Review of My Man Godfrey (1936) by Bradley D — 27 Aug 2011
Some older films stand the test of time; others do not. Thankfully, this sharp satire is firmly planted in the first category. As the film begins, a small group of trust fund babies are having a scavenger hunt in the dark corners of Manhattan, a few years into the Great Depression.
Two sisters, the younger of whom is played to comedic perfection by Carole Lombard, are only missing one "item" that is the big prize: A Lost Man. The legendary William Powell plays their 'prize,' a homeless Harvard graduate devastated financially by the Depression, and emotionally lost after a failed relationship.
Lombard's character, Irene reaches out to Godfrey, offering him a job as a butler. Everything about this wonderful comedy is over the top, especially the sharp satire and social commentary. Think Pygmalion in 1930's New York City.
The 1957 remake of this film, starring David Niven as Godfrey, was much less successful, in large part because it tossed aside the conflict engendered by the Depression-era setting of the original. With class divisions an unwelcome presence modern America, this gem is as relevant now as it was 75 years ago.
As Godfrey says to a friend on a tour to the trash dump he used to call home, "The only thing between a man and a derelict is a job.".
4/5 Stars.
This review of My Man Godfrey (1936) was written by Bradley D on 27 Aug 2011.
My Man Godfrey has generally received very positive reviews.
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