The best thing about this opening scene is Grant, who pretty much is in the entire sequence. He has this great way to express himself, and in this particular film, it's funny. He doesn't exaggerate his characterizations too much, he takes it just to the right extreme. You know he's not serious, but he's not melodramatic about it, he's kinda hilarious. You wanna keep watching him. So he embodies the character of Jerry perfectly, because here's a guy who hasn't really been in Florida and doesn't want the wife to know, and he thinks he's gonna outsmart her, but really she outsmarts him. And his reactions to that, the uncertainty, the doubt, it's all over his face. Grant also has a way of delivering his lines with the right comedic timing. His performance just flows well with the story. And it's his performance that adds to the tone of the film.
While dialogue in the film might set the tone right away, I'd say it's more Grant's performance. In the hands of a less capable actor, the same lines just wouldn't be delivered with the kind of screwiness that it deserves. Jerry wants to get a tan before he heads home lest his wife finds out he hasn't really been in Florida. But Grant says his lines in such a matter-of-fact way that adds to the ridiculousness of it all. When Dunne makes her entrance, she is also very matter-of-fact in her performance. The sheer fact that she can remain calm while Grant's Jerry is growing livid at her arrival with her teacher, it showcases a whole new level of comedy. Instead of the female being the screwy one, Dunne's Lucy remains calm and in control, but always a step ahead.
Dunne has a way of giving a laugh that is dead-on funny. It's not so much forced or fake, but it's just right, like it's been practiced and deemed acceptable by all. When Dunne finally makes her entrance, she does so in such an innocent way almost, as if oblivious to what's going on. And again, she doesn't overact too much, but just enough to show that her character is acting as well. She plays dumb, and you know she's not, especially when all the supporting characters exit the scene and the true claws come out.
Now, what's great about the premise is that while so many screwball comedies are about opposite people meeting and somehow ending up together, in this film, the couple is already together, but apparently the marriage's gone south. Neither one of them is involved. They both leave home, thinking the other is anxiously waiting for the other to return, when really they're both so involved in their own escapades. So many films of the genre are about becoming a couple, but in this one the couple is together but the spark is gone. So a divorce is ordered. And you can tell neither thinks it'll go through, but they're both so proud that Jerry encourages Lucy to call a lawyer, and she does so, reminding him she'll have to call his lawyer since he's the only one she knows. And then there's poor Mr Smith looking back and forth at his parents as they fight, kinda like a kid might in a similar scenario. It's a good setup for what happens in the following sequence.
Another thing I liked about the scene that I felt cemented the tone of it was the inclusion of Jerry's friends. They almost acted like a Chorus--they were our voice and ears to the whole scenario. They caught on quick enough as to what was really going on before either Lucy or Jerry, and all the while they sat back smugly looking on. But this also works well because normally that's how it is in all relationships. All outsiders know what's really going on in a relationship of others when the actual couple is so clueless to it because they have no perspective. I liked it, and although we don't really see the friends again, I liked their inclusion in this scene.
Again, this opening sequence is really different from others, mostly due to the plot and two leads. Having Grant and Dunne as your two leads makes watching The Awful Truth so much more enjoyable than if someone else had been cast in either role. Dunne is just the right love interest for Grant, had someone like Carole Lombard been cast it might have been too screwy, although I admit interesting. Dunne balances out Grant's screwiness but does so in such a funny way. It's entertaining. And then there's the premise, which hasn't really been shown before at this point. It's original and in itself turns the genre inside out, as screwball comedy is always about parodying the coupling of two people. But what if they no longer want to be together? Even though it's obvious to you and me that they still do. You're hooked and you wanna keep watching.
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