The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942)

Director:

William Keighley

Writers:

Julius J. Epstein (screenplay)
Philip G. Epstein (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

1 January 1942 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Plot:

When acerbic critic Sheridan Whiteside slips on the front steps of a provincial Ohio businessman's home and breaks his hip, he and his entourage take over the house indefinitely.

Plot Keywords:

Diva | Penguin | Ice | Eleanor Roosevelt | Fish Out Of Water

Cast

Bette Davis	...	Maggie Cutler
Ann Sheridan	...	Lorraine Sheldon
Monty Woolley	...	Sheridan Whiteside
Richard Travis	...	Bertram H. 'Bert' Jefferson
Jimmy Durante	...	Banjo
Billie Burke	...	Daisy Stanley
Reginald Gardiner	...	Beverly Carlton
Elisabeth Fraser	...	June Stanley
Grant Mitchell	...	Ernest W. Stanley
George Barbier	...	Dr. E. Bradley
Mary Wickes	...	Nurse Preen
Russell Arms	...	Richard Stanley
Ruth Vivian	...	Harriet Stanley
Edwin Stanley	...	John
Betty Roadman	...	Sarah
Charles Drake	...	Sandy
Nanette Vallon	...	Cosette
John Ridgely	...	Westcott - Radio Man
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ernie Adams	...	Michaelson (uncredited)
Leah Baird	...	Fan at Train Station (uncredited)
Leslie Brooks	...	Hollywood Blonde (uncredited)
Georgia Carroll	...	Hollywood Blonde (uncredited)
Eddy Chandler	...	Guard (uncredited)
Laura Hope Crews	...	Fan (uncredited)
Dudley Dickerson	...	Porter at Train Station (uncredited)
Peggy Diggins	...	Hollywood Blonde (uncredited)
Roland Drew	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Sol Gorss	...	Chauffeur (uncredited)
Herbert Gunn	...	Radio man (uncredited)
Creighton Hale	...	Radio man (uncredited)
Sam Hayes	...	Announcer (uncredited)
Fred Kelsey	...	Detective (uncredited)
Hank Mann	...	Expressman (uncredited)
Frank Mayo	...	Plainclothesman (uncredited)
Patrick McVey	...	Harry (uncredited)
Frank Moran	...	Haggerty (uncredited)
Jack Mower	...	Plainclothesman (uncredited)
Ralph Peters	...	Cab Driver (uncredited)
Cliff Saum	...	Joe - Expressman (uncredited)
Alix Talton	...	Chorine (uncredited)
Billy Wayne	...	Freddie - Vendor (uncredited)
Lottie Williams	...	Fan at Train Station (uncredited)
Gig Young	...	Bit Part (uncredited)

Directed by
William Keighley

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Julius J. Epstein		screenplay
Philip G. Epstein		screenplay
Moss Hart		play
George S. Kaufman		play

Produced by
Jack Saper	....	associate producer
Jerry Wald	....	associate producer
Jerry Wald	....	producer
Hal B. Wallis	....	executive producer
Jack L. Warner	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Friedrich Hollaender

Cinematography by
Tony Gaudio		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Jack Killifer

Art Direction by
Robert M. Haas		(as Robert Haas)

Costume Design by
Orry-Kelly		(gowns)

Makeup Department
Perc Westmore	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Richard Maybery	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Charles Lang	....	sound

Music Department
Leo F. Forbstein	....	musical director

Other crew
Sam Harris	....	producer: stage play (as Sam H. Harris)

Production Companies

• Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1942) (USA) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1969) (USA) (all media)
• Warner Home Video (1995) (USA) (VHS)
• Turner Entertainment (1990) (USA) (TV)
• Turner Entertainment (1995) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Turner Entertainment  supplementary material

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | Australia:G

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Mary Wickes, the only member of the original Broadway cast in the film version, makes her screen debut.

Quotes:

Sheridan Whiteside: Go in and read the life of Florence Nightingale and learn how unfitted you are for your chosen profession.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Frasier: The Ann Who Came to Dinner (#11.13)" (2004)

Pretty funny

The Man Who Came to Dinner is a little uneven, but it's mostly entertaining. The unevenness comes mainly from the dullness of the budding relationship which the film holds in focus. The original play is very well written, especially the dialogue. It was actually performed at my high school when I was there. But its the cast here that excels. Monty Woolley is great in the titular role. He plays Sheridan Whiteside to absolute perfection. Bette Davis is quite good as his secretary, but the role is actually somewhat below her standards. I'm sure she took the role because she loved the play so much and was sure it'd be a hit, but that role is pretty dull. Ann Sheridan perhaps gives the film's most memorable performance as an egotistical Hollywood diva who's not sure whether she wants to marry British nobility for money or just chase around cute guys. Also noteworthy are Billie Burke as Mrs. Stanley, the Ohio society woman who invites Whiteside to dinner, Reginald Gardiner as an eloquent celebrity friend of Whiteside (far underused), and the incredibly insane Jimmy Durante as Banjo. He comes into the film very late, but he very nearly steals the show. 8/10.