The Divorcee | 1930 | Drama, Romance

Title: The Divorcee | 1930 | Drama, Romance Director: Robert Z. Leonard. Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer . Starring: Norma Shearer, Chester Morris, Conrad Nagel, Robert Montgomery, Florence Eldridge. Based on: Ex-Wife by Ursula Parrott. Release Date: April 19, 1930. Runtime: 83 minutes. Format: Black and white; Mono. Country: United States. Language: English. Genres: Drama, Romance. --- Chapters: 00:00:00 Wedding, friends, and foreshadowing 00:15:30 Anniversary revelation 00:35:00 Divorce and separate paths 00:55:00 Rekindled feelings and complications 01:12:00 New Year’s reunion --- Summary: After three years of marriage, Jerry discovers that her husband Ted has been unfaithful. Determined to “balance the accounts,” she has a fling with Ted’s friend Don, provoking a rupture that leads to divorce. Jerry embraces a fast social life while Ted unravels. When Jerry reconnects with former suitor Paul, they plan a future together until the reality of Paul’s marriage forces a moral reckoning. On New Year’s Eve in Paris, Jerry and Ted confront their past and tentatively choose reconciliation, reflecting the story’s focus on the double standard and modern views of love and marriage. --- Background: MGM adapted Ursula Parrott’s bestseller Ex-Wife during the pre-Code era, with Robert Z. Leonard directing and Norma Shearer in the role that secured her the Academy Award for Best Actress. Shearer’s casting famously followed a set of daring portrait sittings by photographer George Hurrell that convinced production chief Irving Thalberg she could carry the film’s provocative themes. The film premiered April 19, 1930, amid contemporary debates over marriage and morality. --- Trivia: Norma Shearer won the Academy Award for Best Actress at the 3rd Academy Awards; the film was also nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Writing. Joan Crawford was initially considered for the lead before Shearer secured the role, aided by George Hurrell’s glamour photographs. The film was included in Warner’s Forbidden Hollywood Collection: Volume 2 , with a mono audio presentation. Contemporary materials and studio publicity emphasized Cedric Gibbons’s art direction and Adrian’s costumes, underscoring MGM’s polished production values. --- Public Domain / Rights: Original Release: April 19, 1930. Original Studio / Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer . Copyright Status: Public Domain . Renewal: Unknown --- Hashtags: TheDivorcee NormaShearer PreCode ClassicFilm PublicDomain MGM 1930sCinema RobertZLeonard Source page: https: //commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Divorcee_(1930).webm Direct media URL: https: //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/The_Divorcee_%281930%29.webm