Film Review of My Man Godfrey: Carole Lombard and William Powell in 1936 Romantic Comedy

A derelict becomes a socialite’s My Man Godfrey by writer Morrie Ryskind; and writer/producer/ director GregoryLaCava. Ted Tetzlaff; Ted J. Kent and Russell F. Schoengarth; and Charles Previn and Rudy Schrager handle cinematography, editing and music. Filming showcases California’s University City Studios.

The 94-minute screwball comedy/romance adapts Eric S. Hatch’s (1901-1973) novel 1101 Park Avenue. Its distributor was Universal Pictures. Its USA-release date was September 6, 1936. It won no Oscars at the 9th Academy Awards of March 4, 1937, despite Best Director, Leading/Supporting Actors, Leading/Supporting Actresses, and Screenplay nominations.

The movie begins with socialite Cornelia Bullock (Gail Patrick) offering East River’s Sutton Place City Dump #32-dwelling Godfrey Smith (William Powell) $5.00 as Waldorf-Ritz Hotel scavenger hunt’s “forgotten” man. Godfrey pushes Cornelia into ash piles. Boyfriend/broker’s son “Faithful” George (Robert Light) rescues Cornelia. The romantic duo resent Godfrey’s helping Cornelia’s sister Irene’s (Carole Lombard) getting:

• 20 points for Godfrey’s judge-certified (Franklin Pangborn) homelessness, non-criminality, and unshavenness;
• 50 points for homeless/jobless find #1;
• Winner’s silver cup.

Godfrey calls participants “nitwits” for:

• Scavenging undesirables;
• Treasuring desirables.

Irene gives Godfrey money for clothes. She hires Godfrey to buttle. Godfrey is helpful in giving pixie-chasing, Worcestershire-sauced tomato juice to Irene’s hung-over mother Angelica (Alice Brady). He is unhelpful in long-time maid Molly’s (Jean Dixon) pondering the crossword for a three-letter bird with the middle letter “r” (ern, Haliaeetus albicilla). He is unwelcomed by Angelica's husband, Alexander (Eugene Pallette), after Irene kisses Godfrey in the butler's room off the kitchen.

Irene hosts a tea party. Guest Tommy Gray (Alan Mowbray) helps Harvard classmate Godfrey pose as valet husband of a native American and father of five children. Irene heartbrokenly receives millionaire Charlie Van Rumple’s (Grady Sutton) proposal.

Godfrey and Tommy lunch. Godfrey recalls love's heartbreaks. He regrets 10 Parke generations of Bostonian wealth. He wishes his family to continue thinking him a South America-based rubber businessman.

Cornelia blames Godfrey for misplaced pearls. Police find nothing under the mattress where Cornelia hides them. Alexander persuades police to drop investigations by writing a check to the pension fund.

Irene breaks her engagement. She and Cornelia go to Europe. Godfrey and Tommy ideate plans to employ derelicts.

Angelica’s, Carlo’s (Mischa Auer), Cornelia’s and Irene’s extravagances claim 50% of Alexander’s money. The IRS claims 60%. Alexander dreads impoverishment … until Godfrey confesses to collateralizing Cornelia’s pearls for stocks short-marketed in Alexander’s name. Godfrey gives Cornelia her pearls. Cornelia regrets misbehaving. Godfrey resigns as the only butler who leaves the silver intact.

The movie ends with:

• “The Dump” being a nightclub to employ derelicts and entertain the wealthy;
• "The Office” designating Godfrey’s personal/professional space;
• Irene having Clarence (Arthur Singley) stock Godfrey’s headquarters and kitchen with firewood and a week’s groceries;
• Irene planning to replace the bedroom’s “bilious” green wallpaper;
• Tommy sending Mayor Courtney (Reginald Mason) to join Godfrey’s and Irene’s right hands in marriage.

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

scene from "My Man Godfrey" with William Powell, Carole Lombard, and Jean Dixon
Universal Pictures film screenshot: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:My_Man_Godfrey_(1936)_1.jpg

"My Man Godfrey - Trailer" (0:51)
Uploaded July 20, 2012, by chefducinema to YouTube ~ URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zkZd9GkxWc

"My Man Godfrey (1936) [Romance] [Comedy]" (1:33:06)
Uploaded August 26, 2013, by Timeless Classic Movies (TCM) to YouTube ~ URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiSjeLhg25w

A graduate of New York's American Academy of Dramatic Arts with experience in vaudeville and on the Broadway stage, William Powell was well prepared to find fame and fortune as a major star at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios.
the suave actor's home in Beverly Hills, on linen textured postcard, ca. 1930-1945
The Tichnor Brothers Collection, Boston Public Library: Boston Public Library, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/24029425@N06/7535841870/