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The Man Who Came to Dinner

  • 19421942
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 52m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
7.8K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Bette Davis, Jimmy Durante, Ann Sheridan, and Monty Woolley in The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942)
Trailer for this classic romantic comedy
Play trailer3:15
1 Video
15 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Romance

An acerbic critic wreaks havoc when a hip injury forces him to move in with a Midwestern family.An acerbic critic wreaks havoc when a hip injury forces him to move in with a Midwestern family.An acerbic critic wreaks havoc when a hip injury forces him to move in with a Midwestern family.

IMDb RATING
7.5/10
7.8K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • William Keighley
  • Writers
    • Julius J. Epstein(screen play)
    • Philip G. Epstein(screen play)
    • George S. Kaufman(from the stage play by)
  • Stars
    • Bette Davis
    • Ann Sheridan
    • Monty Woolley
Top credits
  • Director
    • William Keighley
  • Writers
    • Julius J. Epstein(screen play)
    • Philip G. Epstein(screen play)
    • George S. Kaufman(from the stage play by)
  • Stars
    • Bette Davis
    • Ann Sheridan
    • Monty Woolley
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 96User reviews
    • 26Critic reviews
    • 71Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Videos1

    The Man Who Came To Dinner
    Trailer 3:15
    The Man Who Came To Dinner

    Photos15

    Monty Woolley in The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942)
    The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942)
    Bette Davis in The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942)
    Bette Davis and Monty Woolley in The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942)
    Bette Davis and Reginald Gardiner in The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942)
    Bette Davis and Monty Woolley in The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942)
    Bette Davis and Richard Travis in The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942)
    Bette Davis, Jimmy Durante, Ann Sheridan, and Monty Woolley in The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942)
    Bette Davis, Ann Sheridan, and Monty Woolley in The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942)
    Bette Davis, Ann Sheridan, and Monty Woolley in The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942)
    Jimmy Durante, Ann Sheridan, and Monty Woolley in The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942)
    Billie Burke, Russell Arms, George Barbier, Elisabeth Fraser, Grant Mitchell, Betty Roadman, Edwin Stanley, Richard Travis, and Monty Woolley in The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Bette Davis
    Bette Davis
    • Maggie Cutleras Maggie Cutler
    Ann Sheridan
    Ann Sheridan
    • Lorraine Sheldonas Lorraine Sheldon
    Monty Woolley
    Monty Woolley
    • Sheridan Whitesideas Sheridan Whiteside
    Richard Travis
    Richard Travis
    • Bert Jeffersonas Bert Jefferson
    Jimmy Durante
    Jimmy Durante
    • Banjoas Banjo
    Billie Burke
    Billie Burke
    • Mrs. Daisy Stanleyas Mrs. Daisy Stanley
    Reginald Gardiner
    Reginald Gardiner
    • Beverly Carltonas Beverly Carlton
    Elisabeth Fraser
    Elisabeth Fraser
    • June Stanleyas June Stanley
    Grant Mitchell
    Grant Mitchell
    • Mr. Ernest W. Stanleyas Mr. Ernest W. Stanley
    George Barbier
    George Barbier
    • Dr. Bradleyas Dr. Bradley
    Mary Wickes
    Mary Wickes
    • Miss Preenas Miss Preen
    Russell Arms
    Russell Arms
    • Richard Stanleyas Richard Stanley
    Ruth Vivian
    • Harriet Stanleyas Harriet Stanley
    Edwin Stanley
    Edwin Stanley
    • Johnas John
    Betty Roadman
    Betty Roadman
    • Sarahas Sarah
    Charles Drake
    Charles Drake
    • Sandyas Sandy
    Nanette Vallon
    • Cosetteas Cosette
    John Ridgely
    John Ridgely
    • Radio Manas Radio Man
    • Director
      • William Keighley
    • Writers
      • Julius J. Epstein(screen play)
      • Philip G. Epstein(screen play)
      • George S. Kaufman(from the stage play by)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Lecturer Sheridan Whiteside slips on the ice on his way into the home of a prominent Ohio family. The local doctor says Whiteside must remain confined having broken his leg. He begins to meddle with the lives of everyone in the household and, once his plots are underway, learns there is nothing wrong with his leg. He bribes the doctor and resumes control of the household. —Ed Stephan <stephan@cc.wwu.edu>
    • screwball comedy
    • nurse
    • houseguest
    • critic
    • doctor
    • 152 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Nothing could be funnier! (Posters).
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Romance
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman, authors of the play from which this film was adapted, were good friends with Alexander Woollcott, a famous critic, radio personality, and lecturer at the time. Woollcott requested that they write a play FOR him, but they never came up with a plot. One day Woollcott came to visit Hart unexpectedly and turned his house upside down, taking over the master bedroom, ordering Hart's staff around and making a general nuisance of himself. When Hart told Kaufman of the visit, he asked, "Imagine what would have happened if he broke his leg and had to stay?" They looked at each other and knew they had a play.
    • Goofs
      A white pillow alternately appears behind Whiteside's back as he sits in the wheelchair. It is most noticeable when Harriet Stanley, the odd lady, gives Whiteside a present, which he does not open right away. It is there, and it is not there pretty quickly. Once Banjo visits him, the pillow never returns.
    • Quotes

      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!*

    • Connections
      Featured in My Stepmother Is an Alien (1988)
    • Soundtracks
      Silent Night, Holy Night
      (1818) (uncredited)

      Music by Franz Xaver Gruber

      Lyrics by Joseph Mohr

      Sung by a boys' choir

    User reviews96

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    An evergreen classic of comedic brilliance...
    This movie is still as funny every time I see it as it was the very first time. The characters are all very solidly defined and the storyline even today has a spark of brilliance to it. The viewer is swept along throughout the entire length of the film, the dialogue mostly sharp, witty and fast paced. The dizzying speed of the succession of events in no way detracts from the film, rather adding to a sense of panic in empathy for the poor family hosting the eponymous gentleman, whilst at the same time inspiring an almost malicious anticipation to see what he will inflict upon them next. A true classic with wonderful energy and more than a few surprises, this is one to buy on DVD (if available) so you can watch and enjoy it again and again.
    helpful•22
    5
    • jackdaw88
    • Dec 8, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 24, 1942 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • HBOMAX
      • Official site
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Covek koji je dosao na veceru
    • Filming locations
      • Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,050,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 52 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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