The Divorce of Lady X (1938).

 

The Divorce of Lady X (1938). A British romantic comedy film directed by Tim Whelan. The music score was by Miklós Rózsa and Lionel Salter and the cinematography by Harry Stradling. Cast: Merle Oberon, Laurence Olivier, Ralph Richardson and Binnie Barnes. The film was a remake of the 1933 film, Counsel's Opinion, also made by London Films and in which Binnie Barnes performed in the role played by Merle Oberon.

Because of the thick fog, London barrister Everard Logan, decides to spend the night in the Royal Park hotel. Before he knows it .. Leslie Steele, another one of the guests, tricks him into giving her both the bedroom and his pajamas. By the next morning, Logan, has fallen in love with Leslie even though he mistakenly thinks that she is a married woman.

At home, Leslie, tells her  grandfather judge Lord Steele that she wants to marry Logan, even though he thinks she is an  unfaithful wife.

Later, Logan is visited by Lord  Mere, who tells him that his wife spent the night at the Royal Park hotel with another man, and wants Logan to begin divorce proceedings. Logan believes that Leslie is Lady Mere, and tries to convince Lord Mere not to start divorce proceedings, while trying to hide the fact he thinks he is the "other man" and that's when the fun begins.



Lawrence Olivier and Merle Oberon did two movies together: WUTHERING HEIGHTS and THE DIVORCE OF LADY X.

I loved the witty banter between Olivier and Oberon, and even the playful back and forth between Morton Selten as Lord Steele and H.B. Hallam as his butler, Jeffries. Binnie Barnes, was perfect as Lady Mere.

Binnie Barnes (25 May 1903 – 27 July 1998), She began her acting career in films in 1923, performing in a short film made by Lee De Forest in his Phonofilm sound-on-film process. Her film career continued in Britain, then in Hollywood, until 1973, with her final role in the comedy, 40 Carats. She is best known for her performance, The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933), starring Charles Laughton in the title role, with Barnes as Katherine Howard.