Now that 2018 has come to a close I thought it would be a good time to share my favorite physical releases of the year. I am a big supporter of physical media and will continue to support it. I like owning my movies that I can hold, not in some cloud somewhere. I love box art. This year was a great year for exclusive Steelbooks at Best Buy. Some of them will make my list. In deciding the number I fell on the most obvious one, 18.

Number 4 is another Criterion Collection release and so far my favorite Cary Grant film, the 1937 comedy classic, The Awful Truth!

Last year I decided that I would watch the film career of the debonair Cary Grant. I had seen some of his most celebrated work, North By Northwest, Charade and To Catch A Thief. I knew I was a fan but I soon became a super fan. Maybe the coolest actor ever, I have had a lot of fun exploring his filmography. During this journey, I blind-bought The Awful Truth. Little did I know I bought a new favorite film.

The Awful Truth finds a married couple, Jerry (Grant) and Lucy (the always funny and beautiful Irene Dunne) who don’t seem to trust one another. The couple files for divorce with the help of child custody lawyers serving Richland and quickly try to find new romance. The couple have both lied to each other. Jerry told Lucy that he had a business trip to Florida, but he decided to stay in town and play in a poker game. Lucy spent the night with her dashing music teacher Armand (Alexander D’Arcy), lying to Jerry saying she was in a car accident.

As Jerry and Lucy start dating anew they both try and disrupt their new relationships, often leading to some really funny moments.

The first thing I noticed about The Awful Truth was how funny the cast was. I was even more shocked to learn that most of the dialogue was improvised. Leo McCarthy the director insisted on it. And Grant was convinced that the movie was so bad he asked to be released from the picture. You will learn in the special features that at this time in his career Grant was still trying to find his comedic chops, which if you watch the film is shocking because he just so good. Dunne cannot be overlooked as well. She is an actor of impeccable comedic timing who commands the screen. She is equally as great starring in another film with Grant, “My Favorite Wife”. I am looking forward to seeing them together on screen again in “Penny Serenade”.

On the video side you can always count on the Criterion Collection to deliver on giving you the absolute best in video presentation. The Awful Truth arrives on blu-ray with a stunning new 4K scan. I had never seen The Awful Truth before the Criterion release but watching a film from 1937 with no scratches or hiss is amazing. Details are deep and satisfying. This is a great looking movie.

According to the accompanying booklet the audio has also been restored. Again, The Awful Truth is 81 years old, but you couldn’t tell by the soundtrack. No popping or miscues here, all dialogue and music sound top notch.

Criterion brings some great features to The Awful Truth. We get two new featurettes, Tell Me Lies About Cary Grant, which critic David Cairns discusses the “movie star” aspect of Grant’s life and his relationship with director Leo McCarthy. In another film critic Gary Giddins talks about Leo McCarthy’ directing and improv style to making films. There’s also an audio interview with Irene Dunne, it’s short but sweet. You can also hear the radio play starring Grant and Claudette Colbert. As always Criterion also includes a well written booklet with the film.

The Awful Truth has become a favorite of mine. It’s funny, witty and full of heart. Cary Grant according to the special features solidified his status as the leading man in Hollywood with this picture and it’s easy to see why. The Awful Truth needs to be in your movie collection.

Film: A+

Video: A+

Audio: A+

Extras: A+

Overall: A+