The Divorcee
Encyclopedia
The Divorcee is a 1930 American drama film
written by Nick Grindé
, John Meehan
and Zelda Sears
, based on the novel Ex-Wife by Ursula Parrott
. It was directed by Robert Z. Leonard
, who was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director. The film as also nominated for Best Picture and Won Best Actress
for it's Star Norma Shearer
.
plays a roving husband who has a brief affair with another woman — and tells his wife it doesn't "mean a thing". When his wife, Norma Shearer
, sets out to "settle the account" by having an affair with his best friend, the husband suddenly discovers that it might actually mean something after all. Norma Shearer
won the Academy Award for Best Actress
. Also starring in the film are Robert Montgomery
, Conrad Nagel
, and Florence Eldridge
.
, who purportedly never forgave Shearer for usurping the role.
, also starring Norma Shearer), as one of five Pre-Code
films in the "TCM Archives - Forbidden Hollywood Collection, Vol. 2" DVD box set. Other movies with the same title were released in 1917, 1919 and 1969.
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
written by Nick Grindé
Nick Grinde
Nick Grindé was an American film director and screenwriter. He directed 57 films between 1928 and 1945....
, John Meehan
John Meehan (screenwriter)
John Meehan was an American-born Canadian screenwriter.He was born in Lorraine, Ohio, before moving shortly afterwards to Lindsay, Ontario. Following high school he briefly attended the Heinrich Von Gerkenstein school of Culinary Sciences in Austria, before leaving to pursue a career in Hollywood...
and Zelda Sears
Zelda Sears
Zelda Sears, née Paldi was an American actress, screenwriter, novelist and businesswoman.-Youth:Sears was born near Brockway Township, St. Clair County, Michigan. Her father, Justin Lewis Paldi, ran a farm more than twenty miles from the closest railroad station. By age 12, she worked for L.A....
, based on the novel Ex-Wife by Ursula Parrott
Ursula Parrott
Katherine Ursula Towle better known by her pen name Ursula Parrott, was an American writer of romantic fiction stories and novels.- Works :...
. It was directed by Robert Z. Leonard
Robert Z. Leonard
Robert Zigler Leonard was an American film director, actor, producer and screenwriter.He was born in Chicago, Illinois...
, who was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director. The film as also nominated for Best Picture and Won Best Actress
Best Actress
Best Actress is the name of an award which is presented by various film, television and theatre organizations, festivals, and people's awards. It may refer to:-Film award:* Academy Award for Best Actress* Ariel Award for Best Actress...
for it's Star Norma Shearer
Norma Shearer
Edith Norma Shearer was a Canadian-American actress. Shearer was one of the most popular actresses in North America from the mid-1920s through the 1930s...
.
Synopsis
Chester MorrisChester Morris
Chester Morris was an American actor, who starred in the Boston Blackie detective series of the 1940s.-Career:...
plays a roving husband who has a brief affair with another woman — and tells his wife it doesn't "mean a thing". When his wife, Norma Shearer
Norma Shearer
Edith Norma Shearer was a Canadian-American actress. Shearer was one of the most popular actresses in North America from the mid-1920s through the 1930s...
, sets out to "settle the account" by having an affair with his best friend, the husband suddenly discovers that it might actually mean something after all. Norma Shearer
Norma Shearer
Edith Norma Shearer was a Canadian-American actress. Shearer was one of the most popular actresses in North America from the mid-1920s through the 1930s...
won the Academy Award for Best Actress
Academy Award for Best Actress
Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role is one of the Academy Awards of merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance while working within the film industry...
. Also starring in the film are Robert Montgomery
Robert Montgomery (actor)
Robert Montgomery was an American actor and director.- Early life :Montgomery was born Henry Montgomery, Jr. in Beacon, New York, then known as "Fishkill Landing", the son of Mary Weed and Henry Montgomery, Sr. His early childhood was one of privilege, since his father was president of the New...
, Conrad Nagel
Conrad Nagel
Conrad Nagel was an American screen actor and matinee idol of the silent film era and beyond. He was also a well-known television actor and radio performer.-Biography:...
, and Florence Eldridge
Florence Eldridge
Florence Eldridge was an American actress.-Personal life:...
.
Casting
According to popular film lore, Shearer was originally never in the running for the lead role in The Divorcee because it was believed that she didn't have enough sex appeal; it was only after Shearer arranged a special photo session with studio portrait photographer George Hurrell and her husband saw the result, that he relented and gave her the role. The original choice was Joan CrawfordJoan Crawford
Joan Crawford , born Lucille Fay LeSueur, was an American actress in film, television and theatre....
, who purportedly never forgave Shearer for usurping the role.
Releases
The Divorcee was released on DVD by Warner Home Video on March 8, 2008 (along with A Free SoulA Free Soul
A Free Soul is a 1931 Pre-Code film which tells the story of an alcoholic defense attorney who must defend his daughter's ex-boyfriend on a charge of murdering the mobster she had started a relationship with; a mobster whom her father had previously got an acquittal for on a murder charge...
, also starring Norma Shearer), as one of five Pre-Code
Pre-Code
Pre-Code Hollywood refers to the era in the American film industry between the introduction of sound in the late 1920s and the enforcement of the Motion Picture Production Code censorship guidelines. Although the Code was adopted in 1930, oversight was poor and it did not become rigorously...
films in the "TCM Archives - Forbidden Hollywood Collection, Vol. 2" DVD box set. Other movies with the same title were released in 1917, 1919 and 1969.
Cast
- Norma ShearerNorma ShearerEdith Norma Shearer was a Canadian-American actress. Shearer was one of the most popular actresses in North America from the mid-1920s through the 1930s...
as Jerry Martin - Chester MorrisChester MorrisChester Morris was an American actor, who starred in the Boston Blackie detective series of the 1940s.-Career:...
as Ted Martin - Conrad NagelConrad NagelConrad Nagel was an American screen actor and matinee idol of the silent film era and beyond. He was also a well-known television actor and radio performer.-Biography:...
as Paul - Robert MontgomeryRobert Montgomery (actor)Robert Montgomery was an American actor and director.- Early life :Montgomery was born Henry Montgomery, Jr. in Beacon, New York, then known as "Fishkill Landing", the son of Mary Weed and Henry Montgomery, Sr. His early childhood was one of privilege, since his father was president of the New...
as Don - Florence EldridgeFlorence EldridgeFlorence Eldridge was an American actress.-Personal life:...
as Helen Baldwin - Helene Millard as Mary
- Robert Elliott as Bill Baldwin
- Mary Doran as Janice Meredith
- Tyler BrookeTyler BrookeTyler Brooke, real name Victor Hugo de Bierre, was an American film actor. He appeared in 92 films between 1915 and 1943....
as Hank - Zelda SearsZelda SearsZelda Sears, née Paldi was an American actress, screenwriter, novelist and businesswoman.-Youth:Sears was born near Brockway Township, St. Clair County, Michigan. Her father, Justin Lewis Paldi, ran a farm more than twenty miles from the closest railroad station. By age 12, she worked for L.A....
as Hannah - George IrvingGeorge IrvingGeorge Irving may refer to:*George Irving , American film actor and director*George Irving , British television actor*George S. Irving , American theatre actor-See also:*George Irvine...
as Dr Bernard - Judith WoodJudith WoodJudith Wood was an American film actress from the end of the 1920s through the 1940s.Born as Helen Johnson in New York City, Wood moved to Hollywood, California to pursue an acting career in the late 1920s. Her first role was in the 1929 film Gold Diggers of Broadway...
as Dorothy (Dot)