My Man Godfrey - Criterion Collection

Starring:William Powell, Carole Lombard, Alice Brady, Gail Patrick, Eugene Pallette, Alan Mowbray, Jean Dixon, Mischa Auer, Robert Light, Pat Flaherty, Gracie Fields, Jane Wyman, Philip Merrick, Selmer Jackson, Franklin Pangborn, Ernie Adams, Harley Wood, Grady Sutton, Katherine Perry, Phyllis Crane
Director: Gregory La Cava
Studio: Criterion
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com essential video

Director Gregory La Cava deftly balances satire, romance, and social comment in this 1936 classic, which echoes Frank Capra in its Depression-era subtext. The Bullocks are a well-heeled, harebrained Manhattan family genetically engineered for screwball collisions: father Alexander (Eugene Pallette, of the foghorn voice and thick-knit eyebrows) is the breadwinner at wit's end, thanks to his spoiled daughters, the sultry Cornelia (Gail Patrick) and the sweet but scatterbrained Irene (a luminous Carole Lombard), his dizzy and doting wife, Angelica (Alice Brady), and her "protégé," Italian freeloader Carlo (Mischa Auer). When Irene wins a society scavenger hunt (and atypically trumps her scheming sister) by producing a "lost man," a seeming tramp named Godfrey (William Powell), all their lives are transformed. With the always suave, effortlessly funny Powell in the title role, this mystery man provides the film's conscience and its model of decency; the giddy, passionate Lombard holds out its model for triumphant love. In a movie riddled with memorable comic highlights, the real miracle is the unapologetic romanticism that prevails. --Sam Sutherland

Description

The definitive screwball comedy, My Man Godfrey follows the madcap antics of a wealthy and eccentric family when they hire a down-and-out "forgotten man" as their butler. My Man Godfrey features brilliant performances by Carole Lombard and William Powell, and was the first film to receive Academy Award® nominations in all four acting categories.

Customer Reviews:

A Great Classic Comedy.......2007-07-03

I loved this movie. I really enjoyed watching William Powell. He was such a great actor. Even as a bum living in the dump pile he was still humorous and sophisticated, and kind of sexy. I felt that Powell and Gail Patrick were the greatest actors in the movie, although everyone else also did very well, especially Lombard as the scatterbrain love-sick young lady. I would love to watch this movie over and over again. I wish Hollywood still made movies like this.

Vintage Movie.......2007-04-02

My wife, Dee was the one instrumental in me purchasing & throughly enjoying this classic. She had seen it numerous times on afternoon TV movies when she was a little girl growing up in the 50's. William Powell & Carol Lombard were incredible together. The father & mother of Carol Lombard in the movie were equally amusing. I was pleaseantly surprised to find Lomard as a rather good comedian. Dick Powell, whom I faintly remember from the Thin Man movie series, was convincing as a rich man who hit rock bottom & became a street person. This 30's movie has struck an interest in me for more Dick Powell & Carol Lombard movies.

Another Great Classic.......2007-03-30

Why can't they make movies like this anymore. Funny, heartwarming, entertaining.

A Classic.......2007-03-11

I first got hooked on William Powell from watching the Thin Man Movies. His acting style and personality fit the "rich man posting as a butler" genre perfectly. His mannerisms, and speech would fit either role in life. Carol Lombard to me always seemed like a breath of fresh air. Eugene Pallette adds a little humerous touch to every role he plays. The entire cast play their roles perfectly, and make for some humerous as well as warm moments. I first saw this movie on a DVD I purchased in a "thrift bin" in a retail store. It was fuzzy and had the usual spots that most old movies have. Even so, it became one of my favorites. When it was released in a colorized version, and had been "cleaned up" and enhanced, I jumped at the chance to own it. I would highly recommend this movie to anyone who a William Powell or Carol Lombard fan. And if they are not fans, they should be after watching this movie.

All you need to start an asylum is an empty room and the right kind of people........2007-03-11

The below-stairs people usually got ignored in old movies. But there's a very interesting twist in "My Man Godfrey," a fun screwball comedy about a rich little girl who adores her secretive homeless-turned-butler. The dialogue is snappy, the storyline is fun, but the relationship between the two leads is never quite convincing.

The list for a charity scavenger hunt includes "lost man." Scatterbrained Irene Bullock (Carole Lombard) is about to lose to her nasty sister, until "lost man" Godfrey (William Powell) volunteers to help her. As a reward, Irene makes Godfrey the new butler for her moneyed Park Avenue family, who turns out to be kind of crazy -- a long-suffering dad, cruel sister, and a mom who sees gnomes.

And it soon becomes clear that Irene has a massive crush on Godfrey, but not only does he reject her, but he keeps his past a secret. And her spiteful sister Cornelia (Gail Patrick) is planning to get back at Godfrey for humiliating her, by framing him for a theft...

Basically "My Man Godfrey" is just a cute little upper-crust storyline of the type that was popular in the 1930s, so people could ignore their Depression troubles for a few hours. And it succeeds at being a solid little comedy -- not quite screwball but occasionally verging on it.

For the first half, we're basically treated to the wacky antics of Irene's family (including a horse in the study), and Godfrey's mild disbelief at what a bunch of weirdos they are. And after that it gets more serious, with Cornelia's war on Godfrey, but the kooky comedy is kept up through witty dialogue and warped family encounters. ("Take a look at the dizzy old gal with the goat." "I've had to look at her for 20 years - that's MRS. Bullock!" "I'm terribly sorry!" "How do you think I feel?").

The only real problem is Godfrey and Irene. They make a cute couple, and ex-hubby-and-wife Powell and Lombard have some nice chemistry. Unfortunately the ending seems very contrived, since Godfrey never gives even the slightest indication that he even really likes Irene, let alone loves her. Not a word, not a gesture.

But taken apart, they do a brilliant job -- Lombard pouts, bubbles, cries and generally flakes around as the scatterbrained Irene, who doesn't recognize Godfrey after he shaves off "those nice whiskers." And Powell has his usual wry, brainy charm, but with a slightly sarcastic edge. Eugene Pallette and Alice Brady are also fun as Irene's longsuffering dad and flaky mom.

"My Man Godfrey" is a classic little comedy of flaky socialites and secretive butlers -- just on this side of screwball. Charming and quirky.

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