Thee fab Norma Shearer is ready for her sexual revolution (apologies Chester Morris) in the 1930s pre-Code era’s The Divorcee.
Shearer’s portrayal of Jerry, a woman who refuses to be shamed for her independence, won her the Academy Award for Best Actress. The film, directed by Robert Z. Leonard, became a landmark of pre-Code Hollywood, tackling themes of infidelity and gender double standards with boldness rarely seen again after the Hays Code took effect.
Her co-star Chester Morris brought equal intensity, embodying the conflicted male counterpart in this daring MGM production. Together, they helped define an era when Hollywood briefly embraced frank explorations of sexuality and social norms.
INYIM Did You Know? – Norma Shearer & Chester Morris 💘
Both actors embodied the daring spirit of early 1930s Hollywood, pushing boundaries before censorship tightened.
Norma Shearer was nicknamed “The First Lady of MGM” and deliberately chose provocative roles to challenge stereotypes.
Shearer’s Oscar win for The Divorcee (1930) proved audiences embraced bold female leads.
Chester Morris earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in Alibi (1929), just before The Divorcee.
Morris later became famous for playing Boston Blackie in a long-running film series.
Dig out all the black-and-white vintage vivrant things below!
