Directed by:
Gregory La CavaCinematography:
Ted TetzlaffCast:
William Powell, Carole Lombard, Alice Brady, Gail Patrick, Eugene Pallette, Jean Dixon, Alan Mowbray, Mischa Auer, Pat Flaherty, Jane Wyman, Jean Rogers (more)VOD (2)
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Carole Lombard and William Powell dazzle in this definitive screwball comedy, directed by Gregory La Cava—a potent cocktail of romantic repartee and Depression-era social critique. Irene (Lombard), an eccentric Manhattan socialite, wins a society-ball scavenger hunt after finding one of the “items” on the list, a “lost man” (Powell), at a dump. She gives the man she believes to be a down-and-out drifter work as the family butler, and soon falls head over heels in love. Her attempts to both woo Godfrey and indoctrinate him in the dysfunctional ways of the household make for an unbeatable series of madcap hijinks. 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 its time. (Criterion)
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Yes, at times it has an incredible cadence of dialogues, which is admirable, especially considering that it is occasionally truly humorous. The main characters are beautifully quirky, especially Carole Lombard, who at times plays incredibly relaxed. On the other hand, it is still not a comedy that completely blows me away. It's good, but not amazing.
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“Money, money, money!” William Powell radiates charisma as an independent observer of high-society relationships. An uninterrupted flow of one-liners with multiple layers of meaning (– Oh, is this where you sleep? – That’s the general purpose) and the wonderfully thought-out choreography of the character’s movements (with almost theatrical entrances) accompany the exaggerated unmasking of crazed high society. Due to the fact that director Gregory La Cava (originally an animator) allowed himself – thoughtfully, boldly and within the intentions of the genre – to bite the hand that fed him, it is one of the best screwball comedies. 85%
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