The screwball comedy queen as the screwball heroine

Of all the actresses to portray a screwball heroine, non have been better than Carole Lombard. I suppose that's relative to everyone's taste. I watched her in another film and completely disliked it and her in the film, and I didn't think that was possible. But in My Man Godfrey, Carole Lombard takes on the role of Irene Bullock and portrays her so convincingly and charming; she embodies Irene completely, with no qualms. You watch her and believe that she's this screwy, but not stupid, heroine who's running around trying to make her protégé fall in love with her, using whatever tricks she's got in her, fake crying and fainting spells alike. But there's a way in which Lombard delivers this performance; another actress would've just made you roll your eyes or walk away from the film. Lombard delivers in a way that makes you, too, fall in love with her.

From the little that I read, William Powell agreed to take on the role of Godfrey only if Lombard was given the role of Irene. And why? Because the relationship between Irene and Godfrey reminded him of his marriage with Lombard, which that in itself explains plenty to me of what I saw as a chemistry issue between the two leads. No doubt they have chemistry, but it's not the red-hot kind. It's almost exactly what I'd expect of a former couple that are still friendly. Whatever the case, it doesn't really matter, because Lombard was the right casting choice, as Powell so very wisely insisted.

What exactly does set her apart? For someone who was 27 at the time of the filming, Lombard plays a woman stunted in a child's mindset quite convincingly. She does it so unashamed. I don't know who else could've pulled it off, jumping up and down on the bed after Godfrey puts her in the shower. Sure many actresses would've jumped, but not with joyous and childlike way in which Lombard does, as if she's trying to reach the ceiling so she bends her knees for height. And then, there are the crying faces. Every single one is done so comically that it makes you laugh. There's no sympathy or empathy evoked here; it is simply and purely for laughs. And then, that her mother falls for it every time just makes it even more enjoyable. There's also something about Lombard's voice. There's a melody to it almost that could turn into a whine, but really Lombard just rambles on her lines and stays so focused on Powell's face the entire time. It is like a child's voice, innocent and naïve. And in fact, looking back on her performance, it is that she pulls off playing a grown child, but a spoiled one.

I try to imagine another actress in the role, and most would be completely wrong for the part. I think Katharine Hepburn would've been close to being good at Irene, but she would've taken the character a totally different way. It wouldn't be Irene the spoiled Park Avenue heiress who wants to sponsor a protégé and falls in love with along the way. Hepburn's Irene would've been more along the lines of Susan Vance, more mischief at play and less crying. With Lombard, there's almost a wide-eyed wonder to Irene, as if she's seeing the world for the first time thanks to Godfrey.

One of the things that I like about Irene, as Lombard portrays her, is how she evolves in the very beginning of the film. The love story between Godfrey and Irene is subtle to me, but I think part of the reason she falls for him is that she sees things differently with him. She never thought about how poor or homeless people live, but now she does. And she's not like the rest of the Park Avenue kids; Irene has a big heart, as she shows when she gives Godfrey money for new things. Godfrey takes on the job of butling and he's her protégé, the one she sponsors, her responsibility. And this makes her believe that she's all grown up now. But she falls for Godfrey and that pretty much stays on her mind for the rest of the film.

Irene is also determined, and smart; she's certainly not stupid. I see how it can be easy to misinterpret a screwball heroine as a stupid. But, these heroines get what they want at the end. They're quite resourceful. Irene won't stop trying to win Godfrey's attention, even if it doing it the only she knows how, by having a crying fit or pretending to pass out. Her way of seeing the world is just different. She's perfectly aware that Cornelia is always trying to wreck her plans with Godfrey by trying to frame him for missing jewelry or complaining about the dangers of hiring homeless people. You can't grow up being Cornelia's sister and not survive that without some survival instincts. Irene just has a funnier way of trying to get her own way. And again, it's more childlike and innocent. She shows indifference, but runs off crying when she sees it doesn't work. But what's great at the end is that Irene, knowing Godfrey left the Bullock house, runs after him. She won't let the fact that he took off without saying goodbye stop her. At another point, she might've cried about it, but she knows he loves her, because he put her in the shower. And the great part here is that she won't take no for an answer. When she gets to his place, she takes a look around and brings in her stuff. When the mayor shows up, well everything's in place for she and Godfrey to get married. And like all screwball heroines, she reassures a confused Godfrey, "it'll all be over in a minute." She gets her man in the end, she gets what she wants and won't take no for an answer.

I really enjoy watching this My Man Godfrey, mostly because of Lombard's performance. I don't even think I can do it any justice describing how well she does it, because really you have to watch it to understand it. I think what's most refreshing is that Lombard is so bold, so unafraid in her performance. Other people would've been more insecure or too exaggerated. Lombard is perfect, she performs naturally. Who cares if in real life she was like Irene. Lombard is a gem in this film and will make you fall in love with her just like Godfrey did.