Marty and Cindy speak about their impressions of the Depression-era comedy My Man Godfrey

TRIVIA & PRODUCTION NOTES

Source Material

Based on Eric Hatch's 1935 serial "1101 Park Avenue," first published in Town & Country. Co-screenwriter Morrie Ryskind had already co-written Animal Crackers and A Night at the Opera for the Marx Brothers and shared the 1932 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

Casting

Universal's original choice for Irene was Constance Bennett. Director La Cava would only accept her if Powell came from MGM — and Powell would only sign if Carole Lombard played Irene. Universal borrowed Lombard from Paramount in exchange for loaning Margaret Sullavan. Powell was paid $87,500; Lombard received $45,645.

Powell & Lombard

The two had married in 1931 and divorced in 1933 but remained warm friends. Lombard's nicknames for Powell on set: "Junior" and "Philo." La Cava called Lombard "Charlie." Everyone called Mischa Auer "Chimp" — for his gorilla impression as Carlo.

On Set

Production ran April 15 to May 27, 1936. Total budget: $575,375. Much of the dialogue emerged from improvised rehearsals. When Powell and La Cava disagreed over how Godfrey should be played, they resolved it over Scotch — La Cava arrived the next morning with a headache; Powell sent a telegram: "WE MAY HAVE FOUND GODFREY LAST NIGHT BUT WE LOST POWELL. SEE YOU TOMORROW."

Censorship

Censor Joseph Breen required that Carlo never be called a "gigolo" — the word was replaced throughout with "protégé." An earlier ending in which Alexander Bullock abandons his family for a harem and a bank in the South Seas was scrapped entirely.

Hidden Details

When Angelica hears Godfrey supposedly has five children, she exclaims, "If a woman in Canada can have five children, why can't Godfrey?" — a reference to the Dionne Quintuplets, an international sensation since 1934. Jane Wyman has an uncredited bit part as a socialite during Godfrey's speech.

Awards

Nominated at the 9th Academy Awards in six categories: Best Actor, Actress, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Director, and Adapted Screenplay — winning none. It remains the only film ever nominated in all four acting categories, and the first film nominated in all four acting categories simultaneously (1936 was the inaugural year of the supporting awards).

Legacy

Selected for the National Film Registry in 1999. Part of the Criterion Collection (spine #114). Holds a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The 1957 remake starred David Niven and June Allyson.

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