1929-30 Norma Shearer
The Divorcee
Again, these still being pretty early films from 1930, I was only able to find The Divorcee to watch and review. I’ve seen the movie before, and knew that shearer did a fantastic job. And really, this is the film she took home the Best Actress Oscar for. Not to downplay her performance in Their Own Desire, which I’ve no doubt was just as good, I think her portrayal of Jerry Martin was strong enough to earn her the statuette on its own merits.
This was a welcome example of a female empowerment film that suffered from the social attitudes of the time in which it was made. Jerry is madly in love with her husband, played by Chester Morris. But when she learns that he has been unfaithful, I noticed the unfortunate flip-flop back and forth between ‘how dare you’ and ‘I forgive you.’ I’m not sure if this movie would ever be made today. A strong modern woman would never put up with Ted’s attitude. When he cheated, it didn’t mean a thing, but when she balanced the scales, she was branded as wicked.
Shearer was gorgeous, and she had a smile that could light a room. It just made her sadness all the more dismal when it was turned off. And when the tears finally started to flow, it was heartbreaking to watch. Once the divorce was finalized, she went on a sexual spree to celebrate her freedom. But eventually she broke down when she revealed that she was tired – tired of being promiscuous, tired of all the constant partying, tired of the mess she had made of her life, and tired of the shame she ultimately felt because of her wild escapades. Shearer played that scene perfectly. All that weariness came through in every line she delivered.
Shearer was wonderful. She seemed to have an ease about her that made everything she did seem effortless. She acted so naturally, that it justified the plot device where all the men were in love with her. She created a character that I bet audiences wanted to know in real life. Shearer just seemed so genuine. It’s too bad I was not able to find Their Own Desire to watch. But I’ve looked at the list of Best Actress nominees, and I have four more upcoming films starring Shearer to look forward to, if I can find them.
1929-30 – Norma Shearer
Their Own Desire
It’s a good thing I’m only reviewing Shearer’s performance in this movie, and not the movie, itself. There were things about the plot and a few of the characters that I didn’t like at all, but her acting was fantastic. She was made to be in front of the camera. I’ve said it about her before, and I’ll say it again. There was an ease about her that was unmatched by any other actress, in her own time, or in the modern pantheon of movie stars. She was amazing, and it is utterly clear why she was a Hollywood superstar. She draws the attention like a moth to a flame.
Here, she played Lally Marlett, a young girl whose world is crushed when she learns that her father has left her mother for another woman. Then she reluctantly falls in love with a horrible bully of a man, who, it turns out, is the son of the woman with whom her father had an affair. She spends about a third of the movie trying to get him to leave her alone, but John is so in love with her that he thinks he owns her the moment he meets her, and that no means yes. But fall in love she does.
The role gave Shearer a chance to show off her acting chops with a few dramatic scenes that might have challenged a lesser actress. But she pulled them off with grace and ease. The first of these scenes is the one in which she catches her father in the arms of his lover. The shock, confusion, and disbelief are so clear on her face and in the way she moves. But the real scene where she nails her craft is the climax. John is very nearly drowned and she is on the edge of madness as she cradles his still form in her arms. She is so distraught, she has lost touch with reality. She can’t even see the world around her. She was fantastic in that scene! I just love watching Shearer on the screen, no matter what movie I see her in. She had a way of inhabiting a character, not through force, but through subtlety and ease, ease of speech, ease of movement, and ease of attitude. She is just a delight. She never looked like she was trying to be her character. Her acting just seemed so effortless, like she didn’t even have to think about what she was doing. Of course, she was nominated for two films at this Awards Ceremony, and she took home the Oscar, an honor I think she totally deserved.