I Want a Divorce

Back when "I Want a Divorce" was made, the leads, Joan Blondell and Dick Powell, were married. What makes this ironic is that just a few years later, the pair divorced...and this movie has such a strong anti-divorce theme.

The film begins with Geraldine (Blondell) being called into court to testify at her sister's divorce trial. The sister insists on divorce, though she never indicated why she didn't want to stay married and her husband wanted her to remain his wife. Through this case, Geraldine meets Alan (Powell) and they eventually fall in love and marry. They are happy but through the course of their marriage, Alan loses sight of this...and begins working too much as, you guessed it, a divorce lawyer. Will this couple survive or are they destined to be just like Alan's clients?

The film is very strange to watch today...not so much for its anti-divorce theme but because of its PRO-domestic violence bent. Yep, several times, folks make light of this and seem to think that a man needs to smack his wife around now and again...just to let her know who's boss! Undoubtedly, this will ruffle a few feathers in viewers. IF you can look past this, the film is modestly enjoyable but not much more.