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Featuring Carol Lumbard, William Powell, and David Niven. The cast is introduced, and some personal background given. The scene opens on a moonlit night at the city dump, and our man Godfrey sits unshaven and scraggly. A woman tries to hire him for a party stunt, but the man treats her roughly and sends her on her way. The scruffy man meets the sister of Cornelia, and now his curiosity is up. He goes to the high society event, and both the high society set, and the scruffy Godfrey scoff and disdain each other. Godfrey is asked to become a butler, and reluctantly he does for the sake of the sister he helped.
The house staff warns him about the mental state of his new mistress. Godfrey encounters the two sisters, Cornelia and Irene. He has cleaned up well, and Irene, the sister who hired him doesn’t recognize him right away. Cornelia is the drama queen who is a taskmaster over the hired help. Irene is not only impressed, but in love with Godfrey.
Dad is worried about finances, and the family arguement that ensues seems designed to drive Godfrey away, but he stays. Although he has to fend off Irene and her sentimental advances.
Weeks pass and Godfrey fits right in, then at a dinner party he is recognized by one of the guests, and his background is learned. Later to blow off steam, the Ivy League, college educated butler relaxes at a bar, and more of his past is learned. the bratty, spoiled, Cornelia finds Godfrey in the bar on his day off, and he tells her what he thinks of her. Back home Irene’s true emotions towards Godfrey come out, as if there was naany doubt, when Irene has a good cry with the maid, Polly.
When Godfrey comes home roaring drunk, a pearl necklase turns up missing, and Cornelia accuses the drunken Godfrey. I think Cornelia is just trying to set Godfrey up for a fall. The womenfolk all take a trip, and Godfrey gets to relax with dear old dad, but their serenity won’t last when the gals all come home. Godfrey breaks the news to the infatuated Irene that he is moving on soon. But not before relationships develop.
Godfrey is finding his place, and overlapping needs grow in the master-servant relationship. Dad breaks the news that he’s broke, and has been embezzling money from work. Godfrey has had some foresight, and offers his stock certificates that he has been saving to the family. Godfrey gives another acounting of what he thinks of the family, and his opinions have greatly changed. At the end of his speech, Godfrey considers all debts paid off and forgiven. He leaves to go back to his junk heap.
Godfrey learns that he isn’t a lone wolf anymore when Irene comes to inspect his junkyard quarters, and hints that she wants to move in with him. Will Godfrey be ready for a marriage? Will he figure out that he also has feelings for Irene too?
