Child of Divorce (1946) User Reviews

A tearjerker focuses on the impact of divorce on children

[Michael-110 · 7/10 · 14 March 2000]

From 1934 to 1968, the Hays Code and the Production Code Administration imposed a rigid system of self-censorship on the movie industry. The Code banned treatment of certain subjects, one of which was divorce. Thus for the middle third of the century, American film basically ignored the subject of divorce--while millions of people were getting divorced and the divorce rate was rising steadily. Mostly the subject is treated in romantic comedies such as "The Awful Truth" in which a couple gets divorced at the beginning of the film and remarries at the end. The couples are usually quite wealthy and they almost never have children. Obviously, this sort of movie divorce is nothing like the real thing.

"Child of Divorce" is one of the very few serious treatments of divorce during the Hays Code era. Because it treats the subject in a very negative light, it was not censored. The Herrick Library of the Motion Picture Academy in Beverly Hills preserves all the files of the Production Code Administration. The file on "Child of Divorce" indicates that the script was passed without any objections.

Bobbi is a sensitive and loving 8 year old girl, very devoted to her parents Ray and Joan. Ray is on the road a lot and Joan starts an affair with Michael. Bobbi and her friends spot Joan making out with Michael in the park. Soon the inevitable occurs and Ray and Joan split up. The divorce court must decide which spouse is the more guilty (this was necessary in the era of fault divorce when the spouses did not enter into a collusive agreement). Bobbi is required to testify that she saw her father strike her mother (of course, the mother struck the first blow). Since Joan obviously was committing adultery, which was always considered much more serious than mere spousal abuse, this hearing is a bit puzzling. But it is a miserable experience for all concerned and it is very tough on the kid.

The judge awards custody to Joan (evidently because Ray was the guilty party); Ray is allowed to have Bobbi during the summers. However, Bobbi is miserable. She can't stand Michael. And when she finally goes to see Ray, she finds out that he is involved with Lucille. The child collapses.

The solution, recommended by a kindly family doctor: boarding school. And there Bobbi learns to make the best of it. Here's where you'll go for your hankies.

Although the picture is mediocre in execution and the acting basically quite wooden (except for Sharyn Moffett who plays Bobbi), the picture is quite worthwhile and genuinely touching. It was far ahead of its time and stands out as one of the very few candid explorations of the realities of divorce that appeared during the Hays era. The couple gets divorced over Joan's love affair; quite realistic. They don't get back together. Both spouses remarry--and hopefully are happier with their new spouses than the old ones. Even more realistic. The legal aspects of the divorce are quite miserable. Still more realistic. And the divorce is devastating for the child--very realistic indeed. Divorce is almost always a traumatic event in the lives of children--and sometimes it's as catastrophic as it was for Bobbi in this film. Parents have extremely difficulty with both custodial and non-custodial arrangements and the kids detest their new step parents. Right on target. Not until the pictures of the late 1970's and early 1980's do we find comparable exploration of what divorce is really all about. Think of "Kramer vs. Kramer," "An Unmarried Woman," or "Shoot the Moon" as modern-day versions of the themes explored in "Child of Divorce" way back in 1946. Too bad the film is commercially unavailable and lacks even a Maltin summary in IMDB.

Period of Adjustment

[lugonian · 7/10 · 28 November 2002]

CHILD OF DIVORCE (RKO Radio, 1946), directed by Richard Fleischer, in his directorial debut, is a well made and heartfelt drama dealing with a touchy subject about a sensitive little eight-year-old girl who has trouble adjusting to her parents' divorce. Themes such as this have been done before. OUR LITTLE GIRL (Fox, 1935), starring Shirley Temple comes to mind. However, CHILD OF DIVORCE is actually a remake to an earlier RKO Radio drama, WEDNESDAY'S CHILD (1934) starring Karen Morley and Edward Arnold as the parents, with young Frankie Thomas playing the pre-teen son whose life changes dramatically due to his parents' divorce. Then there is a more modern version in child of divorce theme titled KRAMER VS. KRAMER (1979), starring Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep, which earned an Academy Award as the year's Best Picture, becoming a contemporary movie classic. While both earlier films mentioned have positive conclusions, CHILD OF DIVORCE comes off as the most realistic of the two.

The storyline begins on a happy note in which Roberta Carter, better known as "Bobby" (Sharyn Moffett), bids goodbye to her father, Ray (Regis Toomey), before leaving on another four week business trip. All goes well between between mother (Madge Meredith) and daughter until Bobby, along with and the other children, stumble upon a couple kissing in the park at a distance. Much to Bobby's surprise the woman happens to be her mother. Because the kids know that the man, later revealed as Michael Benton (Walter Reed), not be her father, Bobby gets teased about it. When Bobby's father returns home a little earlier than expected, Joan, of course is surprised. She makes every attempt to phone Michael canceling their secret meeting without being overheard by Ray on the extension. Joan soon takes notice , that Bobby is becoming distant towards her. Suspecting his wife's infidelity, the couple come to harsh words climaxed by facial slaps, as witnessed by Bobby. Joan leaves the house, going to Michael, never to return. After the divorce is finalized, the judge (Harry Cheshire) grants Joan full custody of her daughter, with Bobby to spend the other time with her father from June until September. While staying with her mother, who's now married to Michael, Bobby is miserable and resentful, longing for her father. When summer finally arrives, Bobby moves in with her father for the next few months, only to find he has a new girlfriend, Louise Norman (Doris Merrick), whom he intends to marry. Because both parents will be unable to spend quality time with their daughter, with Ray resuming his long term business trips, it is suggested by Doctor Sterling (Selmer Jackson) that the only logical choice for the depressed child is having her placed in a boarding school. While there, Bobby becomes more depressed when the only time she'll get to see her parents, individually, never together, would be on visitor's day.

After stumbling upon this rarely shown presentation of CHILD OF DIVORCE November 22, 2002, on Turner Classic Movies, the thing that immediately came to mind was, "Where has this movie been?" I have never seen this one before in all my years watching movies on television. Yet never missing out on an old movie, whether being famous or obscure, this one certainly escaped me. No doubt its lack of marquee names is the sole reason for program directors not showing this one. Even movies without star names are good, even better, for that unknowns usually come across as real people than actors. Thank goodness for TCM for showing this because, after viewing CHILD OF DIVORCE, I couldn't get it out of my mind. For being a modest budget 62 minute programmer, it does include a realistic message, the message being on how important it is for a child to have a happy home-life under the love and care of both parents, and that divorce among parents, through no fault of their own, ruins the life or lives of children.

Sharyn Moffatt, a modest little actress who had a brief career for RKO Radio in the 1940s, is excellent, giving a right-on-target performance. Her acting is so real that it's like watching an actual child going through the trauma of shifting from one home to another following the divorce of her parents. Her co-stars, not household names then and now, do commendable jobs as well. Regis Toomey, a veteran movie actor since 1929, is a familiar face, while Madge Meredith, with her Joan Fontaine-ish face, is virtually unknown. Then there's Una O'Connor, a regular featured performer seen in several Sharyn Moffett films during that period, once more giving her all as Nora, the Carter housekeeper. And let's not forget Ann Carter, the little girl who will be immortalized with her sensitive performance in Val Lewton's THE CURSE OF THE CAT PEOPLE (RKO, 1944), playing Peggy, Bobby's boarding school roommate, who can's stand the sound of the chimes ringing out musically "Home Sweet Home". Billed last in the closing casting credits, her role, which comes during the final ten minutes, is quite memorable and important, particularly when she tells Bobby the harsh realities of being a child of divorce.

In spite of the movie having such 1940s catch phrases as "That's keen," for example, CHILD OF DIVORCE comes off as one being timely and realistically done. It should be seen and studied not only for its good story and fine direction, but also for the moral message it delivers and the outlook of divorce taken from a child's perspective, more so with divorce now being at a higher rate than it was back in 1946. (**1/2)

Sharyn Moffatt was an exceptional little actress

[kidboots · 7/10 · 17 April 2008]

My first thought in viewing this quite adult film of the real victims of divorce was - how could this film have been made in the 1940s??? But RKO was an unusual studio - it was a big studio rather than a major one and could afford to take chances - which it often did with film noir etc.

Sharyn Moffatt was an exceptional little actress, who, I think, won an award (not an Oscar) for her portrayal of the vulnerable "Bobby".

Apart from Una O'Connor, who played the maid, Regis Toomey was the only "name" adult star. He plays Ray Carter, who is away for weeks at a time on business. Joan, his wife, is bored and has found some- one else. Bobby, their daughter, sees them together in the park, is teased by her school friends and so her torment begins. Her parents get divorced and after a traumatic court appearance where she is badgered by both sides, Bobby finds she is to stay with her mother part of the year and her father for holidays. Staying with her mother, she finds it difficult to adjust to her stepfather (who is portrayed, not as a villain but as a nice guy). She eagerly goes home to her father (to whom she has always felt closer) only to find he is about to remarry.

Sharyn Moffatt has a wonderfully expressive face and does an exceptional job as Bobby, who comes close to a break down because of family pressures.

The ending is very confronting and not the happy ending that a major studio would have insisted upon. Bobby goes to boarding school and her room-mate Peggy ( an exquisite Ann Carter in a too brief role) "puts her wise". "first your parents will come every week - then their visits will get fewer and then they just don't come".

Peggy is used to being disappointed and "just deals with it" - Bobby is still hopeful about the future. The film ends as the two young girls discuss what they want out of life. The ending is very hard hitting and will take you by surprise.

The harsh realities of a divorce

[bowiebks · 22 November 2002]

No traditional happy ending here, in this clear-eyed and very unsentimental look at the effects of a divorce on a sensitive young girl. The very bleak ending took me by surprise, and the performance of Sharyn Moffett in the title role is terrific. This was Richard Fleischer's first film as a director. Well worth your time!

What happens when mother puts her own happiness in front of her child's.

[mark.waltz · 7/10 · 10 March 2015]

Sharyn Moffet should have become a major child actress with her convincing portrait of the troubled youngster who realizes that her own mother (Madge Meredith) is cheating on papa (Regis Toomey), blaming herself for her parent's angry decision to split. It's obvious that she adores daddy who spends time with her at her elaborate doll-house, but mama is distracted, especially when Toomey heads away for a month on business. It appears that it will be the hubby who is doing the playing, but in reality, Moffet discovers accidentally, it is her mother, hiding in a local park with her boyfriend of a year (Walter Reed). Young Miss Moffet's pals tease her for mommy having a boyfriend, some of them even counting how many individual mothers or fathers they have who aren't their own biologically. Children can be cruel, and in this case, they unintentionally drive their emotionally ripped apart friend to having major psychological problems.

This is one of those times when a B movie actually turns out to be much better than even many "A's" simply with its honesty and heart-felt emotional power. Unlike the other major child stars of the era (Natalie Wood, Margaret O'Brien), Ms. Moffet is totally natural, trained simply to speak her lines as if she was living them without the gimmicks that Ms. O'Brien would pick up at MGM and Ms. Wood would utilize to overacting effects at 20th Century Fox. Neither of the parents are presented to be the party at fault; It is merely circumstances which have torn them apart, and even the affair under the situation is somewhat understandable. Madge Meredith is obviously upset by the fact that her own insecurities and loneliness has caused her to become a cheating wife, and Toomey, although possibly a bit too old for the part, is presented as both noble and upset, retaliating to a slap from his wife with a surprise slap back. Una O'Connor offers some amusement as the understanding housekeeper, while the children playing Ms. Moffet's friends are totally realistic. However, this will be remembered by me for the strength of Sharyn's performance, one which should have taken her on to greater things.

Dated But Well Made

[DKosty123 · 7/10 · 25 September 2013]

This RKO production is obviously by it's length made as a 90 minute 2nd feature for a twin bill at theaters at it's release. Even though it has the period problem of reflecting it is made shortly after the war, it pulls you in with fine acting and a well told story. In a way it clues the viewer into why our society went into the 1950's and then 1960's with so much change.

This is divorce 1940's style. The adults get their way and forget about a fragile young daughters feelings way too much. It is the child victim and even though the judge in the court tries to be understanding to her, there is little compassion for her from the system.

As the little girl goes to boarding school -shoved off by an kindly doctor 's idea when he makes a house call (find an MD doing that now!) - the solution does not help the little girls torn apart life. Then she meets her room mate at the school who is a little older and in her same shoes.

The movie ends at this point due to the 90 minute length but the film does such a good job getting there that you do not mind about it. A well made tale of divorce in the post war era.

If your parents get divorced, don't sulk, or else.

[rebekahrox · 7/10 · 2 June 2019]

A very unusual film for its time. It's theme is how traumatic divorce is for children. The message is effective because their are no good guys or bad guys in the film. The mother cheats on the husband, but the husband was neglectful of his wife. It is made clear that they were never passionately in love. Her lover, whom she marries, is a good guy, and tries his best to win over his stepdaughter. The father eventually also gains a fiancee, who also seems very nice, continues to be away from home too much due to his career. they both love their daughter very very much, but due to her disruptive attitude (not bad, just disconcertingly unhappy and unaccepting of the two new people in her parents' lives) they put her away in a nice boarding school on the advice of her doctor. it is made clear that though everyone loves little Roberta this solution is a relief to both parents. The last scene is Roberta pretty much getting the scoop on what her future with her parents is going to be from her more experienced roommate, another child of divorce. Both of the little actresses are wonders in this film. Sadly, the message to the children seems to be, If your parents get divorced, pretend to be happy, or else. Everything is pretty much left unresolved, and there is no closure provided. Realistic, yes, but Not what I prefer in a film.

A wonderful, but sad film about a subject not tackled a lot-divorce and it's effect on children.

[Michael1958 · 9/10 · 12 September 2002]

Sharyn Moffet does a fine job with her role as a child torn emotionally apart when her parents divorce. This young lady was a good child actress, who did not exude a sickening sweet persona in her roles. One of the best natural female child performers of her day. Her role in this movie shows it. She also did nice jobs in the films Banjo and My Pal Wolf. Miss Moffet can also be seen in The Judge Steps Out. This film also features a nice cameo of sorts at the end of the film by Ann Carter-another RKO child performer who did a nice job with the lead child role in The Curse of the Cat People. Hats off to RKO to do subjects like divorce in a time period when such topics were avoided by most studios.

I wish divorcing parents would be forced to watch this before they were granted divorces.

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 24 October 2013]

"Child of Divorce" is an incredibly depressing film. Yet, I also enjoyed it because it didn't sugar-coat the story and shows the effects divorce can have on a child. In fact, I think this film should be a must-see for anyone contemplating having a divorce, as too often I have heard folks talk about how kids 'get over things' rather easily--and in this film, it certainly isn't true.

The story begins with a man (Regis Toomey) going off on a business trip. While he's gone, his daughter, Bobby (Sharyn Moffett), catches her mother (Madge Meredith) with another man. Later, the woman asks her husband for a divorce--and the child is sucked into the middle of this custody battle. In fact, throughout the film, these selfish and thoroughly despicable parents never seem to care about the effect all this has on the child. And, unlike most Hollywood films of the day, this one does NOT end on a happy note. The child is traumatized, cast aside and left to fend for herself in a boarding school.

As I said, this one is awfully depressing. But it's also well made and quite compelling. I especially like that there is no magical happy ending--it adds to the realism and impact of the film. Well worth seeing and an amazingly well made B-movie.

A surprisingly good B feature

[Wizard-8 · 11 October 2013]

Movie director Richard Fleischer made some good movies in his career, but also made his share of stinkers. Happily, "Child of Divorce" - the first feature film he directed - is one of his good movies. Although it only runs about 60 minutes long, its brief length seems appropriate for this particular story, and manages to pack a good amount of punch along the way. There seem to be two main themes in the movie, the first obviously being that divorce is a bad experience for anyone directly or indirectly involved. The second is that all people, whether adults or children, can be cruel at times. Obviously the child's parents are cruel to each other, but there are also some incidents of the parents being cruel to their child, and the child being cruel towards her parents. Related to this is the message that life itself can be cruel, but the ending does suggests that there can be hope for the future. The acting by the main players is very good, including Sharyn Moffett as the title child. If there is any real problem with this overall very good movie, it is that there is some below average acting by some supporting child actors, though fortunately they aren't given that much to do.

Heartbreaking, well-made film.

[Lynnlav · 8/10 · 4 June 2019]

I didn't know of the "Hays Code" re divorce until coming here today after viewing this movie. TCM ran several divorce theme films last week & I couldn't help but notice that this movie is a remake of the 1934 movie "Wednesday's Child". "Child of Divorce" has a 7 year-old girl as the main character, while Wednesday's Child's is a 10 year-old boy. Interesting twist. having seen the movies back-to-back!

One gaffe that stood out was when "Bobby" tells the judge that's she's "7, almost 8" and in grade "4A". Unless I heard it wrong, a 7 year-old would be in 2nd grade, not 4th! No big deal, but I wonder how that got by the editors. (I think Bobby added that she "skipped a grade", but even so, that would put her in 3rd, not 4th grade)!

Poignant film.

Sad but compelling

[preppy-3 · 8/10 · 12 March 2020]

An 8 year old girl (Sharyn Moffett) has to deal with her parents divorcing and finding other partners.

A great little B picture. It's well-acted (Moffett was incredible) and realistic without getting too sentimental. Things are presented in a very matter of fact way. What's refreshing is that none of the parents are demonized. They both love their little girl completely and try to get her to accept their new partners. One scene where her mother tries to get the girl to accept that she loves her is almost too painful to watch. It all leads to a painful but realistic ending. Highly recommended.

A child is waiting.

[dbdumonteil · 2 January 2017]

First effort by a great director who made a lot of classics ;in his forty-year career ,he never produced anything mediocre ,except in his final years,from " Ashanti" onward .

Sharyn Moffet is no Shirley Temple ;she is actually a lot better and they were right to give her the top of the bill.No soap opera, no clichés, ....and no happy end ,which was challenging at the time : we're left with two children of divorce ,hearing chimes ringing (or are they tolling?),in front a wedding,contemplating a bleak future .Definitely not a movie for the whole family.

Far from Hollywood conventions ,this deeply moving work might have been inspired by Vittorio De Sica's " Il Bambini Ci Guardano" (1942) (= the children are watching us);the Italian story looks like Lillie Hayward 's screenplay but is more cruel (the father commits suicide).

We have a tendency to side with the papa ,but final acquaintance shows that both parents are selfish ,and the decision they make (suggested by a doctor whose piece of advice is rather debatable)is the easy way out:why not another child for both of them after they 'get rid" of this sick girl who may find solace in her doll house ;after all , ,who's Bobby? a doll with whom they grow tired of playing with.

Sharyn Moffet is admirable,feeling she had been treated unfairly ,she acts as though she holds nothing against those would be parents who want to "live their life" .

Such bad parents!

[sksolomonb · 8/10 · 11 March 2020]

When watching this film, I was appalled at the lack of emotional maturity and sense of responsibility on the part of the parents. They behaved as if their relationships were on the level of junior high school romances and intrigues, and they did not hesitate to bail out of a marriage when they "didn't love each other any more." Any marriage has its ups and downs, but emotionally mature people have enough sense to know they have a responsibility to their children and to "ride out the storm" for the sake of the children and the home or family unit.

Throughout the film the parents brought the little girl luxurious gifts as if something material was all the child needed. This practice showed how shallow and uncaring they were, and perhaps they were, in fact, incapable of love. When the parents realized how the child took a toll on their lives, they resorted to sending her to boarding school, as if she were a toy they could place on a shelf and forget.

In the end, the child was shown to be much more in touch with reality and responsibility than the parents when she resolved someday to be a better parent than her parents had been. The child's own goal of responsible, loving motherhood was the one glimmer of hope at the conclusion of the plot.

Another reviewer called lynnlav wondered about the child's age and grade in school as mentioned in the film. As a baby-boomer, I can remember children who started first grade at age five after they had passed an entrance exam. As a result, the child in the film very well could be eight years old and in fourth grade, having skipped a grade.