My Man Godfrey (1936)

William Powell: Godfrey

Photos 

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Quotes 

• Godfrey : The only difference between a derelict and a man is a job.

• Godfrey : May I be frank?

  Molly : Is that your name?

  Godfrey : No, my name is Godfrey.

  Molly : All right, be frank.

• Godfrey : Prosperity is just around the corner.

  Mike Flaherty : Yeah, it's been there a long time. I wish I knew which corner.

• [at the city dump] 

  Irene : Could you tell me why you live in a place like this when there's so many other nice places?

  Godfrey : You really want to know?

  Irene : Oh, I'm very curious.

  Godfrey : It's because my real estate agent felt that the altitude would be very good for my asthma.

• Cornelia Bullock : You can't go on like this forever. You really like me and you're afraid to admit it, aren't you?

  Godfrey : You want me to tell you what I REALLY think of you?

  Cornelia Bullock : Please do.

  Godfrey : As Smith or as a butler?

  Cornelia Bullock : Choose your own weapon.

  Godfrey : You won't hold it against me?

  Cornelia Bullock : It's your day off.

  Godfrey : Very well. You belong to that unfortunate category that I would call the "Park Avenue brat." A spoiled child who's grown up in ease and luxury, who's always had her own way, and whose misdirected energies are so childish that they hardly deserve the comment, even of a butler on his off Thursday.

  Cornelia Bullock : [hurt and angry]  Thank you for a very lovely portrait.

• Godfrey : That's most of your stock. I knew it had been dumped on the market, so I sold short.

  Angelica Bullock : I don't understand. You sold short. You mean gentlemen's underwear?

• Godfrey : Do you think you could follow an intelligent conversation for a minute?

  Irene : I'll try.

• Irene : Godfrey's gonna be our butler.

  Angelica Bullock : He's gonna be who's butler?

  Irene : He's gonna work for us.

  Angelica Bullock : Oh, that's ridiculous. You don't know anything about him. He hasn't any recommendations...

  Irene : Well, the last one had recommendations and stole all the silver.

  Angelica Bullock : Well, that was merely a coincidence.

  Godfrey : People who take in stray cats say they make the best pets, madam.

  Angelica Bullock : I don't see what cats have got to do with butlers.

• Guthrie : Are you wanted by the police?

  Godfrey : That's just the trouble. Nobody wants me.

• Irene : Can you butle?

  Godfrey : Butle?

  Irene : Yes, we're fresh out of butlers. The one we had left this morning.

• Godfrey : These flowers just came for you, miss. Where shall I put them?

  Irene : What difference does it make where one puts flowers when one's heart is breaking?

  Godfrey : Yes, miss. Shall I put them on the piano?

• Godfrey : Hasn't anyone ever told you about certain proprieties?

  Irene : You use such lovely big words. I like big words. What does it mean?

  Godfrey : Well, I'll try to simplify it. Hasn't your mother or anyone ever explained to you that some things are proper and some things are not?

  Irene : No she hasn't. She rambles on quite a bit, but then she never has anything to say.

• Godfrey : Tommy, there's a very peculiar mental process called thinking - you wouldn't know much about that - but when I was living here I did a lot of it.

• Godfrey : But you want me to remain, don't you?

  Irene : Oh, of course!

  Godfrey : And I want to justify your faith in me by being a very good butler, and filling the void created by your late, lamented Pomeranian.

  Irene : Oh, I've forgotten all about him. He had fleas, anyway. Besides, you're different. You use big words, and you're much cuter.

• Godfrey : Do you mind telling me just what a scavenger hunt is?

  Irene : Well, a scavenger hunt is exactly like a treasure hunt, except in a treasure hunt you try to find something you want, and in a scavenger hunt you try to find something that nobody wants.

  Godfrey : Hmm, like a forgotten man?

  Irene : That's right, and the one who wins gets a prize, only there really isn't a prize. It's just the honor of winning, because all the money goes to charity, that is, if there is any money left over, but there never is.

  Godfrey : Well, that clears the whole matter up beautifully.

• Irene : [visiting Godfrey's restaurant built on top of the old dump]  Oh my, how you've fixed this place up, Godfrey! It's much nicer than when I was here before!

  Godfrey : Oh, you've noticed that, huh?

  Irene : Are the forgotten men having a party?

  Godfrey : It's their annual reunion.

  Irene : I saw the mayor out there. Is he one of them, too?

  Godfrey : He's the guest of honor.

  Irene : Oh, it's a lovely view - the view of the bridge. Is it always there?

  Godfrey : Most always.

  Irene : Oh, you have a kitchen! I'm gonna like this place very much.

• Godfrey : Why can't you let me alone?

  Irene : Because you're my responsibility and someone has to take care of you.

  Godfrey : I can take care of myself.

  Irene : You can't look me in the eye and say that. You love me and you know it. You know, there's no sense in struggling against a thing when it's got you. It's got you and that's all there is to it - it's got you!

• Godfrey : Does the butler have quarters here in the house, or is that necessary?

  Molly : Oh, you won't need any quarters. Just hang your hat near the door so you can get it quickly on the way out.

• Angelica Bullock : My ancestors came over on the boat. Oh, not the Mayflower, but the boat after that. What did your ancestors come over on, Godfrey?

  Godfrey : As far as I know, they've always been here.

  Angelica Bullock : They weren't Indians, I hope.

  Godfrey : One can never be sure of one's ancestors.

  Angelica Bullock : You know, you have rather high cheek bones...

• Irene : I went to Venice, and one night I went for a ride in one of those rowboats that the man pushes with a stick. Not a matador. That was in Spain. But something like a matador.

  Godfrey : Do you, by any chance, mean a gondolier?

  Irene : That was the name of the boat!

• Irene : I'm terribly grateful. This is the first time I've ever beaten Cornelia at anything and you helped me do it.

  Godfrey : Well, that makes me a sort of Cornelia beater doesn't it?

• Cornelia Bullock : I'd hate to see you made the laughing stock of Boston...

  Godfrey : I would hate to see anyone made a laughing stock anywhere.