My Man Godfrey (1936)

starring Carole Lombard, William Powell

directed by Gregory La Cava

Godfrey (William Powell), a homeless man, helps Irene Bullock (Carole Lombard) win a scavenger hunt and thereby beat her older sister Cornelia (Gail Patrick). Irene still lives at home with her parents and her sister. Irene hires Godfrey to be the family's butler. She quickly falls for him. He does what he can to dissuade her. 

Cornelia doesn't like Godfrey and tries to get him fired by framing him. Her plan falls through. Irene continues to carry a torch for Godfrey even after she learns that he has a wife and five children. The wife and kids turn out to be the fictitious creations of Tommy, a friend of Godfrey, but Irene doesn't find out the truth until very late in the movie.

Thoughts

I like this movie. I don't think it is great but it was a fun watch. I thought it started strong but lost a bit of steam in the middle when Carole Lombard's performance seemed to get rather one-note, lots of crying. It picked up again towards the end.

Notes

This movie was nominated for 6 academy awards including nominations for both leads, but did not win any. 

Alice Brady plays Angelica, Irene's mother. She was nominated for an academy award for best supporting actress for this movie. She did not win the award but a couple years later she won for her role in In Old Chicago (1938).

Eugene Pallette plays Alexander, Irene's father. He has hundreds of screen credits according to IMDb which go back to 1913. I have seen him in a few other movies including The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), and The Lady Eve (1941). He was, in the early 1930s, in 5 Philo Vance films, not playing the lead, but 4 of which starred William Powell as Philo Vance.

Gail Patrick played the part of Cornelia. She has over 60 screen credits according to IMDb. Her last credited role was in 1948. She moved on to do other things. Her most notable accomplishment after she stopped acting was that she was one of the executive producers of Perry Mason (1957-1966).

Mischa Auer plays the part of Carlo, Angelica Bullock's so-called protégé. He was nominated for an academy award for best supporting actor for this role. It was the only academy award nomination of his career.

Alan Mowbray plays the part of Tommy. He has been in a couple movies that I have seen. The one that I saw most recently is I Wake Up Screaming (1941).