• Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop Rated MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
      What's on TV & StreamingTop Rated ShowsMost Popular ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
      What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb TVIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
      OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersGolden GlobesEmmysSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
      Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
      Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
    For Industry Professionals
      AllTitlesTV EpisodesCelebsCompaniesKeywords
    • Advanced Search
    Watchlist
    Sign In

    My Man Godfrey

    • 19361936
    • Not RatedNot Rated
    • 1h 34min
    IMDb RATING
    8.0/10
    22K
    YOUR RATING
    • Cast & crew
    • User reviews
    • Trivia
    • IMDbPro
    Carole Lombard and William Powell in My Man Godfrey (1936)
    Trailer for this comedy of a dizzy debutante and her butler
    Play trailer0:52
    1 Video
    70 Photos
    ComedyDramaRomance

    A scatterbrained socialite hires a vagrant as a family butler - but there's more to Godfrey than meets the eye.A scatterbrained socialite hires a vagrant as a family butler - but there's more to Godfrey than meets the eye.A scatterbrained socialite hires a vagrant as a family butler - but there's more to Godfrey than meets the eye.

    IMDb RATING
    8.0/10
    22K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Gregory La Cava
    • Writers
      • Morrie Ryskind(screen play)
      • Eric Hatch(screen play)
      • Zoe Akins(contributing writer)
    • Stars
      • William Powell
      • Carole Lombard
      • Alice Brady
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Gregory La Cava
    • Writers
      • Morrie Ryskind(screen play)
      • Eric Hatch(screen play)
      • Zoe Akins(contributing writer)
    • Stars
      • William Powell
      • Carole Lombard
      • Alice Brady
    • See more at IMDbPro
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 464User reviews
    • 93Critic reviews
    • 82Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
    • Nominated for 6 Oscars
      • 1 win & 6 nominations total

    Videos1

    My Man Godfrey
    Trailer 0:52
    My Man Godfrey

    Photos70

    My Man Godfrey (1936)
    Carole Lombard and William Powell in My Man Godfrey (1936)
    Carole Lombard and William Powell in My Man Godfrey (1936)
    Carole Lombard and William Powell in My Man Godfrey (1936)
    Eugene Pallette in My Man Godfrey (1936)
    Carole Lombard, Mischa Auer, Alice Brady, Eugene Pallette, and Gail Patrick in My Man Godfrey (1936)
    Carole Lombard, William Powell, Alan Mowbray, and Gail Patrick in My Man Godfrey (1936)
    Carole Lombard and William Powell in My Man Godfrey (1936)
    Carole Lombard and William Powell in My Man Godfrey (1936)
    Window Card, 14 x 22
    Carole Lombard, William Powell, and Gail Patrick in My Man Godfrey (1936)
    Carole Lombard and William Powell in My Man Godfrey (1936)

    Top cast

    Edit
    William Powell
    William Powell
    • Godfreyas Godfrey
    Carole Lombard
    Carole Lombard
    • Irene Bullockas Irene Bullock
    Alice Brady
    Alice Brady
    • Angelica Bullockas Angelica Bullock
    Gail Patrick
    Gail Patrick
    • Cornelia Bullockas Cornelia Bullock
    Eugene Pallette
    Eugene Pallette
    • Alexander Bullockas Alexander Bullock
    Jean Dixon
    Jean Dixon
    • Mollyas Molly
    Alan Mowbray
    Alan Mowbray
    • Tommy Grayas Tommy Gray
    Mischa Auer
    Mischa Auer
    • Carloas Carlo
    Pat Flaherty
    Pat Flaherty
    • Mike Flahertyas Mike Flaherty
    Robert Light
    Robert Light
    • Faithful Georgeas Faithful George
    Ernie Adams
    Ernie Adams
    • Forgotten Manas Forgotten Man
    • (uncredited)
    Jimmy Aye
    • Party Guestas Party Guest
    • (uncredited)
    James Carlisle
    • Socialiteas Socialite
    • (uncredited)
    Jack Chefe
    • Headwaiteras Headwaiter
    • (uncredited)
    Elaine Cochrane
    • Socialiteas Socialite
    • (uncredited)
    Phyllis Crane
    Phyllis Crane
    • Party Guestas Party Guest
    • (uncredited)
    Eddie Fetherston
    • Process Serveras Process Server
    • (uncredited)
    Grace Field
    • Socialiteas Socialite
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Gregory La Cava
    • Writers
      • Morrie Ryskind(screen play)
      • Eric Hatch(screen play) (based on the novel by)
      • Zoe Akins(contributing writer) (uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    See production, box office, & company info

    More like this

    The Thin Man
    8.0
    The Thin Man
    The Awful Truth
    7.7
    The Awful Truth
    The Lady Eve
    7.8
    The Lady Eve
    Libeled Lady
    7.9
    Libeled Lady
    His Girl Friday
    7.9
    His Girl Friday
    My Man Godfrey
    6.3
    My Man Godfrey
    After the Thin Man
    7.7
    After the Thin Man
    Nothing Sacred
    6.9
    Nothing Sacred
    Sullivan's Travels
    7.9
    Sullivan's Travels
    Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
    7.9
    Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
    The Palm Beach Story
    7.5
    The Palm Beach Story
    Born Yesterday
    7.6
    Born Yesterday

    Storyline

    Edit
    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... —Rod Crawford <puffinus@u.washington.edu>
    butlerhomelessnesspovertyclass differencesgreat depression37 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Butler! FOR THE COCK-EYEDEST FAMILY in the WHOLE WORLD!...and the butler-blonde battle was on! (Print Ad-Daily Argus, ((Mount Vernon, NY)) 15 October 1936)
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Romance
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      William Powell suggested his ex-wife Carole Lombard for the leading role with the explanation that his real -life romance with her had been much the same as it was for the characters of Godfrey and Irene.
    • Goofs
      The background footage of the 59th Street Bridge used in Godfrey's office is from the opposite side of the river to the footage used for the outdoor scenes at "The Dump".
    • Quotes

      Godfrey: The only difference between a derelict and a man is a job.

    • Crazy credits
      The opening credits features a darkened city skyline and the names of the cast and crew appear as the camera pans across lighted billboards and neon signs.
    • Alternate versions
      Also available in a computer-colorized version.
    • Connections
      Featured in Film Preview: Episode #1.4 (1966)
    • Soundtracks
      Ochi Chyornye (Black Eyes)
      (1843) (uncredited)

      Alternately spelled "Ochi (or Otchi) Tchornya (or Chornya, Choirni, Tchorniya)

      Lyrics by Yevhen Hrebinka

      Played on piano and sung often by Mischa Auer

    User reviews464

    Review
    Top review
    seductive. ago and ago
    Irony. splendid performances. social critic. and a fairy tale. a film about people, perspectives, using a noble message and the right cast. and a brilliant script. in fact, a parable about selfishness and superficiality. special for the bitter humor and the impecable dialogues. and, sure, for the portrait of a familiar world, maybe too obvious but enough for succes to large public. the great virtue - maybe the performance of Will Powell and the adorable sweetness of Carole Lombard in two roles who are not real unique in the context of the cinema of period but who works in beautiful manner. and, maybe, that is the key for the seductive force of this old movie about money, family, society and ...love.
    helpful•8
    2
    • Kirpianuscus
    • Apr 24, 2018

    FAQ5

    • How did Godfrey know Cornelia hid the necklace under the mattress?
    • What is the answer to Molly's crossword puzzle?
    • Is this available on DVD?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 6, 1936 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Russian
    • Also known as
      • Diskretni sobar Godfri
    • Filming locations
      • Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Universal Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $656,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 34min
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Related news

    Carole Lombard: First Lady of Screwball (and Much More!)
    Carole Lombard: First Lady of Screwball (and Much More!)
    Jul 5FilmExperience
    New to Streaming: Undine, Slow Machine, The Real Thing, Bad Tales & More
    New to Streaming: Undine, Slow Machine, The Real Thing, Bad Tales & More
    Jun 4The Film Stage

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Carole Lombard and William Powell in My Man Godfrey (1936)
    Top Gap
    By what name was My Man Godfrey (1936) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    IMDb's Fall 2021 Movie Guide
    See the full list
    Image caption not available
    2:46
    A Horror Fan's Guide to 'Candyman'
    Watch the video

    Recently viewed

    You have no recently viewed pages
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • IMDb TV
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads

    © 1990-2021 by IMDb.com, Inc.