Classic Film Guide

My Man Godfrey (1936)

This essential comedy is about the idle rich and the games they play, but more specifically how one family's lives change (for the better) when they hire a forgotten man (William Powell, in the title role) as their butler; he turns out to be more than they bargained for and/or deserved. See the lovely Carole Lombard in her only Oscar nominated (Best Actress) performance. Her co-star, and ex-husband, Powell was also (Best Actor) nominated, as was Mischa Auer and Alice Brady in supporting roles making this the first film to receive four acting nominations. Director Gregory La Cava, who directed Katherine Hepburn in Stage Door (1937) the following year (for which he also received a nomination), also received a nomination as did Eric Hatch (his only Academy recognition) & Morrie Ryskind's screenplay (the story was Hatch's). It was the first film to receive these nominations without the picture also receiving a nomination, and the only one to lose them all. Though comedies (and their actors) frequently receive nominations, they don't usually win Oscars. It was added to the National Film Registry in 1999. #44 on AFI’s 100 Funniest Movies list.

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