clairegm13 Review of The Divorcee

The Divorcee (1930)

One of the best women's films of its time (or any time)

[22 February 2004]

SPOILERS The Divorcee takes a hard look at the double standard. This is one of my personal favorite films of the Pre-Code Era because it's exactly the kind of film that the Code guarded against. Norma Shearer's character is extremely strong-willed and essentially proposes to her boyfriend at the beginning of the film. Later on she finds out her husband has cheated on her, and she does the only thing she could think of to do: she "balances their accounts." Ted cannot handle being cheated on himself and when she states plainly what she has done he asks her for divorce. Throughout the rest of the film though they both regret not being together, it is Ted who dips the lowest, becoming too drunk to even go to work. Jerry is still strong (sad that it had to end the way it did, but strong) and has many exploits with various men, but she knows she still loves Ted. In the end it is Ted who needs Jerry the most, and they end up back together on New Year's. The moral of this story is not that the married couple gets back together where it should be-- the moral of this story is that no double standard should ever exist. A woman is not going to sit idly by while her man cheats on her, nor should she. A man has to realize that he cannot ask for forgiveness if he is not willing to forgive the same act. That is why this film defines Pre-Code in my mind-- Jerry states at the beginning that they'll have a go at it only if they are equals. She finds out that she is not his equal-- she is the better man. This movie would not only never have been made after the Code was enforced (due to the adultery, allusions to sex, and the strong female protagonist)-- I don't think it would be made now. What a great female protagonist-- Shearer is magnificent (as she usually is). Chester Morris is great and Robert Montgomery is the fun-loving best friend, who acts as an organ- grinder's monkey at one point-- just delightful! Needless to say I recommend this movie to anyone and everyone!