"My Man Godfrey" was well-liked by critics, Academy Award evaluators and moviegoers alike. It was perhaps the original "screwball" influenced satirical comedy'; it gave William Powell and Carole Lombard fine leading roles; and its writers unobtrusively contrasted the irresponsible behavior of the US elite classes with that of the poor, suffering from the Republican-policies-caused economic 'Depression' of 1929-1941. The film opens with a look at a place where the displaced are living, and a scavenger hunt, including two participants, daughters of a corporation owner, looking for "a forgotten man" to bring back to a party. William Powell, the eponymous Godfrey, is found first by Gail Patrick (Cornelia Bullock), but he rejects her on attitude, frightening her into sitting backward onto a heap of ashes at the dump where he and other displaced impoverished types are surviving. Then he agrees to be collected by her giddy but likable sister, Irene, played by Carol Lombard. Once he has told the truth to those assembled at the party, about themselves, Irene engages him as a butler. We see him thereafter interacting with the Bullocks, including father Eugemn Palette as Alexander Bullock and Alice Brady as Angelica, his wife. Others in the household include Mischa Auer as Carlo, Angelica's protégé, Jean Dixon as Molly the long-suffering maid, and Robert Light as Cornelia's boyfriend. In a series of encounters, we find out that flighty-but-nice person Irene has always had everything spoiled by lovely-but- unscrupulous Cornelia; much of the screwball behavior not emanating from rich and out-of-the-mental-mainstream Angelica is committed by the two sisters in their daily rivalries. Irene falls in love with Godfrey; she even gets engaged to someone to get a rise out of him. Then she and her sister are sent to Europe. Cornelia likes Godfrey too; but her affection upon her return takes the form of trying to belittle or to dominate him. Highlights of the film's thoughtful and allegorical hijinks include Godfrey carrying Irene up the stairs to bed, Cornelia calling the police and accusing Godfrey of having stolen her pearl necklace, which she planted under his mattress, a nightclub scene, Alexander trying to explain impatiently to his family that they have to behave, and the climax--which brings all the elements together--the necklace, Godfrey's mysterious past, his friend Tony (Alan Mowbray), his analysis of the two girls' character, and his effect on both the parents. There are classic and very memorable lines I suggest in the film, an undertone of ethical attitude that serves its obviously strong storyline well, and a surface of misbehaviors and "screwball" actions that swirl about Godfrey, who is the centerpiece of almost every scene even when he is not present. The film is unarguably well-made in general, owing to the creative efforts of costumer Travius Banton, cinematographer Ted Tetzlaff (a fine future director), expert director Gregory La Cava (from whom I took a class) and writers Eric Hatch (author of the original novel), Morrie Ryskind and director La Cava. Besides the principals, in the cast one can note Jane Wyman, Jean Rogers, Franklin Pangborn,Gracie Fields, Bess Flowers, Charlie Van Rumple and Edward Gargan. Director La Cava and Charles Rogers produced with music provided by Charles Previn. By my lights, this is an interesting story centered about an ethical and intelligent central character; its only loss of power I suggest happens due to his impoverished status, which prevents him from directly trying to accomplish his categorical-level value goal of helping forgotten men, whose courage in the face of adversity inspired him not to be a quitter either. It is a film that is imperfect, very-much-imitated in its screwball aspects, and hard not to admire or like. Among the cast, Eugene Palette and Gail Patrick have perhaps their most memorable roles, Mischa Auer and Alice Brady are very good, and Lombard and Powell make a delightful pair of seeming opposites. Artistically very good and memorable.
Review of My Man Godfrey
My Man Godfrey
(1936)
Original "Screwball" Satire; Great Lines and an Unusually-Strong Cast;
16 November 2005