A scavenger hunt leads to City Dump 32

Looking at the opening sequence, Gregory La Cava does an excellent job with My Man Godfrey in setting up the premise clearly and quickly. There's no lingering about in trying to establish background or worse, dragging things along. Instead we're taken straight to a city dump in which we find William Powell's Godfrey in desperate need of a shower and a good shave. He comes across as angry and cynical, which could be expected of a "forgotten man" who's being asked by a socialite to parade around for a scavenger hunt. But Powell takes a back seat here really, because the one who really shines is Carole Lombard as Irene Bullock. She expresses herself with such naïvety and good-heartedness that you can't help but love her and root for her to beat her snobbish sister, Cornelia, at the scavenger hunt.

As typical of screwball comedies of the Depression, this film shows you right away that it'll be dealing with the differences between classes. When Cornelia all decked out in a gown shows up with Irene trailing her, they stand out amongst the murky city dump, especially standing beside Godfrey. Cornelia's snottiness and upturned nose in contrast to Godfrey's aggravated, working-hard-to-survive attitude shows you right away whose side you really want to be on. Godfrey has great sarcasm here and Cornelia catches on--she's not your typical dimwitted socialite. All the meanwhile, Irene is watching from the sidelines.

Lombard is wonderful in this role. She captures Irene completely as a grown-up girl who hasn't truly grown up. She delights in the fact that Godfrey told off Cornelia, something she's been wanting to do since she was six years old. And for some reason, perhaps the fact that Irene is nothing like Cornelia, Godfrey decides to help Irene beat her sister at the good ol' scavenger hunt. Now, unlike Cornelia, Irene's ingenuity makes her likable in spite of the fact that she is rich. She's clearly not too bright, but it seems more like she's easily distracted, especially by Godfrey. And in the end, while it's not an obvious, in-your-face attraction, Godfrey and Irene are both quite taken by one another. And the two run off together, although it's to the scavenger hunt headquarters.

The ridiculousness of the rich is explained perfectly well by Irene when she breaks down the difference between a treasure hunt and a scavenger hunt. What's great is how transparent the scavenger hunt is. Although it's done in the name of charity, it's pretty apparent that no money will ever be left over to go to the charities. This in itself is a criticism of the time, and it sets up the theme that will be explored in the film. But once at the headquarters, if it hadn't been clear before, it is certainly clear then that things are gonna be screwy. Rich people running amok with animals and unwanted furniture. It's quite ridiculous, as noted by Eugene Pallette's Alexander Bullock. As Angelica Bullock, Alice Brady is wonderful as the ditzy wife, who has great lines like when she tells her daughters that she's only just realizing now that insanity runs on her husband's side. This of course comes after Irene insists that they hire Godfrey as their butler. The entire Bullock clan is introduced here, and the ridiculousness of their lives while "forgotten men" roam the city is showcased well here.

Godfrey continues with great lines; his sarcasm, but dead-on lines hitting right where it counts. While at the end of the scene should be where Irene and Godfrey part, it doesn't quite turn out that way since Irene doesn't want him to go. Once again, what sets her apart here is that she is so different from the rest. While the socialites are mostly offended by Godfrey's criticism, Irene runs after him to apologize, sincerely. And he believes her and accepts it. When Cornelia arrives late with her own forgotten man, she meets eyes with Godfrey. While he hasn't accepted the butler position yet, it seems that Godfrey is almost up to the challenge just to instigate Cornelia. And she grows on the idea as she makes it clear that she hopes he's good at shining shoes.

Right before the scene ends, Irene slips money to Godfrey, quietly, only to have it fall through his holey pocket and onto the floor. It's yet another scene in which Irene shows her good-natured side and makes you like her even more. The funny thing here is that the attraction between Godfrey and Irene is quite subtle. It almost seems as if Godfrey takes the "butling" job more to antagonize Cornelia if anything. But it was good to take this closer look at the opening scene, because I've often watched this film and felt upswept by the ending, which I always took it as that's the point, but even still I wondered where along the lines did Godfrey really fall for Irene, and upon a closer and more careful look, it's subtle, but it's happening from the beginning.

What's clear in My Man Godfrey is that right away this film sets up the theme and premise as well as sets the mood. The two leads are both introduced not just to the audience but to each other within the first scene. There are some great lines all around, and wonderful sarcasm coming courtesy of Godfrey. But amongst all the screwiness of the rich and the bored, there shines Irene who, although acts the role of the clueless socialite, isn't quite like the rest of her kind, and even here in this opening scene she is beginning to change, all thanks to Godfrey.