The Divorce of Lady X DVD, 1938

Rick Burin revels in this delightful slice of Technicolor escapism, starring Laurence Olivier, Ralph Richardson and Merle Oberon.

“How are you, dear fellow? Terribly well? Don’t ask me – terribly unwell!” Ralph Richardson steals the show in the battle-of-the-sexes comedy The Divorce of Lady X, playing a cuckolded Lord whose divorce case causes untold difficulties in the burgeoning romance between barrister Laurence Olivier and judge’s niece Merle Oberon. 

Olivier plays a woman-hating lawyer who can 'dissolve a marriage quicker than an aspirin'. Taking on a case for buffoonish Richardson, he gets the wrong end of the stick and thinks his new girlfriend (Oberon) is the adulterous wife. 

Though made at Denham Studios, the film presents a Lubitsch-esque view of England, beginning in a pea-souper and taking in swanky hotels, hunting trips and the sexual peccadilloes of the nobility. 

This delightful slice of escapism, produced by Alexander Korda, was shot in three strip Technicolor, showing off both the expensive sets and Olivier’s green-shirt-and-brown-suit combo to best effect. 

Oberon, by this time a major Hollywood player, is sparkling in her playful role, while the offbeat casting of two Shakespearean stage stars as a romantic lead and his diim client works a treat

Rick Burin on 25th February 2010
View all 34 of Rick Burin's reviews

An absolute gem. Sparkling performances from Olivier, Oberon and Richardson, with an unusual light comedy role for Olivier, and great support from Binnie Barnes as Lad... more >

An absolute gem. Sparkling performances from Olivier, Oberon and Richardson, with an unusual light comedy role for Olivier, and great support from Binnie Barnes as Lady Mere.

The scene in Lord Mere's club has a splendid cameo from thirties stalwart Gus MacNaughton as the waiter, and watch for the fascinating pre-war colour exterior shots of Parl Lane years before it became a dual carriageway.

One minor point: Oberon spends the night in Olivier's suite at the Royal Parks Hotel, not in his apartment as stated in your review.

Just the sort of film Korda built Denham for. < less