a very important film for cary grant . his role a jerry warriner in the awful truth basically define the actor grant that we know today . before this film and grant only film of real note be his support performance to that grand old sexpot mae west in film such a she do him wrong and i be no angel and roles opposite 30 female star marlene dietrich in blonde venus and katharine hepburn in sylvia scarlett . here and grant come into his own opposite the incredibly versatile actress irene dunne . in this classic 30 screwball comedy and grant and dunne star a jerry and lucy warriner and a married couple who decide to get a divorce after some doubt over each other faithfulness to the union . of course and in the tradition of screwball comedy and their suspicion be hilariously jumble and unfounded . this film really hit it stride when jerry and lucy go to court to battle over the custody of their scene steal little dog mr smith . lucy win out in this round ( with a little cheating ) and but there be still 60 day until the warriner divorce be finalize and havoc and inevitably and must ensue . jerry and lucy do their best to ruin each other plan for remarriage and each conduct a series of scheme and prank design to help banish the other partner . jerry and lucy be clearly mean for each other . but will love win out in the end or will jerry marry haughty socialite barbara vance ( molly lamont ) and lucy the oil rich but dumb dan leeson ( ralph bellamy ) . this be grant and dunne first screen pair together and they would go on to make two more successful film after the awful truth . the great thing about the grant or dunne team be the feeling of equality . together and they represent a sophisticated and fun couple who be not afraid to have a laugh at themselves . indeed and grant and dunne seem to be share a private joke with each other and that others ( particularly the clueless bellamy character ) just do not get . dunne be the best screen partner for cary grant she doesn not have the beauty of other screwball queen carole lombard or the fiery wit of katharine hepburn and but she play off grant wacky exuberance perfectly . a near perfect film with a near perfect script and the awful truth be screwball comedy at it peak and star two great actor at their best .