My Man Godfrey

 

 

Create your own review

I'm such a fan of William Powell and he does not disappoint in this film at all. The quality is good and so is the price.

Love the Thin Man series with Mryna Loy, they made a great on screen couple; also...a must see!!! Own them all!!

I love this movie. It's entertaining, fun and the characters are over the top. It would be a great movie to watch with the kids because it could keep them engaged, but it's even more enjoyable for the adults. The only problem with it is the price. I don't think the extras are worth the extra money. I also found another website thats selling it for $20 dollars cheaper. [...] I'd encourage anyone interested to go there. Or just buy the other dvds that don't offer the extras.

The below-stairs people usually got ignored in old movies. But there's a very interesting twist in "My Man Godfrey," a fun screwball comedy about a rich little girl who adores her secretive homeless-turned-butler. The dialogue is snappy, the storyline is fun, but the relationship between the two leads is never quite convincing.

The list for a charity scavenger hunt includes "lost man." Scatterbrained Irene Bullock (Carole Lombard) is about to lose to her nasty sister, until "lost man" Godfrey (William Powell) volunteers to help her. As a reward, Irene makes Godfrey the new butler for her moneyed Park Avenue family, who turns out to be kind of crazy -- a long-suffering dad, cruel sister, and a mom who sees gnomes.

And it soon becomes clear that Irene has a massive crush on Godfrey, but not only does he reject her, but he keeps his past a secret. And her spiteful sister Cornelia (Gail Patrick) is planning to get back at Godfrey for humiliating her, by framing him for a theft...

Basically "My Man Godfrey" is just a cute little upper-crust storyline of the type that was popular in the 1930s, so people could ignore their Depression troubles for a few hours. And it succeeds at being a solid little comedy -- not quite screwball but occasionally verging on it.

For the first half, we're basically treated to the wacky antics of Irene's family (including a horse in the study), and Godfrey's mild disbelief at what a bunch of weirdos they are. And after that it gets more serious, with Cornelia's war on Godfrey, but the kooky comedy is kept up through witty dialogue and warped family encounters. ("Take a look at the dizzy old gal with the goat." "I've had to look at her for 20 years - that's MRS. Bullock!" "I'm terribly sorry!" "How do you think I feel?").

The only real problem is Godfrey and Irene. They make a cute couple, and ex-hubby-and-wife Powell and Lombard have some nice chemistry. Unfortunately the ending seems very contrived, since Godfrey never gives even the slightest indication that he even really likes Irene, let alone loves her. Not a word, not a gesture.

But taken apart, they do a brilliant job -- Lombard pouts, bubbles, cries and generally flakes around as the scatterbrained Irene, who doesn't recognize Godfrey after he shaves off "those nice whiskers." And Powell has his usual wry, brainy charm, but with a slightly sarcastic edge. Eugene Pallette and Alice Brady are also fun as Irene's longsuffering dad and flaky mom.

"My Man Godfrey" is a classic little comedy of flaky socialites and secretive butlers -- just on this side of screwball. Charming and quirky.

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 72 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

 

5.0 out of 5 stars My Man Godfrey
I had a VHS copy of this movie, it had faded away, so was very glad when I could buy a DVD copy.

Published 10 months ago by Gayle Bray

4.0 out of 5 stars All you need to start an asylum is an empty room and the right kind of people
The below-stairs people usually got ignored in old movies. But there's a very interesting twist in "My Man Godfrey," a fun screwball comedy about a rich little girl who adores her... Read more

Published on Jan 10 2009 by E. A Solinas

5.0 out of 5 stars William Powell is at his best.
dysfunctional but seemingly wealthy family takes in a new butler of dubious background. In return the butler saves the family in more ways than one. Read more

Published on Oct 17 2006 by bernie

5.0 out of 5 stars The Gold Standard for DVDs
My Man Godfrey, for me, represents all that's admirable about the DVD format. Visually, it sparkles, literally so in the opening credits. Read more

Published on May 27 2004 by Mark Nave

5.0 out of 5 stars If you like old movies this is one of the best
I have a DVD copy from a Canadian company Cascadia and its excellent video and audio and is perfect except for one scene which is repeated twice in an editing loop- oh well-... Read more

Published on May 23 2004

1.0 out of 5 stars MISSING A SCENE!!
Do not buy this DVD! I am very familiar with this movie as I own a VHS copy, so I immediately noticed the missing scene. Read more

Published on May 18 2004

1.0 out of 5 stars A lousy DVD copy of a FANTASTIC movie
I was so disappointed in the DVD! A scene is missing, hence some retarded editing. The look itself is pretty bad--the whites are almost blinding in a couple of scenes. Read more

Published on May 16 2004 by Cheyenne Ann

5.0 out of 5 stars Screwball Classic
Carole Lombard received her only Best Actress Academy Award nomination for her role as madcap heiress Irene Bullock. Read more

Published on Mar 21 2004 by Stephen Reginald

5.0 out of 5 stars A gem and a joy.
Everyone agrees that Carole Lombard and William Powell are wonderful in this movie. Lombard ridicules upper-class frivolousness in her portrait of Irene, as do the rest of the... Read more

Published on Mar 20 2004 by Ben Parker

5.0 out of 5 stars Gets better with every changing era
I first saw this movie as a teenager on late night reruns on TV. I later saw it on the PBS series, "Movies Worth Taping. Read more

Published on Mar 11 2004

Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

› See all 72 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

Search Listmania!