AMUSEMENTS

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 20, 6 April 1938, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS

“THE AWFUL TRUTH’* Irene Dunne, the Theodorable screen comedienne, scores mightily in the year’s choicest comedy role as Lucy Warriner in Columbia’s “The Awful Truth,” . which screens Thursday and Friday at the De Luxe Theatre. Irene merely scratched the surface of her comedy capabilities in “Theodora Goes Wild.’’ It. remained for her hilarious clowning •in “The Awful Truth” to reveal the treasure-trove of talent in her inimitable personality. This gay, madcap story of the Warriners, played by Aliss Dunne as Lucy and Cary Grant as Jerry, is so uproariusly funny it should makb the annual ten best list in a walk. The fun starts when Jeri*y and Lucy decide t-O: separate with the only bone of contention the custody of Air Smith their wire-hair terrier. > The court allows Air Smith to Lucy but permits Jerry to visit the dog. Thus many of the film’s outstanding comedy scenes arise out of Jerry’s visits to Lucy’s apartment while she is entertaining impatient suitors. Le Affaire Warriner takes its most ludicrous turn, however, when Jerry announces his engagement to a flighty young thing with a social register background. Lucy, determined to win Jerry hack at all costs, attends the sumptuous engagement party, posing a s Jerry’s sister, and by actions totally unbecoming a lady, manages to have herself and her “brother” thrown out on their collective ear. “Colossal” was coined for just such a scene. \ Irene -and Clary, teamed for the first time, are, of course, superb, Ralph Bellamy gives a deliciously hillbill v flavour to his Oklahoma oil baron. The veteran Cecil Cunningham plays Aliss Dunne’s dour Aunt Pat sy. Alexander D’Areyi is excellently romantic as the French vocal teacher. “The Awful Truth’’ is handsomely mounted. No less important- than all these qualities is the finished direction by Leo AlcCarey. In “The Awful Truth” he. has unquestionably made one of the standout films of the year and probably its best comedy..