By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4.5 cats
Director: Gregory La Cava
Starring: Alice Brady | Carole Lombard | Eugene Pallette | Gail Patrick | Jean Dixon | William Powell
Country: united_states
Year: 1936
Running time: 90
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0028010/reference
Michael says: “After listening to the Brattle podcast about screwball comedies, I decided to give MY MAN GODFREY a try. Released in 1936, the country still reeling from the Great Depression, this wacky film sees scatterbrained socialite Irene Bullock befriend Godfrey, a ‘forgotten man’ down by the city dump and hire him to be her family’s butler. Her family is quite a piece of work, with gruff Daddy, Alexander, most likely running his corporate empire in a slightly unscrupulous way, Mother, Cornelia, who makes Irene look like a Harvard doctoral candidate, and uptight, snobby older sister Angelica. Then there’s Carlo, Cornelia’s ‘protege’ who clearly just seems to be a hanger-on living off the family’s fortune. Godfrey unintentionally charms Irene and Cornelia (as well as no-nonsense maid, Molly) but arouses suspicion and derision from Angelica. It seems Godfrey has something hide as well, coming from a Boston Brahmin family who squandered his fortune and is now ‘missing.
“The film is great fun with the screwball formula featuring rapid-fire dialog, absurd situations, an off-kilter romance of sorts between the two leads, and a sudden denouement. It’s an interesting look at wealthy society, where Godfrey ends up espousing the idea of compassionate capitalism to save the day, helping to save the clueless family from near ruin. William Powell provides an excellent calm center to the film while things whirl, out-of-control around him, but it’s Carole Lombard’s dizzy Irene who’s kindness, and ultimately, clever scheming that makes this film 4 1/2 cats“