Irene, a Teimosa

Irony. splendid performances. social critic. and a fairy tale. a film about people, perspectives, using a noble message and the right cast. and a brilliant script. in fact, a parable about selfishness and superficiality. special for the bitter humor and the impecable dialogues. and, sure, for the portrait of a familiar world, maybe too obvious but enough for succes to large public. the great virtue - maybe the performance of Will Powell and the adorable sweetness of Carole Lombard in two roles who are not real unique in the context of the cinema of period but who works in beautiful manner. and, maybe, that is the key for the seductive force of this old movie about money, family, society and ...love.

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.

Yes, Virginia, William Powell CAN be someone other than the Thin Man, and he can kiss someone Myrna Loy. In this case, he is kissing Carole Lombard, who does a very nice job as Powell's romantic interest. This is a fun movie from beginning to end, and the best role that Powell ever had (from an artistic viewpoint). Lombard was multitalented and could play any role. She very good as the rich playgirl who befriends the bum by the river, Godfrey. Great stuff.

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).