The Divorce of Lady X (1938)

Ralph Richardson: Lord Mere

Photos 

Quotes 

• Logan : Think back to that sacred ceremony. There she stood... an innocent girl about to face the most perilous moment in her life.

  Lord Mere : Look here, Logan, you've got this slightly mixed. She's not an innocent girl. Before she married me, she was divorced from Lord Lauderdale... trains race hoses.

  Logan : Oh.

  Lord Mere : Uh huh, and you can say "Oh!" again. Before she married Lord Lauderdale, she was divorced from the Baron de Brussac who makes an inferior grade of brandy.

  Logan : She's a French woman?

  Lord Mere : An American. Her first husband was called Wild Man Cavanaugh - a professional wrestler by trade. She got rid of him at Reno.

  Logan : She's impossible! Four marriages, and she's so young.

  Lord Mere : Who said she was so young?

  Logan : Uh, you did, didn't you?

  Lord Mere : Ah hah. As a matter of fact, she looks young - enchantingly so. But, she's a serpent, you know... a viper. Coils herself about the heart of an innocent man and then strikes. I must get rid of her or face certain ruin.

• Lord Mere : What's your opinion of women, Peters?

  Peters, Club Attendant : Well, me lord, they have their uses as we know, but as to consulting with them, as you might say, I've only dabbled with them.

  Lord Mere : Well, why don't we leave it at that? Women are a menace... a menace, Peters. Look at Eden.

  Peters, Club Attendant : What, the foreign secretary, sir?

  Lord Mere : No, you fool. The Garden of Eden - Adam and Eve. You know the story?

  Peters, Club Attendant : Well, yes, I remember... but it was a little bit before my time.

  Lord Mere : Well, it's still going on. The woman leads the man up the garden path and leaves him in the lurch for a snake in the grass.

• Lord Mere : [Mumbling to himself over brandy at the club]  Your wife's the most awfully clever woman in the world?

  [Later] 

  Lord Mere : What did he mean, my wife's the most awfully clever woman in the world?

• Logan : But do you love her?

  Lord Mere : What?... I say, uh, yes.

  Logan : Then why do you want a divorce?

• Logan : Will you give her a message?

  Lord Mere : Yes.

  Logan : Will you tell her for me that I think she's the most awfully clever woman in the world?

• Leslie : [At the fox hunt at Mere Hall]  Who's the man she's talking to?

  Lord Mere : By gad, it's that cad, Limmet.

  Leslie : Well, why a cad?

  Lord Mere : Awful fella. Shoots foxes all the time and rides over hounds half the winter.

  Leslie : And what does he do with his spare time?

  Lord Mere : Makes love to other fellow's wives. But if he thinks he's got a chance with Clare, he's barking up the wrong tree.

  [Switch to Lady Mere telling Limmet she'll meet him somewhere]