A truly great depiction of a couple’s real life.

For starters: this film has a REALLY unsatisfying ending. I wonder what happened, because otherwise the script was great.

Cary Grant and Irene Dunne play a couple that has just lost a child, which is revealed in the first scene. Dunne is about to leave her husband and the story is told in flashbacks as she’s taking one last trip down memory lane before walking out the door.

A few things made this picture special for me. First, it was a fine representation of the arc of a married couple. From first meeting and flirtations, to getting married, and all the ups and downs that a couple goes through together. Second, and this took me until almost the end to realize, Grant’s character changes. Early on I felt he was really dislikable if not an outright jerk to his wife. But as the film goes on he softens, especially after he becomes a father. How many men can relate to this?

I gave this film 8/10 because it felt real. I wanted to go higher but the ending spoiled it for me. I’ll leave it at that.