8 Comments
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Ron Hogan's avatar

For the list of Happy Butlers: Dick Van Dyke in Fitzwilly, scrambling to prevent his employer from finding out that her family’s wealth ran out years ago.

Rachel Seebacher's avatar

I know it’s a TV show, but Jeeves and Wooster is also an iconic depiction of the happy butler. Stephen Fry (playing butler to Hugh Laurie’s upper class twit) is just brilliant.

Anna's avatar

I was just coming here for Fitzwilly!

Jane Hyde's avatar

I once met a man who got a job as a valet to an English lord and what he told me would take pages but the main thing to know if you want to be one is that it's pronounced with a hard t, like mallet

Kris's avatar

Honorable mention to Arthur, which Sir John Gielgud did his damndest to turn into half of a happy butler movie.

Daniel Lavery's avatar

I find Arthur hard to stomach and am therefore reluctant to give it an honorable mention at all. the appeal of Dudley Moore escapes me

Mike Oppenheim's avatar

This was excellent, and I wish I could go back in time and reread remains of the day for the very first time. What a pleasant surprise!

Rebecca Shaykin's avatar

Would read an infinite amount of My Man, Godfrey content, especially from you