My Man Godfrey (1936)

7.9Approved94 minDirector: Gregory La Cava

1936 American comedy-drama film directed by Gregory La Cava

My Man Godfrey is a 1936 American screwball comedy film directed by Gregory La Cava and starring William Powell and Carole Lombard, who had been briefly married years before appearing together in the film. The screenplay for My Man Godfrey was written by Morrie Ryskind and Eric S. Hatch, with uncredited contributions by La Cava, based on Hatch's 1935 novel, 1101 Park Avenue. The story concerns a socialite who hires a derelict to be her family's butler, and then falls in love with him.

The film was critically acclaimed, and was nominated for six Oscars in the 9th Academy Awards including best actor for leads Powell and Lombard, supporting actors Auer and Brady, director and screenplay. It has a 97% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

In 1999, the original version of My Man Godfrey was deemed "culturally significant" by the United States Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry. The film was remade in 1957 with June Allyson and David Niven in the starring roles.

Plot summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

FAQ

What is My Man Godfrey about?
My Man Godfrey (1936) — In the depths of the Depression, a party game brings dizzy socialite Irene Bullock to the city dump where she meets Godfrey, a derelict, and ends by hiring him as family butler. He finds the Bullocks to be the epitome of idle rich, and nutty as the proverbial fruitcake. Soon, the
Is My Man Godfrey based on a true story?
See the production background and source material details on the official Wikipedia article.
Is My Man Godfrey scary?
Content rating: Approved. See the reviews tab for parental guidance and tone notes.