My Man Godfrey (1936) + Extras [The Criterion Collection]

Carole Lombard and William Powell dazzle in this definitive screwball comedy by Gregory La Cava – a potent cocktail of romantic repartee and social critique. Irene (Lombard), an eccentric, wealthy Manhattanite, wins a society-ball scavenger hunt after finding a “forgotten man” (Powell) – an apparent down-and-out drifter – at a dump. She gives him work as the family butler and soon falls head over heels for him. Her attempts to both woo Godfrey and indoctrinate him in the household’s dysfunction make for a string of madcap high jinks that has never been bested. La Cava’s deft film was the first to garner Oscar nominations in all four acting categories, and it is one of Hollywood’s greatest commentaries on class and the social unrest of the Depression era.



Extras:
– The La Cava Touch - in this new video program, author Gary Giddins (Warning Shadows: Home Alone with Classic Cinema) discusses the history of My Man Godfrey and its many special qualities, from its excellent sense of humor to the marvelous performances of its stars. The program was produced in 2018 (18 min).
– Outtakes - a collection of vintage outtakes (2 min).
– Effortless Art - in this video program, critic Nick Pinkerton discusses Gregory La Cava's professional career and cinematic style. The program was produced exclusively for Criterion in 2018 (19 min).
– Newsreels - presented here are two newsreels from the 1930s that reflect themes – most notably poverty and homelessness – that are represented in My Man Godfrey (5 min).