My Man Godfrey

It's very impressive how the writers were able to keep the film constantly moving at such a miraculous pace for more than an hour and a half. The dialogue -- silly though it is -- is very charming, in no small part because of the all-around inspired acting. It doesn't hurt that while the film may be a screwball, it's grounded in realism. The uneasy spirit of the time looms large, even though the members of the family the film revolves around try their best not to be affected by it.

Not side-splitting hilarity, but the witty script and characterizations pull it through. William Powell is really great as the detached title character, the voice of reason amongst a cast of loony characters. It's really a blast watching him shake an already dysfunctional family to its foundations.

Amusing.

Serving anti-rich resentment built up at the time, this is ironically a high-gloss piece not avoiding the old Oliver Twist twist nor society comedyʼs optical illusion that men are harmless compared to women, and sanity means patriarchy. The limits of how insightful a Hollywood product can be are scratched in the first act, then firmly reassert themselves until it ends as a fairytale; Graham Greeneʼs review is on point. Still, this is a great script (but whereʼs my ending gag?) filmed well.

I don’t have much to say about this effervescent screwball than has been said already, but, 1) Lombard is in silk pantsuits the whole time to show she’s a rebel but damn if that’s not a hot look and 2) on this latest viewing, I never before caught the subtext of Powell buying the Bullock stock on a short and giving it back with graciousness. Their (arguable) butler bet against them in the fair market and teaches them humility. That’s fucking writing.

An archetypally Hollywood rags-to-riches class comedy. Lots of snappy verbal sparring and mock theatrics. In the end it's fairly fluffy, even for a screwball comedy.

Called a "screwball comedy" by people who know what that means. It's certainly screwball--as a comedy it falls short. Powell is near perfection, but it's the wonderful Eugene Pallette who gets all the funniest lines. And Mischa Auer steals every scene he's in. The women of the family are totally insufferable, prattling breathlessly and endlessly, with Gail Patrick as the overprivileged cunt who tries to frame Powell for theft. Jean Dixon's maid is the one female with any apparent brains.

This screwball comedy had a pretty dull opening and a very confusing ending, but the middle third was incredibly funny. I only found out later that, at the time of filming, Powell and Lonbard were divorced, which might have been why they were able to pull off that awkwardness of a couple that's not a couple. Some good moments, but I don't rate it as highly as The Lady Eve or Sullivan's Travels.

Carole Lombard in this movie > every 'manic pixie dream girl' Zooey Deschanel has ever played. Plus there's some commentary on economic inequality. It's a win-win situation!

William Powell takes great lines and makes them better. His style is absolutely suave and entertaining, and while nobody else in the film reaches his level, they all do a damn fine job with a superb screenplay. This is like an American screwball version of Rules of the Game, where all the flighty, moronic aristocrats make their own pointless drama because there's nothing else to do. Carole Lombard is especially hilarious, hopelessly in love without caring why. Hell of a classic.

A very entertaining comedy that's light on the laughs, but piles on the amusment. I'm not really digging that the chick falls in love with him immediately, and especially that he gives in without argument at the end, but whatever, it's the 30's, such is cinema.

Some 30s-40s comedies rely on the theory that if you shoot off enough text, rapid-fire, the audience will be kept afloat at a steady height of exhilaration - no matter how dull the humor. Godfrey isn't a train-wreck like some Kath Hepburn vehicles I've seen which subscribe to this concept, but it wobbles a lot. At times an eloquent comedy of manners a-la Shaw or Wilde, other times it anticipates Buñuel's crass farces casting aristocrats as unredeemable buffoons, which I find boring. Powell=good.

Powell, Alice Brady and Pallette standouts in a standout cast. The only weak spot I felt was Lombard...but I couldn't decide whether that was her, or just her character.

I liked this more than The Lady Eve, perhaps because Powell was just so damn charming. Also, the guy from The Bank Dick is in this movie for about 2 minutes, which was pretty cool.

A very good 1930's comedy. It suffers a bit from the typical shortcomings of comedues of the era; the over the top supporting characters, the unrealistic situations and an ending which is too neat and tidy, but that doesn't stop it from being a very good comedy. The dialogue is witty and sharp, Powell does what he does best and Lombard, while occasionally a bit too over the top, does a great job. There's some insightful commentary tucked in there too which helps balance the film well.

A classic screwball comedy by Gregory La Cava. A sharp wit, engaging performances, and insightful social commentary that remains relevant. Powell's humorous yet touching portrayal of Godfrey and Lombard's whimsical Irene are standout performances. La Cava's direction balances comedy and drama, while the screenplay offers clever dialogue on class disparities.

Funny, charming, marvelous and witty. This is my kind of comedy.

Likable classic Hollywood romcom, though I might have enjoyed it more if the thing between Powell and Lombard was even a bit more gradual. I didn't really buy Lombard instantly falling head over heels for the apparent vagrant Powell, even granted that he's William Powell. Eugene Pallette is fun in his role.

you bet i loved this, it's a prototype for the greatest sitcom ever made.

Godfrey may have been a "forgotten man", but this movie is remembered. I enjoyed this film. It's...cute. Carole Lombard is beautiful.

funny and interesting all in a rather old movie

So relatable.

Unlike a lot of flicks from this era where people have to pretend to laugh because they don't want people to think they don't understand or that they enjoy like Adam Sandler or something. This is actually funny. Has a very quick pace. A lot of fun Lombard rules

Powell is absolutely sensational in this. Of course it isn't hard to come across as a great person, when the rest are so horrible and annoying. Even Lombard character, who's supposed to be to most sympathetic of the family I guess, is a spoiled hysterical brat. Also for this to work as a social satire the characters were too broad. So while I enjoyed the very witty dialogue, this kept me from seeing the absolute greatness of this.

Viewed February 24, 2017.

Star Rating: ★★★★1/2

I enjoyed the social commentary as well as Powell's under-stated annoyance towards his employers, but the rest of the cast was dreadful. I know playing hysterical divas was her "shtick," but Carole Lombard overacts everything to such an degree it ceases to be either funny or entertaining. Same for Alice Brady, and did Mischa Auer just get an Oscar-nomination for impersonating a Gorilla? Jesus the bar was low back then.

Very well written and performed, something about it seems very fake and dubious, but it's very easy not to mind.

Screwball for sure. An acquired taste, perhaps.

I found the Bullocks a bit too exaggerated for my taste, especially Carole Lombard's goofy girl act. Powell carries the film with aplomb, though.

Revisited (3)

Godfrey, my man! Sure it's a screwball comedy of the best sort, but the constant undercurrent of rank and money that separate the importance of man, makes it a excellent social satire. William Powell. A true gentleman with a strong sense of dignity destroyed by personal issues who gets lifted up out of the dumps as a joke, re-launching his life and affecting the life of a socialite family in the process. One can hardly write a better scrip then this for this type of film. I LOVED MY MAN GODFREY!

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Terribly charmless comedy.

An enjoyable movie from this era.

The women in this movie are extremely obnoxious, and the whole "hey, he's just pretending to be a bum" feels a little like cheating.

The other day, I was trying to think of what this movie was called. I haven't seen this in awhile, but I love it so much. Classic movie.

Better than the usual romantic comedy. It's amusing but not absurd like so many of them are. William Powell does a wonderful job as a tramp, a butler, and finally, the owner of a successful business.

This movie is so god damned charming it hurts. When I wasn't laughing, I was grinning from ear to ear, from alternately the razor-sharp dialogue, the incisive skewering of high society, or the sheer good-naturedness of it all. Godfrey is not only sharp as a tack, he's the kind of guy every guy wants to be, and every woman (as evident in the film) wants to be with, and every minute of the film spent in his presence is a joy. First-rate entertainment.

A delightful 30's comedy with a not to subtle commentary on the social,economic and political climate at the time this film was made.I really liked how William Powell's character stayed above the fray while getting in some nice zingers of his own.The ending drove home the points this movie makes a little to heavy handed for my taste.

A homeless man is hired as a butler, but he seems to be at the center of a mystery. Truly funny.

"Life is but an empty bubble."

What a good time this is. The film's greatest strength is its ability to walk the line between screwball comedy and the harsh realities of depression-era America. No doubt much of the action is utter silliness, but the characters always remain vibrant and grounded in a real emotional place.

Probably the most riotously funny of the screwball comedies. The poor quality of most prints that are out there give it a dated look, but the dialog is fresh as a daisy.

My distant recollection is that this is pretty great.

A truly hysterical and genuinely romantic film. Carole Lombard is delightfully psychotic, Gail Patrik is delightfully coniving, and William Powell is delightful as the butler who observes "This is the craziest family I've ever seen".