The Divorcee

Yes, Norma Shearer won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role as Jerry Bernard Martin in The Divorcee. Her performance was highly praised for its emotional depth and helped legitimize the portrayal of complex women in cinema. The film itself was also nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Writing at the 3rd Academy Awards.

The story follows a married couple, Jerry and Ted, whose relationship shatters after Ted confesses to a brief infidelity. In response, Jerry demands an equal, open divorce and begins living a promiscuous life to mirror her husband's betrayal. It explores the double standards regarding fidelity between men and women in early 20th-century high society.

Yes, released in 1930, it is a quintessential pre-Code Hollywood film that deals very openly with themes of sexuality, infidelity, and divorce. It was produced before the strict enforcement of the Hays Production Code in 1934. Because of this, the film features surprisingly frank discussions and depictions of romantic affairs that would soon be banned.

The film was directed by Robert Z. Leonard, a prominent director under contract at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). He successfully guided the film to massive box office success and critical acclaim. The movie was based on the 1929 bestselling novel "Ex-Wife" written by Ursula Parrott.