with Jerry, Paul plans to divorce Dorothy. When Jerry sees Dorothy again, she has second thoughts about where her life is heading.
I chose this film, as I have previously mentioned, due to the fact that it acted as the initiation of pre-code films. It confronts, boldly, the issues of divorce and adultery- which, before, had hardly been touched on in such in film; and caused controversy as a result. Much like Red-Headed Woman it was produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. However due to not being able to purchase it, or get a hold of a copy in any other way, I cannot use it as one of my focus films; therefore I will place it under the 'not used' section of my catalogue.

Some reviews:
"Surpisingly strong, effective early talkie from usually tepid MGM"- Rotten Tomatoes

"It's doubtful that this melodrama, in which Norma Shearer challenges society's double standards about sexual mores by flirting with several men, could have been made after 1934 due to strictures of the Production Code"- Rotten Tomatoes

"[Shearer] certainly deserved her Oscar for this one"-Rotten Tomatoes

Box office:
The budget for this film was estimated at $340,691
Rentals reached $1,218,000 (Worldwide)