A Norma Shearer double header. The Divorcee begins with a group of friends and family enjoying themselves at a fishing lodge, two of this group (Shearer & Chester Morris) get engaged much to the chagrin of Shearer's would be suitors Conrad Nagel and Robert Montgomery (father of Elizabeth). On the way home that night a drunken Nagel rolls his car disfiguring Judith Wood (1906-2002) whom he later he later marries out of guilt. Shearer & Morris have a high church Episcopalian wedding and on there anniversary three years later Shearer discovers that her husband has been cheating on her with Mary Doran. Morris explains that "it doesn't mean a thing" and heads out on a business trip. While he's gone a distraught Shearer sleeps with Morris's best friend Montgomery (this is pre-code). Guilt ridden Shearer tells her husband that she's slept with some one else (thought she never reveals it was Montgomery) and discovers that he has quite a double standard about these things. They divorce, she sleeps around, he turns to drink, they are both unhappy, they get back together in Paris. The End.
Better is A Free Soul. Shearer's father Lional Barrymore is a talented but too often drunken lawyer (I'm surprised this part wasn't played by his famously tipsy brother John). Barrymore manages to get "notorious gambler" Clark Gabel acquitted on murder charges. Gable takes a shine to his lawyers pretty daughter, she takes a shine to him thus neglecting her earnest polo player fiance Leslie Howard. Barrymore gets sober enough to insist to Shearer that Gable is no good, she agrees not to see him if father agrees to stop drinking, they go on a three month excursion to Yosmitte to 'dry out'. When they get back to civilization Barrymore immediately goes back to drinking and is presumed killed in a train accident; Shearer scorned by her upper crust extended family goes back to Gable. Gable becomes too possessive and threatens Shearer, jilted lover Leslie trys to defend her, he kills Gable. Shearer realizes she really loves Leslie who now seems certain to go to prison for life! If only there were a talented lawyer to defend Leslie; Shearer stumbles over a drunken Barrymore while looking for him (hopping he is alive) in a seamy part of town (this is set in San Fransisco). Barrymore sobers up enough to defend Leslie with a 'stirring oration' in court, he then dies in front of the jury. In the coda Shearer & Leslie's future together is left somewhat in doubt, but hopeful.
The Divorcee is stylistically superior but members of 'the smart set' sleeping around gets old. A Free Soul is more conventional fair, good in the beginning, ho-hum in the middle, and stronger at the end. I think I prefer Ruth Chatterton to Shearer.
The Divorcee: C
A Free Soul: B-
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