“My Man Godfrey†is one of those films that classic movie fans should have in their collection. Especially if you love screwball comedies. And the re-release from the Criterion Collection on Blu-ray features new special features and a wonderful 4K digital restoration!
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TITLE: My Man Godfrey – The Criterion Collection #114
YEAR OF FILM: 1936
DURATION: 93 Minutes
DVD INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition, Black and White, 1:33:1 aspect ratio, monaural
COMPANY: THE CRITERION COLLECTION
RELEASED: September 18, 2018
Based on the novel “1101 Park Avenue” by Eric Hatch
Directed by Gregory La Cava
Written by Morrie Ryskind, Eric Hatch
Executive Producer: Charles R. Rogers
Producer: Gregory La Cava
Cinematography by Ted Tetzlaff
Edited by Ted J. Kent, Russell F. Schoengarth
Art Direction by Charles D. hall
Costume Design by Brymer
Starring:
William Powell as Godfrey
Carole Lombard as Irene Bullock
Alice Brady as Angelica Bullock
Gail Patrick as Cornelia Bullock
Eugene Pallette as Alexander Bullock
Jean Dixon as Molly
Alan Mowbray as Tommy Gray
Mischa Auer as Carlo
Pat Flaherty as Mike Flaherty
Robert Light as Faithful George
Carole Lombard and William Powell dazzle in this definitive screwball comedy, directed by Gregory La Cava’s a potent cocktail of romantic repartee and Depression-era social critique. Irene (Lombard), an eccentric Manhattan socialite, wins a society-ball scavenger hunt after finding one of the “items” on the list, a “lost man” (Powell), at a dump. She gives the man she believes to be a down-and-out drifter work as the family butler, and soon falls head over heels in love. Her attempts to both woo Godfrey and indoctrinate him in the dysfunctional ways of the household make for an unbeatable series of madcap hijinks. La Cava’s deft film was the first to garner Oscar nominations in all four acting categories, and it is one of Hollywood’s greatest commentaries on class and the social unrest of its time.
“My Man Godfrey”, the popular 1936 screwball comedy that was adapted to a film from Eric Hatch’s novel “1101 Park Avenue” and directed by animator/filmmaker Gregory La Cava, would become a bonafide classic as the film would rake in six Academy Award nominations and would feature former married couple and very popular onscreen talents William Powell (“The Thin Man” films, “The Great Ziegfeld”,”Manhattan Melodrama”) and Carole Lombard (“Now and Forever”, “Nothing Sacred”, “Swing High”, “Swing Low”).
The film was deemed “culturally significant” back in 1999 and was selected by the United States Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.
“My Man Godfrey” has been available many times on DVD with the most significant release from The Criterion Collection back in 2001 which included a new digital transfer, audio commentary, rare outttakes (which can be found on YouTube) and the complete 1938 broadcast of the Lux Radio Theater adaptation.
And a Blu-ray release of “My Man Godfrey” was released by The Criterion Collection featuring a new 4K digital restoration with a uncompressed monaural soundtrack.
“My Man Godfrey”€ is a film about a man named Godfrey (played by William Powell), who was found by two sisters Irene (played by Carole Lombard) and her older sister Cornelia Bullock (played by Gail Patrick). The two are competing in a scavenger hunt and must find a “forgotten manâ€, so they go near the docks to find a homeless man and that is where they find Godfrey.
Cornelia offers Godfrey $5 to show up with her to the party but this angers Godfrey who doesn’t like being treated like he’s nothing, who then pushes the socialite to the ground. When Irene approaches him, he sees a kindness and naivety in her and agrees to accompany Irene to the party.
Godfrey is taken to a party full of the rich and not treated nicely but because he helped Irene beat her sister in a game, Irene offers to help him by offering Godfrey a job as the Bullock family’s butler. This angers her sister Cornelia (mainly because Godfrey mistreated her) because her sister just hired this homeless man and not dealing with a professional service.
Godfrey takes the job and learns from the Bullock’s maid, Molly (played by Jean Dixon) about how unusual the family is. From the ditsy mother Angelica (played by Alice Brady, “The Gay Divorcee”, “In Old Chicagoâ€) who is trying to nurture her musician protegee Carlo (played by Mischa Auer) who seems to be using the family for lodging and eating their food, the money worrying father Alexander (played by Eugene Pallette, â”Mr. Smith Goes to Washington”,”The Adventures of Robin Hood”), the socialite and spoiled older sister Cornelia and the bubbly, naive and gets what she wants younger sister Irene.
All things go well for Godfrey at the job but what he didn’t expect was Irene falling in love with him. Also, unexpected was at a family party, Godfrey runs into an old acquaintance, Tommy Gray (played by Alan Mowbray) who explains to the family that he’s known Godfrey from when they went to Harvard University. But quickly, after getting a hint from Godfrey, Tommy makes up a story about Godfrey being married and having several children.
This sends Irene to a tizzy, while finding out about Godfrey and his past makes Cornelia even more curious about him and will do what she can to get Godfrey in trouble.
Who is the real Godfrey? Why is this Harvard graduate living homeless? And will he survive as the butler for the Bullock family and their antics?
VIDEO:
“My Man Godfrey” is a film presented in its original aspect ration of 1:33:1. And for many people who have watched the original Criterion Colletion DVD release. The film looks absolutely magnificent in HD. No signs of scratches, warping. Black levels are nice and deep, white and grays are well-presented. This is the definitive version of the film to date!
According to the Criterion Collection, this new 4K digital restoration was restored by Universal Pictures, from 4K resolution scans of the 35 mm nitrate original camera negative and a composite safety fine-grain made on an ARRISCAN wet-gate film scanner, with restoration services provided by NBC Universal StudioPost.
AUDIO:
Audio is in presented in monaural with no signs of popping, hiss or any crackling.
Subtitles are in English.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
“My Man Godfrey” features the following special features:
- The La Cava Tough – (17:46) A 2018 program featuring author Gary Giddins discussing “My Man Godfrey” and the talents who made it.
- LUX RADIO THEATRE – (1:00:40) Originally broadcast on May 9, 1938, this radio adaptation of “My Man Godfrey” features William Powell, Carole Lombard, Gail Patrick and Mischa Auer reprising their screenshot roles.
- Outtakes – (1:04) Outtakes from “My Man Godfrey”
- Effortless Art – (18:31) Conducted in 2018 by the Criterion Collection, this interview with critic and programmer Nick Pinkerton delves into what made Gregory La Cava a distinct filmmaker.
- Newsreels – (4:29) Two newsreels from the 1930s contrasting the daily routines of the poverty-stricken with those of the affluent during the Great Depression – a theme reflected in My Man Godfrey.
- Trailer – Trailer for “My Man Godrey”.
EXTRAS:
“My Man Godfrey” comes with a 6-panel essay titled “The Right Kind of People” by Farran Smith Nehme.
“My Man Godfrey” is one of the best screwball comedies of American cinema.
The film is witty, charming and just fun and delightful. Carole Lombard shows off her comedic talent and it’s quite interesting to see her character of Irene interacting with her older sister Cornelia (Gail Patrick). Around Godfrey, Irene is naive and just head over heels for him, while with Cornelia she changes to this pushy younger sister who is quick to anger and when around her father, she’s like the young daughter wanting her father to comfort her. It’s her actions that make this film quite intriguing and makes you wonder if she’s a bit off.
But like Irene, her mother is a much more naive person who is not hip to the jargon used by her daughters. Alice Brady does a fine job of playing the mother Angelica Bullock and nearly retains that comedic flare that she did in the Astaire/Rogers film “The Gay Divorcee”. Eugene Pallette plays the perfect, no-nonsense father and last but not least, William Powell as the suave and cool, Godfrey.
“My Man Godfrey” benefits from star talent, a hilarious and witty screenplay but also beautiful production quality on the sets and also costume design. I do feel that “My Man Godfrey” ends abruptly in the most screwball type of way. So, I suppose the ending is quite appropriate.
“My Man Godfrey” is one of those films that classic movie fans should have in their collection. Especially if you love screwball comedies. And the re-release from the Criterion Collection on Blu-ray features new special features and a wonderful 4K digital restoration!