My Man Godfrey

Synopsis: In the depths of the Depression, a party game brings dizzy socialite Irene Bullock to the city dump where she meets Godfrey, a derelict, and ends by hiring him as family butler. He finds the Bullocks to be the epitome of idle rich, and nutty as the proverbial fruitcake. Soon, the dramatizing Irene is in love with her 'protege'...who feels strongly that a romance between servant and employer is out of place, regardless of that servant's mysterious past...
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Director(s): Gregory La Cava
Production: Universal Pictures
  Nominated for 6 Oscars. Another 1 win.
 
IMDB:
8.1
Rotten Tomatoes:
100%
NOT RATED
Year:
1936
94 min
278 Views


Hello, Duke.

Hello, Mike.

Any luck today?

I figured out a swell racket,

and everything was going great

until the cops came along.

Too bad it didn't work.

If them cops would stick

to their own racket,

we'd get somewhere

in this country...

without a lot of this

relief and all that stuff.

Mike, I wouldn't worry.

Prosperity's just around the corner.

Yeah. It's been there a long time.

I wish I knew which corner.

Well, Duke, I'm gonna turn in.

- Bonsoir.

- Bonsoir, Mike.

This is the place, all right.

That looks like one of them.

- Looks pretty tough to me.

- Stall Irene. I'll talk to the fellow.

- I told you about this place.

- We got here first.

Well, she's not gonna

get ahead of me.

Good evening.

- Good evening.

- How'd you like to make five dollars?

Huh? I didn't quite

catch what you said.

I said, how'd you like

to make five dollars?

- Five dollars?

- Five dollars.

Well, I don't want

to seem inquisitive,

but what would I

have to do for it?

All you have to do is go

to the Waldorf Ritz Hotel with me,

I'll show you to a few people,

and then I'll send you right back.

May I inquire just why

you would want...

to show me to people

at the Waldorf Ritz?

Oh, if you must know,

it's a game... a scavenger hunt.

If I find a forgotten man first, I win.

Is that clear?

Yes, quite clear.

Shall I wear my tails,

or come just as I am?

You needn't be fresh. Do you want

the five dollars or don't you?

Madam, I can't tell you

how flattered I am...

by your very generous offer.

However, I'll have to take it up

with my board of directors.

- Don't you touch me!

- No matter what my directors advise,

- I think you should be spanked.

- George, do something!

Are you in the habit

of hitting ladies?

I'm in the habit of hitting gentlemen

also, if that'll interest you.

- Aren't you going to do anything?

- Let's get a policeman.

- Who are you?

- I'm Irene.

That was my sister Cornelia

you pushed in the ash pile.

- Like me to push Cornelia's sister?

- I don't think I'd like that.

- Then you'd better get out of here.

- Oh, you bet.

Wait a minute!

Sit down!

I'm sitting.

What's up, Duke?

Need some help?

No, thanks, boys.

Got everything under control.

Are you a member

of this hunting party?

I was, but I'm not now.

Are they all forgotten men too?

Yes, I guess they are, maybe. Why?

I couldn't help but laugh. I've wanted

to do that since I was six years old.

- You wanted to what?

- Oh, push Cornelia in a pile of ashes.

That was Faithful George with her.

That isn't really his name.

He gets in everybody's hair.

His father's the broker.

That's very enlightening.

Cornelia thought she was going to win,

and you pushed her.

Could follow an intelligent conversation

for just a moment?

- I'll try.

- Well, that's fine.

Do you mind telling me

just what a scavenger hunt is?

Well, a scavenger hunt

is exactly like a treasure hunt.

In a treasure hunt

you try to find something you want.

In a scavenger hunt you try to find

something that nobody wants.

- Hmm, like a forgotten man?

- That's right.

The one that wins gets a prize,

only there really is no prize.

It's just the honor of winning.

The money goes to charity.

That is, if there's any money left over,

and there never is.

Well, that clears

the whole matter up beautifully.

I've decided I don't want to play any

more games with human beings as objects.

It's kind of sordid when you think

of it, when you think it over.

Yeah, well, I don't know.

I haven't thought it over.

I don't like to change the subject, but

why do you live in a place like this?

There's so many

other nice places.

- You really want to know?

- Oh, I'm very curious.

Because my real estate agent felt the

altitude would be good for my asthma.

- Oh, my uncle has asthma.

- No!

Well, now there's a coincidence.

Well, I suppose I should

be going now, shouldn't I?

That's a good idea.

I want to see who won the game.

I suppose it was Cornelia.

She probably got another

forgotten man by now.

If you took me with you,

you'd win the game? Is that the idea?

Well, I might if I got there first.

But after seeing what you did

to Cornelia, I'm not saying anything.

But you'd win if you

got back first with me?

It'd be awfully nice of you,

but I don't like to ask.

Let's beat Cornelia.

- It wouldn't be asking too much?

- Mm-mm.

See, I've got a sense of curiosity,

just the same as you have.

I'd really like to see

just what a scavenger hunt looks like.

- But I told you!

- Yes. I'm still curious.

Well, come on.

Thank you.

- My name's Blake.

- My name is Bullock.

The place slightly resembles

an insane asylum.

Well, all you need

to start an asylum...

is an empty room and

the right kind of people.

That's right.

Oh, good evening, Mrs. Jordan.

Look what I brought with me.

Oh, why, look!

- And the baby came along too!

- Here.

Take a look at the dizzy

old gal with the goat.

I've had to look at her for 20 years.

That's Mrs. Bullock.

Alexander!

- Alexander! Alexander!

- I'm terribly sorry.

How do you think I feel?

All right, Angelica!

Alexander, Alexander, come here.

Look at the pretty goat.

Carlo and I found him in the Bronx.

Isn't he just sweet?

- He doesn't smell very sweet.

- Oh, Alexander never did like animals.

Come on, goat, goat, goat.

Come on. Come on.

- Are you talking to me or that thing?

- Oh, Alexander!

Don't be afraid of the stairs. Angelica

won't let anything happen to you.

Quick, quick, quick.

Come on. Quick, quick.

Come on, goat, goat, goat.

Come on.

I have a goat!

I have a goat!

I have a goat!

Will you please

pay attention to me?

I'm Mrs. Bullock,

and I have a goat.

I have a goat!

I have a goat!

I have a goat!

I have a goat!

I know you've got a goat. Will you

please get Mrs. Bullock's goat?

Get those things

out of the way.

I have a little baby goat.

What am I supposed

to do with that?

- What else do we have to find?

- What?

What else do we have to get?

All you have to get is one forgotten man

and a bowl ofJapanese goldfish.

What? Get that thing

out of the way! What?

I said, a forgotten man

and a bowl ofJapanese goldfish.

One man... Let's go.

AJapanese man.

A man and a bowl

ofJapanese men.

- I can't remember what he said.

- How about going home?

- What are you talking about?

- How about going home?

We just have

two other things to get.

A bowl ofJapanese men

and a forgotten goldfish.

- Goldfish!

- I don't know about the goldfish!

But if you want a forgotten man,

you'll find me home in bed!

I can't concentrate, Alexander.

Come along, Carlo. Goldfish...

- Are all these people hunters?

- Oh, no, we work in groups.

Some are hunters,

and some are receivers.

- Sounds like a bankruptcy proceeding.

- I never thought of that.

- Who receives me?

- I have to take you to the committee.

- You don't mind, do you?

- I can hardly wait.

Wait a minute!

What have you there?

This is Godfrey.

Is Cornelia back yet?

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Morrie Ryskind

Morrie Ryskind (October 20, 1895 – August 24, 1985) was an American dramatist, lyricist and writer of theatrical productions and motion pictures, who became a conservative political activist later in life. more…

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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