My Man Godfrey

Released Sep 17, 1936

1h 35m

Comedy

Drama

Romance

List

97%

Tomatometer

39 Reviews

90%

Audience Score

5,000+ Ratings

Fifth Avenue socialite Irene Bullock needs a "forgotten man" to win a scavenger hunt, and no one fits that description more than Godfrey Park, who resides in a dump by the East River. Irene hires Godfrey as a servant for her riotously unhinged family, to the chagrin of her spoiled sister, Cornelia, who tries her best to get Godfrey fired. As Irene falls for her new butler, Godfrey turns the tables and teaches the frivolous Bullocks a lesson or two.

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Critics Consensus

A class satire in a class of its own, My Man Godfrey's screwball comedy is as sharp as the social commentary is biting.

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TIME Magazine

My Man Godfrey emerges with that evasive quality that is not skillful playing, writing or direction, but something that mysteriously adds itself to these things, and makes a tip-top picture.

Apr 24, 2009

Full Review

Hazel-Dawn Dumpert

Village Voice

[A] screwball masterpiece.

Feb 6, 2009

Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

God, but this film is beautiful.

Rated: 4/4

Feb 6, 2009

Full Review

Roger Moore

Movie Nation

Few comedies of this or any other era are performed with the panache of this one, with the players making scores upon scores of one-liners, insults and casual remarks worth a chuckle.

Rated: 4/4

Jul 22, 2024

Full Review

Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

'…My Man Godfrey’s class critique stings…La Cava’s comedy has more social relevance that a dozen ‘prestige’ pictures…’

Rated: 4/5

May 22, 2024

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

This scintillating comedy was the first film to be Oscar-nominated in all four acting categories.

Rated: 3.5/4

Nov 2, 2020

Full Review

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Scott W

Powell is always a delight. This is a great vehicle.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/30/24

Full Review

Gorptholemew T

🍅 8.1/10 These are some of the sickest burns for 1936. Great 1930s romance comfort film. Grade A-

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/10/24

Full Review

Jose D

Great 30s comedy with top performance by Powell and the entire cast. Hollywood at it's peak period.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/13/23

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Cleveland E

Great performances and some very funny parts. Loved Eugene Pallette - it was like the part was written form. He was so good at it & he should've gotten a best supporting actor nomination. However, I agree with the Academy when they didn't give it a 1936 best picture nominee — despite the many best actor, screenplay, and Director nominees. It was a cute, amusing film, with the requisite good lesson & romance thrown in for good measure, but a Gone with the Wind, it wasn't.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/18/23

Full Review

Leaburn O

The colour version is now on Amazon. It is a decent film with some funny comments but a bit daft in the neat and happy ending. A classic of its time but not one of the black and white films that has aged too well.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/09/23

Full Review

Russ G

William Powell was never better than in this screwball comedy. It also stars the love of Clark Gable's life, Carol Lombard. it's a shining example of what Hollywood did right during its Golden Age, and still holds up as an entertaining romp today.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/23/23

Full Review

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Gregory La Cava

Director

William Powell

Godfrey

Carole Lombard

Irene Bullock

Alice Brady

Angelica Bullock

Eugene Pallette

Alexander Bullock

Gail Patrick

Cornelia Bullock

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Synopsis

Fifth Avenue socialite Irene Bullock needs a "forgotten man" to win a scavenger hunt, and no one fits that description more than Godfrey Park, who resides in a dump by the East River. Irene hires Godfrey as a servant for her riotously unhinged family, to the chagrin of her spoiled sister, Cornelia, who tries her best to get Godfrey fired. As Irene falls for her new butler, Godfrey turns the tables and teaches the frivolous Bullocks a lesson or two.

Director: Gregory La Cava
Producer: Charles R. Rogers
Screenwriter: Morrie Ryskind, Eric Hatch
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal Pictures
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 17, 1936, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 26, 2013
Runtime: 1h 35m

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