MovieChat Forums > My Man Godfrey (1936) Discussion > Someone explain Godfrey's situation

Someone explain Godfrey's situation

posted 16 years ago by stealthblue2001
13 replies | jump to latest

The back of the DVD says this:

"The stock market crash of 1929 brought hardship to all but a few. The once wealthy Godfrey loses his fortune during the crash and becomes a derelict."

So is Godfrey actually a derelict or assuming one because he is depressed and feels that the last virtue of humanity is on the streets by the river? When Cornelia comes back from Europe she tries to blackmail, to me at least, who he really is the son of a rich family. In the end it's obvious he becomes well off, with his friend's help which he knows from when they went to Harvard together. What? Was he or is he still rich throughout the plot?

[–] theFoss 16 years ago

As I recall, he explained to his friend, Tommy Gray, that he was so distraught after a failed romance (engagement?) that he contemplated suicide by drowning, but found the community of "lost men" down at the riverside, gutting out the hard times. He felt ashamed enough for his weakness, and impressed by their tenacity, that he dropped out from his societal connections and joined them. His family, apparently, was still upper crust Boston society.

A little weak premise for his descent into hoboing, but enough to hang the "lost man"/High society comparason plot on in a "screwball" comedy that made social observations.

[–] Jealous_Skunk 14 years ago

This is what I want to know. The DVD's summary says that it is because of The Stock Market Crash and The Great Depression but in the film it is revealed that it is because of love frustration! Which one is the truth? Why are the explanations so contrast?

JeSkuNk

[–] poetcomic1 11 years ago

Not the first time that has happened. I've had other video boxes with idiotic and untrue plot summaries on them. The description is simply wrong.

[–] ATG6 (3000) 2 years ago

Maybe his girlfriend dumped him because he lost too much money in the market?

[–] Tjanssen411 11 years ago

as I understood, he was 'Hoboing' because he found the 'forgotten men' more respectable than 'High Society' and was working out a way to help them out of the Dump

getting dumped by the Girlfriend/Fiancee' was simply the catalyst that allowed him to find the 'forgotten men' and his remaining there was more about him 'networking' then reveling in the hobo life

[–] snelling 11 years ago

Odd that the DVD case would spoil the plot so much. We don't find out he is not really a bum until 45 minutes into the story.

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[–] Errington_92 11 years ago

Godfrey states he gave everything to his fiance after their relationship ended, which left him poor. Therefore Godfrey became a 'forgotten man' because out of love he gave away his wealth, which underlines My Man Godfrey's theme of condemning attitudes formed by money.

"I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not".

[–] slimone (7996) 6 years ago

Right! Good explanation! I love this movie and have seen it at least five times.

[–] josephnatescott 9 years ago

"Odd that the DVD case would spoil the plot so much." Unfortunately it's common. Don't read the back of the DVD to the wonderful Treasure Of The Sierra Madre.

[–] snelling 9 years ago

I must have seen "Treasure Of The Sierra Madre" a dozen times. I love the old classics. I just bought "The Outlaw" but haven't seen it yet.

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[–] JaneThree 8 years ago

It's one of those deals where the script has it both ways. Tries to teach a lesson about nobility in the common man, or some poor men being worth ten times what a rich man is worth, but then it turns out Godfrey never lost his money, he just voluntarily dropped out. It's a cop-out in the movie considering it took place during the depression where all the rest of the lost men actually didn't have money. They should have made Godfrey genuinely broke.

[–] gribfritz2 13 years ago

Trust your own eyes and ears when watching the movie; not the back of a DVD ;-)

[–] KingCobra686 10 years ago

Technically the dvd wasnt wrong. He did lose his fortune during the time period of the crash and become a bum. He didnt lose it because of the crash though, like that description is implying.