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The Man Who Came to Dinner

Play trailer Poster for The Man Who Came to Dinner 1941 1h 52m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
86% Tomatometer 7 Reviews 81% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
While on a speaking tour in Ohio, opinionated and arrogant radio personality Sheridan Whiteside (Monty Woolley) injures himself slipping on ice and becomes an unexpected houseguest for a prominent area family, the Stanleys. Whiteside proceeds to make brash proclamations and offer his unsolicited advice to the family members. When a romance begins between Whiteside's assistant, Maggie Cutler (Bette Davis), and a local reporter, Bert Jefferson (Richard Travis), he interferes with that as well.

Critics Reviews

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Bosley Crowther New York Times 09/30/2006
4.5/5
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 portrait and a helter-skelter satire, withal. Go to Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins 08/13/2020
7/10
By the time Jimmy Durante shows up for an extended cameo, some of the sustained hysterics have already worn thin. Go to Full Review Armond White Out Magazine 04/19/2018
The originality of Woolley’s commanding, erudite, confirmed bachelor -- he’s the greatest “funny uncle” of all time -- lies in his subtle familiarity. Go to Full Review Steve Crum Video-Reviewmaster.com 08/14/2007
5/5
Wonderful cast, story and direction in classic comedy. Go to Full Review Don Willmott Filmcritic.com 09/30/2006
2.5/5
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 07/11/2006
B+
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). Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Kalissa H. @kali_416 Nov 30 Pretty good. I enjoyed it. See more joe d Dec 28 Funny, articulate ,witty and sniping. See more Charyl R 09/16/2023 Well written, superb cast and some penguins thrown in to shake things up. Bette Davis is fabulous, Ann Sheridan is gorgeous and the fact they could not stand one another is very thinly veiled. This movie has been an annual event for a reason. I highly recommend See more Steve D 06/27/2023 Nowhere near as fun as it should be given the cast. See more 12/24/2021 This is one of the worst films I've ever wasted my time watching. The storyline is an unfunny, boring bag of utter garbage loaded with unnecessary dialogue and characters. See more 03/10/2021 Excellent, clever, fun and funny! See more Read all reviews
The Man Who Came to Dinner

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Cast & Crew

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William Keighley

Director

Monty Woolley

Sheridan Whiteside

Bette Davis

Maggie Cutler

Ann Sheridan

Lorraine Sheldon

Richard Travis

Bertram H. "Bert" Jefferson

Jimmy Durante

Banjo

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The Man Who Came to Dinner

The Man Who Came to Dinner (1941) The Man Who Came to Dinner (1941) The Man Who Came to Dinner (1941) The Man Who Came to Dinner (1941) The Man Who Came to Dinner (1941) The Man Who Came to Dinner (1941) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis While on a speaking tour in Ohio, opinionated and arrogant radio personality Sheridan Whiteside (Monty Woolley) injures himself slipping on ice and becomes an unexpected houseguest for a prominent area family, the Stanleys. Whiteside proceeds to make brash proclamations and offer his unsolicited advice to the family members. When a romance begins between Whiteside's assistant, Maggie Cutler (Bette Davis), and a local reporter, Bert Jefferson (Richard Travis), he interferes with that as well.
Director
William Keighley
Producer
Jerry Wald, Jack L. Warner
Screenwriter
Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein, Moss Hart, George S. Kaufman
Distributor
Warner Bros.
Production Co
Warner Brothers, First National Pictures
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 1, 1941, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 30, 2016
Runtime
1h 52m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
35mm, Flat (1.37:1)