Editor:
David Pisarra's recent column mentions that divorcing couples increasingly fight over custody of family pets. ("Canine custody concerns," What's the Point?, Aug. 14.) As post-modern as this sounds, this is hardly a 21st century phenomenon. In the delightful comedy "The Awful Truth" (1937), divorcing spouses Cary Grant and Irene Dunne fight for custody of their pet dog Mr. Smith. I won't reveal the clever bit of courtroom trickery that fools the judge into awarding custody of Mr. Smith to Ms. Dunne.
Paul Bergman
Santa Monica
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 16, 2012. Read the original PDF.