Does anyone else think Carole Lombard... - My Man Godfrey (1936) Discussion

[–] JenniferLynne73 12 years ago

Nope, I think she's great. I hope you aren't basing your opinion purely on this movie. I think she's great in this movie (as does the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences who nominated her for Best Actress for this role) but I think she is superb in other films, too, like Twentieth Century, Virtue, Nothing Sacred and In Name Only etc.

"All you need to start an Asylum is an empty room and the right kind of people"-(My Man Godfrey)

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[–] Hygrophonic 11 years ago

How can the seldom discussed, and awarded, be overrated? She was considered to be a great comic actress, and a fine dramatic actress. If you think less of her, well, I can't really help you there.

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[–] newt_jorden 11 years ago

Well, its your opinion. I think she is one of the greatest actress of all time.

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[–] Flosive 11 years ago

I do think Carole Lombard was miscast in this movie, she was far too old to get away with a lovestruck teenager impression, so in place of a naive and impulsive young lady I saw a soft-brained woman flouncing about crying for attention. Only afterwards, when looking through the IMDb trivia section, did I realise that Irene was supposed to be in her late teens, and that the movie I'd just watched was supposed to be a romantic comedy.

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[–] HarlowMGM 10 years ago

Mr. Bullock's line about "looking at (his wife) for 20 years" was a mistake because it makes one think the daughters have to be teenagers; it's funny but it should have be rewritten as it's always a no-no to get kind of age-limiting in comments about any film character. Seems perfectly natural though Carole Lombard and Gail Patrick would still be living with their rich parents in their twenties and would be rather spoiled.

I've heard arguements that Lombard's character is too wacky or Patrick was better, etc. but I think it's because we rarely see a female lead this uninhibited in old movies, she seems over the top at times. I think in a second viewing most would have more appreciation for Carole's spirited, delightful performance since the expectation of her being a conventional romantic comedy lead heroine is gone.

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[–] Flosive 10 years ago

I think in a second viewing most would have more appreciation for Carole's spirited, delightful performance since the expectation of her being a conventional romantic comedy lead heroine is gone.

Unfortunately I think you've misunderstood my post, going into the movie I had no expectations of who anybody was or what kind of film it would be.

*
Last seen: Mary and Max (2009) 10/10

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[–] forlorn_rage (139) 5 years ago

Nothing wrong with Carole Lombard's performance. She was splendid. But, her character is too immature and selfish to be worthy of the affections of a character like Godfrey.

A shame they didn't remain friends. I loved their friendship at the beginning of the movie. I loved the understanding and connection they had at the beginning before Irene started forcing her attentions on Godfrey, without taking his feelings into consideration.

EDIT: I take it back. Carole Lombard's performance was very grating at times. Especially, that loud cackle that came on whenever the character laughed at Cornelia's expense ("CORNELIA LOST HER PEARLS AND I GOT MINE! CORNELIA LOST HER PEARLS AND I GOT MINE! Ah-HA-HA-HAAA!!!") Good grief.

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[–] forlorn_rage (139) 5 years ago

I have no issues with Irene being "wacky." I actually like that about her. What I do not like about her is constantly forcing her affections on Godfrey and acting entitled to his love when he has no romantic interest in her. Why would he? He's intelligent, sophisticated, honorable, good-natured gentleman.

Irene has her moments, but she is a self-centered "nitwit." At least, Cornelia realizes her flaws. Irene never does, after the scavenger hunt scene. She's too immature and selfish to be worthy of Godfrey's affections. Molly and Cornelia were much better suited for Godfrey and had better chemistry with him as well.

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[–] huwdj 8 years ago

Interesting point. I love Carol Lombard and Gail Patrick in this film but it never occurred to me they were supposed to be teenagers. I always saw them as a couple of silly, spoilt perpetually girlish women - at least at the start of the film.
But I think I'll just ignore your observation and carry on enjoying the film every year or so.

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[–] JaneThree 8 years ago

I think she is overrated a bit. She's sort of half natural talent, and half contrived. So, she's uneven. There are times she's genuine and acts with her heart, and other times she uses very predictable mannerisms, including vocal stylings or mannerisms. These surface in her first scene with Robert Stack in To Be Or Not To Be, here and there in My Man Godfrey, and basically in every comedy she did. I would prefer her in drama, because she acts those with her heart all the way through, and drops the arch vocal contrivances and mannerisms. Too bad most of her dramatic scripts weren't as good as the comic scripts.

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[–] ang-son 11 years ago

Nope, just you.

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[–] fortunate1 10 years ago

No.

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[–] DavidLanceRoten 10 years ago

Nope. I respect your opinion however. She was real good, my opinion. But we all have different opinions, it's why we all like different actors, actresses and movies in general.
Would be a pretty boring world any other way ;-)

..."Never do today what you can always do tomorrow. Gives you something to look forward to...

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[–] dgniewek 10 years ago

I think she's pure gold.

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[–] gshows-1 10 years ago

I think she was fabulous. I have watched her all day on TCM. I just watched My Man Godfrey and I laughed out loud through the whole thing. She was so uninhibited and wacky. She earned her title of Queen of the screwball comedy. Her death was a loss to film history.

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[–] shadycady 8 years ago

I love Carole Lombard, and she was such a great talent.

The Divine Genealogy Goddess

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