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My Man Godfrey [1936]
![My Man Godfrey [1936]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51TWDX896CL._SL160_.jpg)
RRP: £4.99
Enjoyable
Review date: 2008-06-19 Rating: 8 out of 10
Somewhat different from many romcoms of the time, My Man Godfrey is the story of a rich man who has become a tramp, but finds himself taken on as butler to a houseful of Park Avenue looneys. The long-suffering father has to contend with his scatterbrained wife, her ungainly protégé Carlo, who does little more than eat, play the piano and impersonate a gorilla, and two bickering daughters. One of them (Lombard) falls head-over-heels for the polite, aloof Godfrey and her comic attempts to win his affections are matched by her sister's snooty dislike of him.
Powell very competently plays his character, emphasising the butler's role as the only sane man in the asylum, while around him Lombard leaps and weeps to get his attention. The film ends rather quietly however, in contrast to the lunacy which precedes it, but all is resolved happily, nonetheless.
DVD quality is fair.
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Reviews
Unrealistic rags to riches story, but a great screwball slapstick!
Review date: 2007-08-29 Rating: 10 out of 10
My Man Godfrey is a wonderfully directed, well acted social comedy drama adapted from Eric Hatch's novel 1101 Park Avenue set in post depression era (1936.) The story casts satire at rich and spoiled, while the less fortunate is elevated to a great length. The movie starts with a high society scavenger hunt at a dumpster for a "forgotten man" for a charity drive. Two sisters, snooty Cornelia Bullock (Gail Patrick), and sweet and adorable Irene Bullock (Carole Lombard) fight over a bum named Godfrey (William Powell). Big headed Cornelia gets a kick on her behind, while Irene wins Godfrey's mind, and he offers to help her win the contest. Soon Irene falls in love with a seemingly less fortunate but incredibly wise Godfrey. When Godfrey accepts a job offer to work at the Bullocks residence as a butler, he learns how to deal with a highly dysfunctional family. The two sisters are spoiled, while the mother Angelica Bullock (Alice Brady), and her protégé and freeloader Carlo (Mischa Auer) is nauseating to the father of the family, Alexander Bullock (Eugene Pallette). The relationship between Godfrey and Cornelia remains hostile, whereas Irene is full of hearts and she can not stay away from well intended and wise Godfrey. As luck runs out on Bullocks in the financial market, Godfrey miraculously bails them out with his secret investments in Bullock stocks. Although the story is somewhat unrealistic, William Powell offers an outstanding performance as a less fortunate man, but he is witty and charming in the title role. This movie is riddled with several comic highlights, my favorites are when two sisters approach Godfrey at the dumpster, and in the final stage when Irene tracks down Godfrey and bully's him into marriage, saying: "Stand still, Godfrey, it'll all be over in a minute." The real miracle is an apparently less fortunate man helps the rich, and wins the heart and mind of Irene a hopelessly romantic girl. Carole Lombard offers a great performance and her contributions were recognized by the Academy nomination. In fact this was the first movie to be nominated in all four acting categories.
Terrific comedy with Powell and Lombard
Review date: 2007-08-03 Rating: 10 out of 10
My Man Godfrey is one of the movies that begat the term "screwball comedy" to describe some of the wonderful, sophisticated, fast-paced and funny Hollywood films to come out of the Depression. In my view, it's one of the best. It would be hard to find two actors who were more skilled at portraying stylish insouciance, who were more attractive as people and who were more polished at delivering funny dialogue than William Powell and Carole Lombard. And although the movie is great fun, there's an underlying message about how people treat each other that is handled deftly.
Irene Bullock (Carole Lombard) and her sister, Cornelia (Gail Patrick), the spoiled, rich daughters of a New York businessman and his scatterbrained wife, are on a society party scavenger hunt. They're competing to find a forgotten man and bring him back to the party. In a dump by the East River they find a group of homeless men living in scrap huts, among them Godfrey Smith (William Powell). Godfrey rejects Cornelia's imperious command to come with her, but is intrigued by Irene's ditsy honesty.
"Do you mind telling me just what a scavenger hunt is?" Godfrey asks.
"Well," Irene says, "a scavenger hunt is exactly like a treasure hunt, except in a treasure hunt you try to find something you want, and in a scavenger hunt you try to find something that nobody wants."
"Hmm, like a forgotten man?"
"That's right, and the one who wins gets a prize, only there really isn't a prize. It's just the honor of winning, because all the money goes to charity, that is, if there is any money left over, but there never is."
"Well, that clears the whole matter up beautifully," Godfrey says. He goes with Irene, she wins the prize and is so intrigued by Godfrey that she offers him a job as butler in the Bullock mansion.
The movie is all about Godfrey the butler dealing with the Bullock family, from Irene's infatuation to her father's gruff frustrations and increasing financial failures. The mother is forever going off into self-indulgent flights of nonsense. Cornelia is beautiful and condescending, the maid is knowing and funny. And there seems to be a live-in gigolo for Mrs. Bullock, Mischa Auer, who at one point does a great impersonation of an arm-swinging ape. Through it all Godfrey maintains his composure. And little by little we learn that Godfrey is not who we think he is, or who the Bullocks think he is.
By the end of the movie Godfrey has by his example taught the Bullocks a thing or two about honesty and humility, his real identity has been discovered, and Irene Bullock has more or less coerced him into what will most likely be a very interesting marriage.
William Powell could deliver more meaning in a cocked eyebrow or a slightly questioning line delivery than, I think, any of his contemporaries. He wasn't a conventionally handsome lead actor, but he carried himself with such style and assurance that he was a dominant star. Carole Lombard was his match in this film. She was a gorgeous creature, but could be earthy or funny or glamorous when she chose, and all at once, too.
The Criterion DVD is in great shape. It's a fine reason to go out and buy an all-region DVD player.
William Powell is at his best.
Review date: 2005-04-29 Rating: 10 out of 10
A dysfunctional but seemingly wealthy family takes in a new butler of dubious background. In return the butler saves the family in more ways than one. (This is a comedy)
I really appreciate this movie on many levels. You may recognize several people types just in the Bullock family. The interaction between Carole Lombard and William Powell is worth watching in its self. I particularly like when Tommy Gray (Alan Mowbray) has to explain his earlier relationship with Godfrey.
As good as this movie is I still like the remake with David Niven and June Allyson just as well. "My Man" Godfrey (1957) but many of his movies are hard to find. Such as "The Statue" and "Prudence and the pill."
high energy comedy with strong social edge
Review date: 2004-10-14 Rating: 8 out of 10
a very entertaining 30's screwball comedy, with the great carole lombard partnered by ex-husband william powell (who made her appearance a condition of his own involvement). an arresting opening on NYC dump leads into a dissection of the lives of the idle rich, with interesting twists & turns of the plot. both leads turn in very strong performances. finally the film does not manage to weave the comedy together with the social comment as seamlessly as some might like, but it is a film which will stay in the memory for a considerable time.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
William Powell
Alice Brady
Carole Lombard
Gail Patrick
Eugene Pallette
Creators:
William Powell (Primary Contributor)
Carole Lombard (Primary Contributor)
Ted Tetzlaff (Cinematographer)
Gregory La Cava (Producer)
Gregory La Cava (Writer)
Charles R. Rogers (Producer)
Eric Hatch (Writer)
Morrie Ryskind (Writer)
Robert Presnell Sr. (Writer)
Director(s):
Recording label: Whe Europe Limited
Manufacturer: Whe Europe Limited
EAN: 5060033472231
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2004-01-26
Number of discs: 1
Audience rating: Universal, suitable for all
Region code: 2
Running time: 89 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1936-09-17
Language: English (Original Language)