Film Snail

7.6

My Man Godfrey

NR·1936·95m

Comedy

Summary

Fifth Avenue socialite Irene Bullock needs a "forgotten man" to win a scavenger hunt, and no one is more forgotten than Godfrey Park, who resides in a dump by the East River. Irene hires Godfrey as a servant for her riotously unhinged family, to the chagrin of her spoiled sister, Cornelia, who tries her best to get Godfrey fired. As Irene falls for her new butler, Godfrey turns the tables and teaches the frivolous Bullocks a lesson or two.

Cast

William Powell

Godfrey

Carole Lombard

Irene Bullock

Alice Brady

Angelica Bullock

Gail Patrick

Cornelia Bullock

Eugene Pallette

Alexander Bullock

Jean Dixon

Molly

Alan Mowbray

Tommy Gray

Mischa Auer

Carlo

Pat Flaherty

Mike Flaherty

Robert Light

Faithful George

Bess Flowers

Mrs. Merriweather (uncredited)

Bert Moorhouse

Card Playing Party Guest (uncredited)

Franklin Pangborn

Guthrie (uncredited)

Grady Sutton

Charlie Van Rumple (uncredited)

Jane Wyman

Socialite (uncredited)

Ernie Adams

Forgotten Man (uncredited)

Jimmy Aye

Party Guest (uncredited)

James Carlisle

Socialite (uncredited)

Jack Chefe

Headwaiter (uncredited)

Phyllis Crane

Party Guest (uncredited)

Eddie Fetherston

Process Server (uncredited)

Grace Field

Socialite (uncredited)

James Flavin

Detective (uncredited)

Edward Gargan

Detective (uncredited)

Carlton Griffin

Socialite (uncredited)

David S. Horsley

Socialite (uncredited)

Selmer Jackson

Blake (Socialite) (uncredited)

Richard Kipling

Socialite (uncredited)

Andrea Leeds

Socialite at Scavenger Hunt (uncredited)

Ethelreda Leopold

Socialite (uncredited)

Reginald Mason

Mayor Courtney (uncredited)

Louis Natheaux

Socialite (uncredited)

Bob Perry

Bob (Doorman) (uncredited)

Katherine Perry

Socialite (uncredited)

Albert Petit

Receptionist (uncredited)

Jean Rogers

Socialite (uncredited)

Ronald R. Rondell

Socialite at Scavenger Hunt (uncredited)

Arthur Singley

Clarence (uncredited)

Larry Steers

Nightclub Patron (uncredited)

Russell Wade

Socialite at Scavenger Hunt (uncredited)

William Wagner

Waiter (uncredited)

Arthur Wanzer

Arthur Valentine (uncredited)

Harley Wood

Socialite (uncredited)

Crew

Director

Gregory La Cava

Novel, Screenplay

Eric Hatch

Screenplay

Morrie Ryskind

Reviews

barrymost

October 4, 2019

"Forgotten Man" meets flighty, rich heiress . . . and so begins one of classic cinema's funniest, most delightful, most intelligent comedies ever. William Powell as the hobo Godfrey hits all the right notes. Carole Lombard is terrific, if slightly over the top, as Irene Bullock, the "uptown girl looking for a downtown man."

What starts as an innocent city scavenger hunt becomes an unlikely romance when Irene Bullock brings home a gentlemanly bum named Godfrey and gets him hired as the new butler. Godfrey turns the household upside down (without really trying), much to the disapproval of Irene's stuffy parents (Eugene Pallette and Alice Brady).

It is a shame that its style and intelligence is lost on much of today's audience, who have become so used to the usual dull, CGI-packed drivel that it is difficult for them to sit through a film like this. Brimming with wit and sophistication, this screwball comedy with a message is not to be missed.

Recommended to you by yours truly, P.M. Turner of Old Hat Cinema.