A CAREFULLY-MADE FILM

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 46, 18 November 1936, Page 3

A CAREFULLY-MADE FILM

“My Man Godfrey,” St. James Theatre’s Next Release Long before “My Man Godfrey,” which will open at the St. James Theatre on Friday, was first released, word came trickling through from Hollywood and way stations that Universal’s outstanding contribution to the new movie season was a splendid screen offering. The production staff had set out deliberately to do everything possible to make “My Man Godfrey” the gold cup picture of the year. After combing the market for available stories, Universal purchased Erie Hatch’s novel and invited the author to Hollywood to collaborate with Morrie Ryskuid on the screen play. That happy combination turned out a script which read even funnier than the book. Gregory La Cava was chosen ag the director. Having the story and the director, the officials then turned over to La Cava a east which starred William Powell and Carole Lombard. The supporting players were chosen for their sense of humour and their technique as screen comedians. Among them were Alice Brady, Gail Patrick, Jean Dixon, Eugene Pallette and Alan Mowbray. Then the officials arranged the entire shooting schedule to give La Cava uninterrupted production time. This permitted him to use four of the sound stages at once for the large scenes. Charles D. Hall, who made the sets for “Show Boat,” built 28 major sets for “My Man Godfrey.” including the Waldorf ballroom and the mansion where Godfrey buttered. Some 43 pieces of furniture had to be reinforced with special steel springs. This was necessary because of the gymnastic leaping® and cavortings of Misoha Auer. For the Scavenger Hunt sequence, the property department gathered 215 preposterous props, ranging from nanny goats to police boxes and cuckoo clocks.