My Man Godfrey (1936) Gail Patrick,Carole Lombard. In Color
Backwith Carole Lombard ... Irene Bullock Gail Patrick ... Cornelia Bullock William Powell ... Godfrey Alice Brady ... Angelica Bullock Eugene Pallette ... Alexander Bullock Gail Patrick - inevitably elegant and stunning. She appeared in 62 films between 1932 and 1948, usually as the leading lady's extremely formidable rival due to her bearing and sophisticated beauty. My Man Godfrey is a classic ensemble film with Carole Lombard and William Powell at the helm. The comedic timing is nearly perfect and the script is a winner. Character actors Eugene Pallette and Mischa Auer absolutely shine. Lombard defined screwball with her on and off screen antics. Her portrayal of the flighty (yet ultimately wise) Irene is one of her best performances. Powell's Godfrey matches her step for step, and Powell does one better by showing us depth in his character rather than play straight man to her every madcap move. The movie is fast-paced and often beyond zany. What is worth noting though is that in many ways it is a commentary of the times by comparing the `haves' and `have nots'. I would encourage everyone to watch with more than a comedic eye. Through Godfrey, director Gregory La Cava's film speaks volumes about the conditions of the 1930s. The U.S. was plunged in a depression that forced thousands to the breadlines. The film opens with a treasure hunt and one of the items to find is a forgotten man. The rich set out to the city dump to locate him with no regard for his plight or his dignity. Powell and Gail Patrick as Irene's snooty sister, Cornelia are the antithesis of each other and some of the best social barbs are exchanged between them. Keeping their esteemed place in society is paramount to the Bullock family, and only the father (Pallette) ever seems to worry about money. However, La Cava does not allow the film to wallow in pity for those less fortunate. The film amuses throughout but it is a real art to weave social commentary into a comedy without banging you over the head. La Cava pulls it off beautifully. La Cava, Lombard, Powell, Auer, and Alice Brady all deservedly earned Academy Award nominations. This movie will make you laugh and it should. It is very, very funny. It should also make you think. I suspect if you do both, Mr. La Cava and his wonderful cast will have done their jobs.
Channel: Entertainment
Uploaded: November 17, 2007 at 7:13 pm
Author: bruce235001
Length: 0:05:48
Rating: 4.84
Views: 8,058
Tags: Gail Patrick Carole Lombard William Powell comedy 1930's
Video Comments:
ecapital46 (Friday 12th of September 2008 10:31:13 PM)
The background music is "Nocturne" by Thomas Griselle, recorded most notably by Artie Shaw in 1941. It was an award winning composition and Shaw remembered playing it in ballrooms like the Palomar, where many in the audience preferred to watch the band rather than dance. "When we played it, the audience would sit there in a trance and when it was finished there would be a momentary hush, then they would applaud like crazy!" Gail Patrick later made a killing as Exec Producer of 'Perry Mason.'
bruce235001 (Saturday 13th of September 2008 06:33:54 AM)
Great info on Gail Patrick especially - thanks, Bruce.
majidman7 (Thursday 4th of September 2008 12:47:41 PM)
An Ergent Question:
Did those women at that time use any cosmetics or surgeons, or thier beauty is natural?
grabit1 (Wednesday 2nd of July 2008 12:36:45 AM)
It certainly wan't always in color. As the other commentator mentioned, the original was in beautiful B & W.
Colorization was and still is garbage. But Technicolor was only a couple of years behind this movie. Including Lombard in
grabit1 (Wednesday 2nd of July 2008 12:39:00 AM)
Nothing Sacred. I apparently hit the "send" key a bit early".
BianchiLMG (Tuesday 24th of June 2008 11:40:25 AM)
I love Eugene Pallette's voice and build in this film. I find it very stereotypically "capitalist" in a humourous way. Like those you'd see in a classical cartoon. One of the best, these films. Oh and that dress Carole Lombard is wearing is beautiful. There's something you don't see everyday which I find saddening.
princessjoots (Sunday 15th of June 2008 03:29:19 PM)
woah her new pyjamas arent so nice in colour!
pahoboye (Sunday 8th of June 2008 08:20:56 AM)
cheers Bruce, how do they know the colours to use ... ? in this kind of movie.PAUL
pahoboye (Friday 6th of June 2008 03:05:35 AM)
was it always in color?
bruce235001 (Friday 6th of June 2008 04:52:24 PM)
The original is good old B/W.
Some Trivia: The first film to be made with color was made in 1908. It is called A Visit To The Seaside. It was 8 minutes long. The first full length movie to use color was The World, The Flesh And The Devil from 1914.