My Man Godfrey

The great depression of the 30s, in a way, created inequality in this country. On the one hand, great fortunes were made and many more were lost. In those days Hollywood's idea for escapism was the screwball comedy, with an emphasis in presenting how the privileged classes lived. This was in sharp contrast with what the majority of regular citizens were experiencing.

With that background, Gregory La Cava, a man who knew how to entertain an audience, took the direction of "My Man Godfrey". In the film we are given, on the one hand, what appears to be a city dump near to Sutton Place, one of the richest areas in Manhattan. We are shown a destitute man, Godfrey, who comes in contact with a couple of rich girls out on a scavenger hunt. Godfrey will change their lives forever.

"My Man Godfrey" gathered a distinguished cast. William Powell and Carole Lombard were at the pinnacle of their popularity. Both actors exuded charisma in any film they graced with their charming presence. They both left a mark of distinction in this comedy. Both are elegant and sophisticated, and they make us care about the characters they are playing.

The best thing about those 30s comedies were the marvelous ensemble casts assembled to support the stars. Thus, one is treated to delicious performances by Gail Patrick, Eugene Palette, Alice Brady, Micha Auer, Jean Dixon and Alan Mowbray.

This is a classic film that will live forever.

A scavenger hunt amongst the rich leads two competitive sisters to the local dump where one has the idea to bring back one of the "lost men". She offers Godfrey $5 to come with her, Godfrey played by the fabulous William Powell doesn't take it very well and shoves her into an ash heap. The younger much sweeter sister, Irene, strikes up a conversation with Godfrey and explains about the scavenger hunt etc and he goes with her in order for her to beat her sister Cornelia for nothing.

After winning, Irene suggests that since he helped her by doing a favor that she would like to help him in some way...he says the only thing he needs is a job. She hires him on the spot to be her family's butler.

This is how Godfrey ends up in the home of the most screwball rich family I have ever seen...with Cornelia taking stabs at him and trying to get him fired and Irene wanting him to be her protégé...and eventual love interest.

"My family came over on the boat...oh, not the mayflower, but the one after that."-mom

"I wouldn't say anything behind your back that I wouldn't say in public."-Mom

As it turns out Godfrey has a mysterious past including being a Yale man, he was a "Park" of the Parks of Boston.

"I'm sorry boys, I want to apologize for my family, they are slightly hysterical!"-Dad

"The village of forgotten men."-Godfrey

"If I end up in jail it will be the first peace I have had in years."-Dad

This is a wonderful film with a superb cast, gorgeous sets, luxurious costumes and a fabulous ending! This is a worthwhile film and really highlights 1930's screwball comedy.

"Stand still Godfrey, it will all be over in a minute."-Irene.

Whether we live in the Depression Era or the age of Occupy Wall Street and the Panama Papers, there remains great suspicion of and derision for those conspicuous faces of the upper classes, and few films capture and satirize this better than My Man Godfrey. It begins, as largely it ends, with strong associations- the dump by the waterfront is cluttered and grimy, filled with cynical but tenacious men, while the ballrooms and mansions of the rich are scenes of incredible chaos. Debauched and manic, these petty denizens amuse themselves with idiotic games, notably a scavenger hunt that calls for a "forgotten man," or rather a citizen of the aforementioned dump. This turns out to be our man Godfrey, played by William Powell with masterfully dry humor and proletarian dignity. His counterpart and perfect opposite is Carole Lombard as Irene, who manages her depiction of extreme ditziness and delusion with convincing charm. Godfrey's attempts to pull himself up from the dump lead him into the circus of Irene's family life, and the film is at its best in scenes where he is forced to navigate through their various inanities. It's difficult to choose any particular moment in this company over another, but wouldn't we all like to watch a pretentious Italian artiste imitating a gorilla? It might be nearly impossible for a major Hollywood comedy to be created today that could balance sympathy for the poor with criticism of the rich without coming across as insincere or blandishing, and Godfrey sometimes seems dangerously close to doing the same, but overall the film remains strong in its message, characterizations, and acting, making it one of the most lovable examples of screwball comedy.

My Man Godfrey (1936) : Brief Review -

Hollywood's lost treasure. A Timeless Classic Comedy which has been remade many times through other films in parts. You hear many times people saying that, "They don't make films like this anymore' or 'This is what we are missing now days' or 'Lost Classic' and such stuff, right? Well, here's one more that fits in all. My Man Godfrey is one of those rare comedies from golden era of Hollywood I mean from 30s that has a timeless impacts till date and will have it forever. A simple human driven story, mad and lovable both characters, humourous dialogues, situational gags and at last a perfect finale with a certain emotional touch, that's all about it. And it's lot more than what you can expect. A scatterbrained socialite hires a vagrant as a family butler - mad family to be more precise, but there's more to Godfrey than meets the eye. There are so many good comedies made after this that have took references from it but all in parts not as one solid remake. Yes there was a remake but not upto the mark so here i meant only those different comedies who got upto the Mark. William Powell as Godfrey, my man, what a beautifully played character it was. I would love to hire a butler like him one day. Carol Lombard gives an unforgettable performance as a cracked chatterbox girl. Her dialogue delivery is something you might never forget after watching this film. Alice Brady and Gail Patrick both look gorgeous and gets enough punches to hit the level. Gregory La Cava's direction is unmissable for every director who wants to learn that how a good script is handled in comedy genre without losing its essence and simplicity. Overall, My Man Godfrey surpasses all the overrated comedies of 30s by margin and surely makes a highly recommendable product. A Classic Comedy that cannot be missed by any chance.

RATING - 8/10*

By - #samthebestest

When a down in the dumps upper cruster (Powell) licking his wounds over a dead romance in a shanty town address, gets pulled into a blue blood scavenger hunt on pretext of charity, he will drain a pint of their precious pride at a gala that seems more bazaar than fundraiser (goats monkey), but then accepts a job to "butle" for his sponsor's (Lombard's) zany family of fellow swells (See; Merrily We Live) (38).

A delightful tale on strong acts from familiar faces of the 30s with a pretty fantastic ending, but that's what they liked back then and we could use more of today. If Thin Man leaves you craving calories, you'll satisfy on seeing a mostly sober William (the perpetually soused Nick Charles and his dutiful dame, Nora, never struck a chord with this critic), hearing Jean Dixon's wit & wisdom that would turn world class wisenheimer Thelma Ritter green with envy, and then guzzle the haughty glow of Gail Patrick who'd go on to produce the iconic Perry Mason. And Carole, the ex-Mrs Powell (31-33), she should not've been happy playing darling but ditzy Irene, a role like too many this terribly talented actress was made to suffer, stuck in the silly (tar pits of pre-war cinema), though, oddly bringing the blonde an Oscar nom, one of its six (3.5/4).