My Man Godfrey (Colorized / Black and White)
Starring: William Powell, Carole Lombard, Alice Brady, Gail Patrick, Eugene Pallette, Alan Mowbray, Jean Dixon, Mischa Auer, Robert Light, Pat Flaherty, Bob Perry, Eddie Fetherston, Gracie Fields, Reginald Mason, Jane Wyman, David Horsley (III), Philip Merrick, Selmer Jackson, Arthur Wanzer, Franklin PangbornDirector: Gregory La Cava
Studio: 20th Century Fox
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Format: Closed-captioned, Black & White, NTSC
DVD Release: April 19th 2005
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DVD Review
Director Gregory La Cava deftly balances satire, romance, and social comment in this 1936 classic, which echoes Frank Capra in its Depression-era subtext. The Bullocks are a well-heeled, harebrained Manhattan family genetically engineered for screwball collisions: father Alexander (Eugene Pallette, of the foghorn voice and thick-knit eyebrows) is the breadwinner at wit's end, thanks to his spoiled daughters, the sultry Cornelia (Gail Patrick) and the sweet but scatterbrained Irene (a luminous Carole Lombard), his dizzy and doting wife, Angelica (Alice Brady), and her "protégé," Italian freeloader Carlo (Mischa Auer). When Irene wins a society scavenger hunt (and atypically trumps her scheming sister) by producing a "lost man," a seeming tramp named Godfrey (William Powell), all their lives are transformed. With the always suave, effortlessly funny Powell in the title role, this mystery man provides the film's conscience and its model of decency; the giddy, passionate Lombard holds out its model for triumphant love. In a movie riddled with memorable comic highlights, the real miracle is the unapologetic romanticism that prevails. --Sam Sutherland
User Reviews
My Man Godfrey - Rating: 5/5
I first watched this movie on TV on the Turner Broadcasting Network. I love old movies, and when I watch this one, I really enjoyed it. The story, actors, romance and particular era that was involved were great. Then I wanted to know if it was available on DVD. Naturally, I went to Amazon.com. If they don't have it, then nobody does. When the movie arrived in the mail, I watched it that evening, and the quality (especially the color) was exceptional. Better than the one I watched on TBN. Thanks, Amazon.
Colorization is an art-form - Rating: 5/5
This new color presentation is great. At last we get a chance to see in the film many of the art deco artifacts (i.e. scenes of chrome kitchen), among other things, in color with such clarity. Not to mention the fabulous costumes. I'm one of those individuals that appreciated the colorization of the movie classics. I had a copy of the colorized version of Garbo's Camille, and it was spectacular, I'm hoping to see this on dvd some day. I believe that film colorization is an art-form that has been unjustly met with disdain (reminds me of what they said about sound films when they first came out), but fortunately not abandoned. I only wish that they keep perfecting this process so that we can continue enjoying and seeing classics in color.
The Screwball Classic Comedy Now Looks Even Better In Color ! - Rating: 4/5
For years,since the dawn of home video and late night movie TV broadcasts,Gregory LaCava's classic 1936 screwball comedy "My Man Godfrey" has now slipped into the public domain hall of fame of classic film titles.Often times,the versions of the film that you're buying are made from badly duped,washed-out,and very very contrasty prints that no way reflect the superb cinematography done by Ted Tetzlaff and timeless hunor of this classic comedy.Since 2002,Criterion released a restored,more expensive edition of "Godfrey" on DVD which had a palmful of extras including commentary,rare bloopers (yes,we do get to hear Carole Lombard blurt out the 's---' word !),and the complete 1937 Lux Radio Broadcast Version.But now get ready for another superior quality release from the good folks at Legend Films and Key Video as they've released a beautifully restored black & white version of the film which is nearly identical to the Criterion release,but the big par from that version is the inclusion of the digitally colorized version of the film as well.Since I've seen most of the great colorization that Legend does with transfers of films to DVD,you won't be highly dissappointed with this Key Video release as the color version really brings out the detail and breathes a whole new dimension and look to the film's already great production design,especially the neon signs at the nightclub and other various objects.It really does look a lot like an early technicolor feature,but when you look at other classic screwball comedies that've been colorized before such as "Topper" and "Bringing Up Baby",they both look vastly inferior to the Key DVD version of "Godfrey" ! Other than scene selection and a restored colorized trailer of the film,there are no other extras (hence the four star rating) so you may definitely want to spend the extra $15 for the Criterion release,but with both restored b&w and colorized versions on the Key DVD,you really can't beat the price and the package art is definitely the best of any version of the film I've ever seen so far.I very highly recommended both Criterion and Key DVD's for film buffs and classic film fans alike !
Screwball classic that sticks it to the rich - Rating: 5/5
This is a wonderful send-up of Society (stick your nose up when you say that word) that made audiences howl with delight in the heart of the Depression (and still does today). William Powell, Harvard grad, is found in a run-down Hooverville, totally down on his luck, by Carole Lombard and her sister Gail Patrick, the object of a scavenger hunt by them and their rich friends. He's offended, naturally, and scares Patrick away, but Lombard is intrigued and talks him into coming back with her so she can win the scavenger hunt. He does, but lets all the stuck-ups know exactly what he thinks of them. Lombard, still intrigued, hires him as the family butler. And what a family! Crazy as loons, the whole bunch. Powell, of course, takes charge and straightens everyone out; he even helps out the people back at the shantytown by getting a night club built (credulity is stretched just a bit too far by this point in the picture). Wedding bells are in the future for Lombard and Powell, and, of course, the fact that Powell was a Harvard man and came from a "good" family makes it okay for Lombard to marry him. (You can make of that what you will.)
It's a classic screwball comedy, with everything turned on its head, especially the idea that it's the "forgotten man" (Powell) who has all the common sense and dignity while the well-heeled are the knuckleheads and scamps. The hoi polloi trump the filthy rich once again, though the picture shows unneeded restraint when putting it to the wealthy. Lombard shows again why she was one of our great comic actresses, and Powell is cool and collected all the way. Despite the mellow approach where it could have been scathing, the movie is delightful in many ways. And B&W is still the best way to see it. Definitely worth a watch.
Classic Screwball Comedy - Rating: 4/5
My Man Godfrey is hailed as being one of the great screwball comedies. It stars one of the great screwball comediennes: Carole Lombard. She shines brightly here as an immature socialite who is constantly in competition with her bratty sister. She succeeds in winning a scavenger hunt at a party by bringing a "forgotten man," one of the bums whose life was altered by the Depression. This man is a handsomely scruffy-looking William Powell who gets a job with the girl's family as a butler. Although they are crazy, the family appeals to him and he works hard at his job despite dealing with Lombard's crush on him and the odd requests of the family.
Lombard is truly enjoyable in this film. Her exaggerated facial gestures make for some simple comedy and her antics are far from dull. Powell is debonaire as usual, always with a wry comment thrown about dryly. Alice Brady gets honorable mention as the hilarious and daffy mother.
This edition of the DVD is very nice. Not only is the transfer beautiful, but it includes many great things for fans. There is a Lux radio broadcast with both stars present, outtakes, a commentary, and other rare supplements.
