My Man Godfrey (1936)
Film details
Comedy · Gregory La Cava · 1h 34min
Synopsis
Fifth Avenue socialite Irene Bullock needs a "forgotten man" to win a scavenger hunt, and no one is more forgotten 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.
Verdict
Classic comedy that celebrates human dignity and criticizes the frivolity of the rich.
In-depth analysis
This gem of classic comedy functions as a moral mirror of American society during the Great Depression. The film builds its humor upon the contrast between the absurd frivolity of high society—which treats the poor as mere pawns in a game—and the serene dignity of a man who has lost everything except his character. Morrie Ryskind's screenplay is surgical: each scene unmasks the vacuity of those who possess everything and the inner richness of one who seemingly has nothing. Godfrey is neither a passive victim nor a vengeful hero; he is a man who chooses service and responsibility as a response to adversity. Gregory La Cava's direction masterfully balances the zany comedy with moments of genuine reflection on the worth of individuals beyond their bank accounts. The romance between Godfrey and Irene unfolds with the lightness characteristic of the genre, yet without moral frivolity. For families, it is an excellent opportunity to converse about the dignity of work, the superficiality of consumption as identity, and the importance of seeing each person as bearing a unique story and irreducible worth. A comedy that entertains without poisoning.