Rating: 
Summary: The best of the "screwball comedies"
Review: I concur with previous reviewers that this isn't just a "must-see" film; it is must-see-repeatedly, or must-own! In addition to (or perhaps because of) the excellent performances and script, this is widely regared as the film that defined the genre known as "screwball comedies." It's a shame that this title often ends up on the "bargain" rack in video and electronics stores.In my opinion, William Powell gives perhaps his best performance. He is quick and witty, yet always charming and just "a bit ahead of the game." His amazement, bemusement, and eventual adaptation to his new circumstances is superbly played. Just as powerful as Powell is Carole Lombard. She is exquisite as the nothing-if-not-persistent younger daughter, and plays the part with a comic touch that is hilarious, yet not overacted. Now, as for the DVD itself. I've heard the Criterion Collection disc is far superior; I'm positive it would have to be! The Madacy disc is representative of their work: glowing whites, poor contrast, variable sound quality, and virtually no extra features on the DVD. If it wasn't for the fact that the Criterion release wasn't available when I wanted to get this DVD, I would own that one instead. I highly recommend you spend the extra few dollars, as Criterion has included several extras that seem very interesting, and their video transfers tend to be a lot cleaner. But, in any case, buy the DVD for the film, regardless of which release you buy -- you won't regret it.
Rating:
Summary: one of the top ten comedy films there are ...
Review: ...there are ten or twelve comedy films, new and old, you should OWN. This is one of them; you'll be watching it over and over.
...also consider TOPPER, with Cary Grant ( 30s.) See my other reviews for HIS GAL FRIDAY, SOME LIKE IT HOT, AUNTIE MAME, TOP HAT, HORSE FEATHERS, and IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT. Laugh therapy is nothing to be sneezed at!
-moosbrugger
Rating:
Summary: One of the highpoints in the history of screen comedy
Review: MY MAN GODFREY is one of the few films that I have been able to watch over and over and over through the years. There are many things to praise in this film, but most of it centers upon the cast. I can't imagine any actor more perfect for the title role than William Powell, and despite his long and extremely distinguished career Powell's turn as Godfrey was, in my opinion, the highpoint of his career. As great as Powell is, Carole Lombard just might be better. She was, in my opinion, the greatest screen comedienne there has ever been. No actress was in as many screwball classics as Lombard. And she had the great fortune to be as beautiful as she was talented. As good as Powell and Lombard are, however, they are matched scene for scene by a number of superlative character actors and actresses. Alice Brady is hysterical as the mother of the family. Ironically, she was the widow of Flo Ziegfield, and earlier in 1936, the year MY MAN GODFREY was released, William Powell starred as her husband in that year's Oscar winning film, THE GREAT ZIEGFIELD. If you watch this film several times, as I have, one of the ongoing delights is Brady's frequent inane utterances. Mischa Auer, who plays Alice Brady's protégé, steals nearly every scene he is in, and does perhaps the most hysterical imitation of a monkey in the history of film. Eugene Pallette is one of my all-time favorite character actors. Along with his turn as Friar Tuck in the Errol Flynn version of THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD and his role as Henry Fonda's father in THE LADY EVE, this is my favorite Pallette role. As the long suffering family patriarch, Pallette provides a degree of sanity to what is otherwise one of the most insane film families one is ever likely to encounter. The rest of the cast is also as strong as one could hope. A mark of how strong the cast was is the fact that despite a profound bias against comedy in 1930s Oscar nominations (and, indeed, in all decades, the persistent preference being given to more serious films), MY MAN GODFREY managed acting nominations in all four acting categories (Powell, Lombard, Auer, and Brady). Unbelievably, neither Lombard, widely regarded as the greatest comic actress in the history of film, nor Powell ever won an Oscar. The script is strong, with many, many very fine jokes and comic scenes. The film is slightly dated by what we in the early 21st century would regard as naïve optimism in regard to social problems, but that is also part of the film's charm. It would be nice if we today could recover some of that naïveté, if we could believe that people were motivated less by greed and more by higher values. This is not just a must see film. It is a must see over and over. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Rating:
Summary: why can't william powell be MY butler?
Review: this movie is just beautiful. the restoration is incredibly well done. the story is a little too cute at times, a little too preachy, but overall, very rewarding. **a pitch for criterion, if you like this restoration, check out BRIEF ENCOUNTER, fast moving up my list of All Time Favorite Films.
Rating:
Summary: Stunning! Just be sure to buy the Criterion Edition...
Review: This is one of my 5 favorite films, and is my favorite comedy of all time. To my mind, the world of cinema suffered its greatest tragedy with the untimely death of the great Carole Lombard in a plane crash during a War Bonds tour of the country. After I saw My Man Godfrey for the first time as a child, I sought information about this wonderful actress. When I read the account of her death, I cried so hard, even though the event had happened many years earlier. I find her performances so extraordinary that I still experience sadness when I think about how much enjoyment she gave and still gives others through her film legacy, yet her own happiness was cut woefully short. I feel that this is her finest film. The script is delightful, and the rest of the cast performs flawlessly! I could watch this film once a week and never tire of it. The Criterion Edition DVD is superb. The image is excellent for such an old film, and the sound quality is quite good (unlike the other DVD's and VHS editions of this movie, which are terrible transfers). The commentary track is a little dry and on the scholarly side, but quite informative. The best extras on this DVD are the brief outtakes that they unearthed from the vaults (hilarious, with some profanity from the cast) and the terrific radio broadcast version of My Man Godfrey with Carole Lombard and William Powell. The outtakes are in rather bad shape, but it is amazing that they survived at all. The sound quality of the radio play is crystal clear. Rush out and buy this before it goes out of print!
Rating: 
Summary: Buy the Criterion Restored DVD, Not This One.
Review: Beware! This version is terrible. It is another Madacy travesty. One review here is for the Criterion version, which I hear is restored and worth the extra money. In this version the audio is not as bad as some Madacy transfers but the video is terrible, whites blooming all over the place, almost unwatchable.
Rating:
Summary: Very enjoyable film
Review: This is a classic comedy that still holds up after more than 60 years. This film was released more than 30 years prior to my date of birth. Not having a significant reference point for the Era in which it was made did not impact the viewing whatsoever. I purchased the Criterion version prior to seeing the film and enjoyed it very much. After going back through the earlier reviews, I just wanted to highlight that many of them refer to earlier DVD versions (which I have not seen). The Criterion version has a very clean and clear picture and sound, and includes the missing scene (In Godfrey's room) from the previous versions. The earlier reviews provide a good description, so I won't add anything further.
Rating:
Summary: A restoration dream come true
Review: This is indeed one of the finest DVD releases I've seen for a film of this particular vintage. Criterion pulled out all the stops on this one. The image and sound have been restored to a clean, crisp image, albeit some occassional periods where the artifacts of restoration are apparent (mostly toward the end). Its sometimes apparent where the image has been "fixed", but this is in no way a distraction. You could not ask for a better presentation, especially for a film that for many years was subject to bargain basement treatment, usually looking like it was IN someone's basement for 60 years. Criterion through their technical wizardy of DSDL have restored the glory and the spark to one of the greatest comedies of all time. Revel in such a release. This is truly worth every penny!
Rating:
Summary: Powell & Lombard personify the "SCREWBALL COMEDIES"
Review: With digitally restored picture and sound release of "My Man Godfrey" (Criterian Collection) DVD gives us the cleanest most comphrensive "Screwball Comedy" presentation ever!!! Full Screen and flawless Black & White picture with clear sound allows into this world to enjoy. The extras share more background information regarding the "Screwball Comedy". A Brief explanation regarding "SCREWBALL COMEDY". This style was apated during the depression era when the world Dark (alternate & original name given to the Screwball Comedy) and cynical world. Simply put, a comedy to which we have zany and dizzy story lines which for some reason strike our funny bones and cause us to laugh uncontrolablly. Many Dark and Negative stories take on a satarical form. We poke fun at the absurd learn to look for the "sliver lining" the opermistic side of the story/situation.
In Summary: We find ourselves immersed in the depression years at the New York City dump with the rich heirs and heiresses involved in a scavenger hunt (looking for the "Forgotten Man") and the poor destitute living amongst this rubble. A zany young heiress Irene Bullock (Carole Lombard) finds a "Forgotten Man" Godfrey (William Powell). His attraction to this girl & curiosity satisfied returns to the scavenger hunt headquarters so Irene can win the hunt.
Irene admires Godfrey and hires him on the spot to be the family butler and her protege' or "My Man Godfrey".
This is one of the all time classic Screwball comedies and Carole Lombard with William Powell give us a great performance.
We need to see this movie and listen to the commentary to remember and understand the 1930's the depresssion and how the world coped and survived to give us the "GREATEST GENERATION".
"OUR MAN GODFREY" delivers.
Rating:
Summary: Sheer Delight!
Review: Surely one of the best of classic comedies, we here meet with the easy flowing of William Powell, the winning insouciance of Carole Lombard, the perfect haughtiness of Gail Patrick, and the best of the best of character actors of all time: Alan Mowbray, Eugene Pallette, Mischa Auer, etc., etc. The story literally dances its way through the film, and one wacky incident upon another leads the viewer to a surprise (or perhaps not such a suprise) ending, albeit a hoped for one. If there were six or seven or ten stars, I would rate it ten. The complex performances behind the apparent ease of the acting are unfathomable. A study in delight!
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