Oh, Godfrey!
The wonderfully elegant, screwball comedy My Man Godfrey was on television this afternoon, and it prompted me to post my favorite scene. Not just favorite in the movie, but one of my favorites in all movies. Terrific as the full sequence is here, the famous shower scene, that’s not my favorite, but rather the 30-seconds at the end of the clip. For me, the joy of it isn’t just that love what’s going on, but also how it’s impeccably filmed, framed in a doorway with William Powell in the foreground and Carole Lombard in the back.
A very brief set-up:
Carole Lombard, the goofy daughter of a very rich family has fallen in love with their new butler, the even-keeled and highly-capable butler Godfrey, played by William Powell, who has repeatedly fended off her declarations with with graceful, but direct rebuffing. The audience has previously learned that he comes from a well-to-do, old family himself but after his difficulties has found comfort in this work keeping the off-beat household in order. Lombard’s very spoiled sister, played by Gail Patrick, has always distrusted Godfrey and tried to get him fired – although Lombard is concerned that her sister wants to steal him away.
The 1936 film got six Oscar nominations, including for William Powell (who I've come to the conclusion may well be my favorite actors) and Carole Lombard. The two had been married, but divorced in 1933 -- however, Powell only agreed to be in the movie if they cast Lombard. It's pretty clear why here. Sixty years later, in 1999, the movie was declared "culturally significant" and preserved by the National Film Registry.
What's especially interesting about the movie is not just that it got made this well, but at all. Especially at Universal at that time. When I worked at the studio, I was the head P.R. writer, and had to write the history of the studio for it's 70th anniversary. And back in 1936, they largely made B-movies and horror films. To make such a classy comedy as My Man Godfrey -- and get six Oscar nominations -- was almost unheard of, a diamond in a mound of coal. Powell and Lombard weren't even contract players with the studio, but were lent out. But they studio made it...and did it ever pay off.
All of which brings us to the sequence that, in turns, leads to my favorite 30-second scene in the doorway.
Comments