A Bill of Divorcement [Blu-ray]

Director: John Farrow John Farrow

Overview

A creaky remake of the 1932 film of the same name, Bill of Divorcement tells of the effect an emotionally disturbed father's homecoming has on this household. Adolphe Menjou, a longtime mental patient, is released after 20 years' confinement and returns home. Only vaguely aware of the time lapse, Menjou meets his daughter (Maureen O'Hara), and attempts a reunion with his wife (Fay Bainter), who is on the verge of divorcing her long-absent husband and remarrying. Thanks to undue pressure from friends and family, the wife very nearly takes her husband back, much against her will. But the daughter steps in and volunteers to sacrifice her own future to take care of her father, thereby allowing mother to chart her own course of happiness. Incredibly dated in its attitudes toward divorce and insanity, Bill of Divorcement worked somewhat better in its 1932 version, thanks to the charisma and chemistry of John Barrymore as the father and newcomer Katharine Hepburn as the daughter. For many years, the 1940 Bill of Divorcement was retitled Never to Love when shown on TV.

Product Details

Release Date:	02/26/2019
UPC:	0738329234546
Original Release:	1940
Rating:	NR
Source:	Kl Studio Classics
Region Code:	A
Presentation:	[B&W]
Language:	English
Time:	1:14:00

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Maureen O'Hara	Sidney Fairfield
Adolphe Menjou	Hilary Fairfield
May Whitty	Hester Fairfield
Fay Bainter	Margaret Fairfield
Herbert Marshall	Gray Meredith
Patric Knowles	John Storm
C. Aubrey Smith	Dr. Alliot
Ernest Cossart	Dr. Pumphrey
Kathryn Collier	Basset
Bunny Beatty	Susan

Technical Credits

John Farrow	Director
Lee Marcus	Producer

Editorial Reviews

While not as effective or affecting as the 1932 version, the 1940 remake of A Bill of Divorcement is a very worthy little melodrama. Modern audiences, of course, will have a bit of a tough time with the basic plot and many of the attitudes toward marriage and mental illness, and with good cause. Divorcement is undeniably dated, but if you can look past that and concentrate on its cast, you will most likely find yourself giving in. It would be even easier if Adolphe Menjou were more in command of his crucial part. He doesn't really do anything wrong with the part, but his performance skims the surface a bit too much; finding some depth and nuance would have resulted in both a richer and more surprising portrayal. However, Maureen O'Hara is an absolute standout, no small feat considering how memorable Katharine Hepburn was in the earlier version. But O'Hara makes the part her own, bringing both passion and intelligence to the part, and wringing every last bit of emotion, restrained or unrestrained, from the opportunities given her. There's also excellent work from Fay Bainter and Dame My Whitty and a fine contribution from Herbert Marshall as well. John Farrow's direction is sensitive and well balanced, and the result is a film whose assets definitely make up for its flaws.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler