97. My Man Godfrey (1936)

Running Time: 93 minutes
Directed By: Gregory La Cava
Written By: Eric Hatch, Morrie Ryskind, from novel by Eric Hatch
Main Cast: William Powell, Carole Lombard, Gail Patrick, Alice Brady, Eugene Pallette, Mischa Auer

WILLIAM POWELL STEALS THE SHOW AS 'GODFREY'

It's a good sign when you finish a movie and almost immediately find yourself on Amazon, searching for the availability and price of it that movie on DVD. Another good sign, is when you finish a movie, go outside to light up a cigarette and find yourself revisiting all of the scenes and characters that you just saw spill out in front of you and you are flooded with thoughts about said film. I did both of those things, upon finishing "My Man Godfrey", yet another film that makes me so glad that I decided to embark on my journey through film.

William Powell is back in the "1001" book as Godfrey, a bum, who takes up residence at the city dump. Referred to in the picture as a "forgotten man", one evening, as he chit chats with his buddies and fellow bohemians, he is appraoched by two high class women, who wish to take him back to a party on Park Avenue and parade him around in front of the other party goers. They call it a scavenger hunt, where they find things that no one else wants, and are rewarded for it, the top scavenger hunt "item" being a "forgotten man". He tells off one of the ladies, Cornelia, but accepts for her sister, Irene, and follows her back to the party. After the scavenger hunt is concluded, Irene asks Godfrey to be their new butler, and Godfrey reluctantly accepts. Upon starting the job, Godfrey quickly finds out what basketcases he's up against, as he proceeds to meet the rest of the family. Of course, there are the sisters, Irene and Cornelia Bullock, two who don't get along, by any means. Then you have the mother, Angelica Bullock, her "protege" Carlo, and her husband Alexander Bullock. They're all quite mad in their own way and Godfrey gets early tips from the maid, Molly, on just how berserk they are.

Eventually Godfrey finds his place in the family, despite constant criticism from the still bitter Cornelia and the love struck Irene, who wants nothing more than to be Godfrey's wife, although he's set her straight on the fact, that he only wants to do his job and wants no part of a romance. One evening, while a dinner party ensues in the house, one of the guests recognizes Godfrey as a man he went to Harvard with. Godfrey throws him off and discreetly gets him to change his story. The next day, the two go to lunch, and it is unfolded that Godfrey was actually a part of a high class family himself at one point, giving it all up when his heart was broken by a dame and going broke in the process, until he eventually took shelter at the dump. The two scheme on a plan that isn't unfolded until the end of the picture and in the meanwhile, Godfrey goes back to the Bullock's to finish out his career butling.

There's few times while doing this blog that I've actually been excited to write about a particular movie. It's not that I find writing tedious or anything of the sort, it's just that usually I finish a film and then write about it, without putting much thought to it. I was literally excited to get here and spill out my opinions and praises for "My Man Godfrey". We'll start off with William Powell, one of the few great things about "The Thin Man" and one of the many great things about "My Man Gofrey". Powell steals the show and provides a subtle awkwardness in his character portrayl of Godfrey, giving out just the type of responses and dialogue that make his butler character seem that much more real. The entire Bullock family push the crazy button, until it gets stuck and Carole Lombard pushes it extra hard, playing a sweet, yet nutty sister, who you expect to see tied up in a straight-jacket by the end of the whole affair. There are some touching scenes, especially at the end when Godfrey speaks candidly to Cornelia and you almost want to sob right along with her. I had a blast watching this movie and I can't wait to purchase it, and rewatch it, because it's one of those movies that you could rewatch over and over, without giving it the least bit of thought.

RATING: 10/10 Did you expect any other rating, after such praise and appreciation for this great film?

NEXT UP: Mr. Deeds Goes to Town...It'll arrive in the mail today from Netflix, and if my plans are seen through, I'll have it reviewed by this afternoon.

February 10, 2010 7:34am