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Robert Harris

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Robert Harris
Columbia's 1937 The Awful Truth, is to my mind, one of the finest screwball comedies to come out of Hollywood.

Ever!

Irene Dunne and Cary Grant are perfect, as a warring couple, that give us a myriad of delights.

For astute cinephiles, it's also the first film to feature a reasonably fully molded Cary Grant, with many of the affectations and speech patterns that stayed with him through the decades. In effect, he came into full character in his early Columbia period, presumably under the guidance of director Leo McCarey, who had been at it since 1920, and had worked with some of the finest comedic talents.

One of the major discoveries for me, via this new Criterion release, was the overall quality. For the past four decades or so, the film was only available based upon 16mm dupes. Quality 35mm elements, had seemed to have slipped away.

Finally, seeing it from 35mm, is almost miraculous.

A must own!

Image - 4.25

Audio - 5

Pass / Fail - Pass

Upgrade from DVD - Without a Doubt!

Very Highly Recommended

RAH

 
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Dick

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Love this film. The little terrier who played Asta in the Third Man movies is hilarious in this one -- steals the show at several moments.

We need more screwball on Blu-ray! I heard that LIBELED LADY is being restored (?). We're missing most of the Preston Sturges classics still (LADY EVE, MIRACLE OF MORGAN'S CREEK, etc.).
 

Robert Harris

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Only Angels Have Wings, His Girl Friday, The Philadelphia Story and now The Awful Truth. A wonderful array of Cary Grant riches from Criterion and yet this just creates all the more hunger pangs for Bringing Up Baby; just as, notoriously, their Chaplin program had done for The Circus. Maybe both by years end? Call it greedy or call it the nature of the beast; but one can only hope.
 
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Garysb

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Love this film. The little terrier who played Asta in the Third Man movies is hilarious in this one -- steals the show at several moments.

The Thin Man not Third Man but yeah the dog, real name Skippy, was great.
Here are his movie credits per Wikipedia.
1932 The Half-Naked Truth
1934 Fog Over Frisco
1934 The Thin Man
1935 The Big Broadcast of 1936
1935 Lottery Lover
1935 It's a Small World
1935 The Daring Young Man
1936 After the Thin Man
1937 China Passage
1937 Sea Racketeers
1937 The Awful Truth
1938 Bringing Up Baby
1938 I Am the Law
1938 Keep Smiling
1939 Topper Takes a Trip
1939 Another Thin Man
1940 Famous Movie Dogs Short
1940 I'm Still Alive
1941 Shadow of the Thin Man

Retired in 1941. Per the internet some dispute if the dag was Skippy in Shadow of the Thin Man. Other dog(s) played Asta in later films. His owners never announced his retirement or date of death.
 
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Dick

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Rick
The Thin Man not Third Man but yeah the dog, real name Skippy, was great.
Here are his movie credits per Wikipedia.
1932 The Half-Naked Truth
1934 Fog Over Frisco
1934 The Thin Man
1935 The Big Broadcast of 1936
1935 Lottery Lover
1935 It's a Small World
1935 The Daring Young Man
1936 After the Thin Man
1937 China Passage
1937 Sea Racketeers
1937 The Awful Truth
1938 Bringing Up Baby
1938 I Am the Law
1938 Keep Smiling
1939 Topper Takes a Trip
1939 Another Thin Man
1940 Famous Movie Dogs Short
1940 I'm Still Alive
1941 Shadow of the Thin Man

Retired in 1941. Per the internet some dispute if the dag was Skippy in Shadow of the Thin Man. Other dog(s) played Asta in later films. His owners never announced his retirement or date of death.

Yes, I grow tired of my mistakes like this one. The THIN MAN series is what I mean to type, but my fingers had other ideas.
 

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