To get one step closer to an honorable death (see previous post), one needs to spend a little time in High Society (1956). Not so much a musical, in the start-to-finish singing-and-dancing sense, 
High Society remakes The Philadelphia Story (1940) with a few musical numbers thrown into the mix. With a cast that includes Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra, and Louis Armstrong, there are some real gems, especially the duets. It’s sad that the legendary Armstrong is made to contribute so many awkwardly wide-eyed smiles and false laughs. But for better or worse, most movies reflect the social values their time. While the racial, sexual, and socioeconomic politics provoke fascination rather than pondering, the dialog is fast and witty, and the comedy is satisfying, if not inventive.
My Man Godfrey (1936), also considered one of the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, takes a few more jabs at aristocracy, but the family it lampoons is so absurd, the satire is decidedly tame. Godfrey stars William Powell as the tramp turned butler with a mysterious past, who is “rescued” by Carole Lombard, the spoiled and naive Madison Avenue princess with — of course — a heart of gold. Both leads are great, as is the supporting cast of ridiculous characters, especially Eugene Pallette as the cynical father at the end of his rope. But Powell grounds the picture, like as he does the family that employs him. We might not totally believe in his interest in Lombard, but are definitely rooting for him to rescue her in return.
Here are this morning’s Oscar-nominated films, alphabetically. The nominees for foreign language film and documentary feature are compiled at the end of the list. (Short format nominees are listed in a 
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