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While not as effective or affecting as the 1932 version, the 1940 remake of A Bill of Divorcement is a very worthy little melodrama. Modern audiences, of course, will have a bit of a tough time with the basic plot and many of the attitudes toward marriage and mental illness, and with good cause. Divorcement is undeniably dated, but if you can look past that and concentrate on its cast, you will most likely find yourself giving in. It would be even easier if Adolphe Menjou were more in command of his crucial part. He doesn't really do anything wrong with the part, but his performance skims the surface a bit too much; finding some depth and nuance would have resulted in both a richer and more surprising portrayal. However, Maureen O'Hara is an absolute standout, no small feat considering how memorable Katharine Hepburn was in the earlier version. But O'Hara makes the part her own, bringing both passion and intelligence to the part, and wringing every last bit of emotion, restrained or unrestrained, from the opportunities given her. There's also excellent work from Fay Bainter and Dame My Whitty and a fine contribution from Herbert Marshall as well. John Farrow's direction is sensitive and well balanced, and the result is a film whose assets definitely make up for its flaws.