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Bette Davis, Ann Sheridan, Monty Woolley, Billie Burke, Jimmy Durante ... see more see more... , Richard Travis , Reginald Gardiner , Elisabeth Fraser , Grant Mitchell , George Barbier , Mary Wickes , Laura Hope Crewes , Russell Arms , Ruth Vivian , Edwin Stanley , Betty Roadman , Charles Drake , Chester Clute , Nanette Vallon , John Ridgely , Ernie S. Adams , Leslie Brooks , Georgia Carroll , Eddy Chandler , Frank Coghlan Jr. , Dudley Dickerson , Roland Drew , Creighton Hale , Sam Hayes , Fred Kelsey , Vera Lewis , Hank Mann , Frank Mayo , Patrick McVey , Frank Moran , Jack Mower , Cliff Saum , Billy Wayne , Gig Young , Peggy Diggins , Herbert Gunn , Alix Talton

The George S. Kaufman/Moss Hart Broadway hit The Man Who Came to Dinner was inspired by the authors' mutual friend, waspish critic/author Alexander Woollcott. Generously bearded ex-Yale professor Mont... read more read more...y Woolley, no mean curmudgeon himself, plays the Woollcott character, here rechristened Sheridan Whiteside. While on a lecture tour in Ohio, Whiteside slips on the ice outside his hosts' home; until his broken leg heals, the hosts (Grant Mitchell and Billie Burke) are forced to put up (and put up with) the imperious Whiteside. This means enduring an unending stream of Whiteside's whims, caprices and vitriolic bon mots, as well as his long-distance phone calls, eccentric guests and a variety of critters, ranging from penguins to octopi. Like the real Woollcott, Whiteside insists upon stage-managing the lives of everyone around him. He is particularly keen on discouraging a romance between his faithful secretary Maggie Cutler (top-billed Bette Davis) and local newspaper editor Bert Jefferson (Richard Travis). Once he realizes he's gone too far in this respect, Whiteside is forced to reunite the lovers. That's only one aspect of a three-ring-circus plotline that accommodates a Lizzie Bordenish axe murderess, takeoffs of Woollcott intimates Harpo Marx, Noel Coward and Gertrude Lawrence, and a general practitioner who's willing to let his patients suffer for a chance to pitch his interminable memoirs to Whiteside. Featured in the cast are Jimmy Durante as "Banjo" (the Harpo clone), Reginald Gardiner as the Noel Coward-like Beverly Carlton, Anne Sheridan as the predatory Gertrude Lawrence counterpart Lorraine Sheldon, and Mary Wickes as the long-suffering Nurse Preen ("You have the touch of a love-starved cobra!") The script, by the Epstein brothers, manages to retain most of the play's best lines and situations, even while expanding Bette Davis' role to justify her start status; it's a shame, though, that we are robbed of Sheridan Whiteside's imperishable opening line, "I may vomit!" ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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82% liked it

1,676 ratings

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80% liked it

5 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 52 min.

Directed by: William Keighley

Release Date: January 1, 1942

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DVD Release Date: May 30, 2006

Stats: 129 reviews

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Bette Davis and Reginald Gardiner The Man Who Came to Dinner The Man Who Came to Dinner Bette Davis and Monty Wooley Ann Sheridan, Richard Travis, Bette Davis and Monty Woolley Bette Davis and Monty Wooley
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Flixster Reviews (129)

  • moonrivers
    May 14, 2011
    moonrivers
    Regular folks run headlong into crazy eccentric celebrity when a radio star (Wooley,raucously unbridled) convalesces in small town Ohio. Ann Sheridan plays the bad girl, Bette Davis, and Bette Davis plays Ann Sheridan, the good girl, and then they fight ... talk about love!
  • ajv2688
    October 11, 2010
    ajv2688
    A very funny movie, but I didn't get to see the end, I want to watch it again sometime.
  • bottcorecords1
    January 2, 2010
    bottcorecords1
    When celebrity personality and generally unpleasant Sheridan Whiteside stops by to have dinner with a family of wealthy socialites and falls and hurts himself on their front steps, he winds up having to stay for far longer than just an evenings dinner and makes a great nuisance o... read moref himself. Mr. Whiteside's assistant (Bette Davis) winds up falling in love with the local newspaper reporter and the diabolical Whiteside tries to concoct a way to keep her in his employ. Based on the 1939 play by Kaufman and Hart, The Man Who Comes to Dinner is a biting look at the world of celebrity elitism, and is fairly relevant today. Monty Woolley plays Whiteside as a boss from hell, straight from The Devil Wears Prada, which I'm sure drew heavily from this film. Bette Davis and Ann Sheridan play against type, or that is they're playing each others roles, take your pick (Davis plays the sweet girl, Sheridan plays the tough broad). The appearance of Jimmy Durante is a bit of a surpise, contrasting the quick verbal exchanges earlier in the film for his schtick-loaded goofiness. Durante also takes the film in a hokey direction, plot-wise (Jimmy Durante is a very odd looking man that modern viewers might find off-putting). However, these are minor quibbles for a film that has nothing major going for it to begin with. It's not a terribly hilarious film, but it is amusing.
  • jjnxn
    April 6, 2008
    jjnxn
    Amusing trifle with the great Ann Sheridan stealing the show as an egocentric STAR!
  • hypathio7
    March 3, 2012
    hypathio7
    Director William Keighley brought another Kaufman and Hart stage play to the screen in early 1942. This time it was adapted by the Epstein brothers. I have read the play and this screenplay remains fairly faithful to the original. Sheridan Whiteside (Woolley) is based on Alexande... read morer Woollcott and three of Sherry's friends who come to visit are based on real people too. Diva Lorraine Sheldon (again Sheridan) is based on Gertrude Lawrence, British Beverly Carlton (Gardiner) is based on Noel Coward, and crazy comedian Banjo (Durante) is based on Harpo Marx. They are not pure imitations, but very funny creations by the three actors. For a bit more modern reference, Sheridan Whiteside is kind of how I imagine an older Orson Welles was, or kind of like the character Frasier. Sherry despises Midwestern suburban-ism. It has been arranged that he stop in a small Ohio town on a public relations tour. Mr. and Mrs. Stanley (Mitchell and Burke) have won the opportunity to have this celebrity dine with them. Even though the town is not very small and the Stanleys are not backward, it is torture for Sheridan Whiteside to be confined to their house after he injures his hip slipping on ice on their front porch. Sherry is full of insults, schemes and name dropping, and he is hilarious. The dialog is so sharp. Maggie Cutler (Davis) is Sherry's secretary and the only person who can trade insults with him as an equal. Maggie is given a bit more focus, while the Stanley's butler and cook are reduced a bit in the story. It is great to see Bette Davis in a light comedic role. I can't say I'm a big fan of hers based on the limited dramatic roles I've seen her play, but it is nice to see she can be romantic and playful and funny. Maggie falls for local newspaper man Bert Jefferson (Travis) who also finds a way into Sherry's good graces by showing he can come back with some true wit, that is until Sherry jealously decides Jefferson shouldn't steal Maggie away. How will Sherry's scheme unravel? How much of the local craziness can Sherry stand (um, excuse me, sit through in his wheelchair)? How much of Sherry's impositions can the Stanleys tolerate? This is a great screwball comedy with a large ensemble cast.
  • poohtiger
    September 3, 2009
    poohtiger
    Manic classic comedy with a lots of star power. When the world famous writer and lecturer Sheridan Whiteside (Monty Woolley) breaks his leg while visiting the home of a prominent Ohio family, he must stay there to recuperate. The family at first is estatic to have him stay until ... read morethey realize what an over-bearing and pompous windbag he really his. Joining him is his personal assistant Maggie Cutler (a subdued Bette Davis). In between frustrating the head of the family, Sheridan, or Sherry as most everyone calls him, must also contend with a newspaper man who is trying to get an interview. The man and Maggie promptly fall in love and Maggie tells Sherry she is leaving him. That won't do so Sherry calls his favorite actress Lorraine Sheldon (a fabulous Ann Sheridan) to come there and break up the happy couple. There are laughs galore in this film and its at a pretty good clip too. Monty Woolley is outstanding in his role as Sherry. He may be hard to deal with it but in the end he will eventually start warming up to others. It's unusual seeing Ms. Davis in a role like this. I mean she has done comedy before and well, but here she is very low key. There are times she kinda fades into the background and is over powered by Ann Sheridan's character. Davis is still good here but I wish during her confronatation scene with Sheridan she was allowed to let loose. In the meantime Ann Sheridan has an absolute great time as Lorraine, trading wisecracks with Sherry and slinging insults to everyone else. Jimmy Durante pops by for a cameo towards the end and he gets a few laughs. The very funny Billie Burke is also on hand as the mother of the put upon family. The Man Who Came To DInner is a solid comedy which I thoroughly enjoyed.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Sheridan Whiteside: [opening a box of candy] Ah, pecan butternut fudge!
    Nurse Preen: Oh, my, you mustn't eat candy, Mr. Whiteside, it's very bad for you.
    Sheridan Whiteside: My great aunt Jennifer ate a whole box of candy every day of her life. She lived to be 102 and when she'd been dead three days she looked better than you do *now!*
  • neffielee
    August 22, 2009
    neffielee
    A fast-paced, chaotic, mad-cap comedy with witty dialogue. Monty Woolley is positively brilliant with his sharp tongue which varies from condescending flattery to flat-out insults. Ann Sheridan, Jimmy Durante, and Reginald Gardiner are superb in their brief appearances, and, ... read moreof course, Bette Davis shines. Lots of fun!
  • littlecharmer1959
    July 12, 2008
    littlecharmer1959
    A very funny film with Bette Davis taking a backseat role. Monty Wooley is brilliant as the sarcastic lecturer Sheridan Whiteside. Admitingly some of the jokes may seem a little dated today but this still a very good film with great dialogue.
  • jam233
    August 13, 2009
    jam233
    Fantastic romantic comedy, with an incredible cast. Monty Woolley is remarkable in the lead title role, Bette Davis is great in a surprising supporting role, Mary Wickes is hysterical as the nurse, and Ann Sheridan has a great supporting role as the actress. She is wonderful. Tho... read moreroughly delightful. Well written.
  • placeinthesun455
    July 31, 2009
    placeinthesun455
    comedy glorious comedy. another brilliant adaptation of Kaufman & Hart finery. there seemed to be a couple noticeable plot holes and some of the editing was a bit choppy, but otherwise this is an absolutely fantastic film. a great cast with great timing is important, and every... read moreone from Bette Davis to Mary Wickes nailed it perfectly. sort of a 'Dinner at Eight' meets 'You Can't Take It With You'--hilarious.

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Critic Reviews

Bosley Crowther
September 30, 2006
Bosley Crowther, New York Times

Here, in the space of an hour and fifty-two minutes, is compacted what is unquestionably the most vicious but hilarious cat-clawing exhibition ever put on the screen, a deliciously wicked character po... Full Review

Steve Crum
August 14, 2007
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com

Wonderful cast, story and direction in classic comedy.

Emanuel Levy
July 11, 2006
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Monty Woolley repeats his stage role in this smart adaptation of Kaufman and Hart's Broadway play, inspired by the Algonquin celebs (Alexander Woolcott, Harpo Marx, Noel Coward). Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
January 7, 2005
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

The great cast mirthfully brings on the savage dialogue and relishes in the malicious nature of the satire. Full Review

March 26, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Dave Kehr
September 30, 2006
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

Click to read the article Full Review

Don Willmott
September 30, 2006
Don Willmott, Filmcritic.com

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Derek Adams
September 30, 2006
Derek Adams, Time Out

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  • In the movies, I've portrayed a cop, a lawyer, a cowboy, an old man on the sea, a physical educaton teacher, and had to guess who came to dinner. Who am I?  Answer »
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