Daily Dialogue — November 29, 2014

Irene: I brought some food and I brought some wood and it should last us for a week anyway.
Godfrey: Funny, you didn’t have the foresight to bring a minister and a license.
Irene: Funny I never thought of that.

[knock]

Mayor: May I come in? Mr. Gray said there were a couple of people here who wanted to get married. Are you it?
Irene: Yes, could you marry us without a license?
Mayor: Without a–license? Well that may me into a lot of trouble. But I guess I’ve known your family long enough to take a chance. Who are you going to marry?
Irene: Godfrey–oh this is Godfrey.
Mayor: Uh, how do you do Godfrey. [to Irene] Does your father know about this?
Irene: Oh everybody knows about it except Godfrey.
Mayor: Well, I guess we better have a witness.
Irene: We can use Clarence! Clarence, you can be a witness, come down here. Stand right there, that’s fine.
Mayor: Now, join hands please–no the right hand
Irene: Stand still Godfrey, it will all be over in a minute!

— My Man Godfrey (1936), written by Morrie Ryskind, based on a story by Eric Hatch

The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Proposal, suggested by Aamir Mirza. Today’s suggestion by Nora.

Trivia: This is the only movie to ever get Oscar nominations for writing, directing and all four acting awards without being nominated for Best Picture. It was also the only movie to ever get those six nominations without winning in any of the categories all until American Hustle (2013).

Dialogue On Dialogue: Commentary by Nora: “A screwball comedy about a socialite who falls in love with her butler (who of course is really from a wealthy Bostonian family). He tries, unsuccessfully to dissuade her. But she arrives at his place in the end, prepared to close the deal.”