The Man Who Came to Dinner

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The Man Who Came to Dinner

1941

1h 52m

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

86%

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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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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Steve Crum

Video-Reviewmaster.com

08/14/2007

5/5

Wonderful cast, story and direction in classic comedy.

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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).

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Michael F

@Michael445 2d

"The Man Who Came to Dinner" is a very charming and funny movie. I watch it every year at holiday time. Monty Wooley is superb and the supporting cast includes such film greats as Bette Davis, Ann Sheridan, Billie Burke, Jimmy Durante and Mary Wickes. No matter how many times I've seen it, the film makes me laugh.

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Kyle M

Dec 22

Houses a nice cast outshined by Bette Davis manifesting both an actual brain and spine while the rest overstayed their welcome, conquered by Monty Woolley’s sharp but unpleasant performance in excelling shameless inhumanity in this bland, intolerable "screwball comedy" that deafly forgone potential seasonal meaningfulness on a sour note. (C+)

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Vee C

@highChroma Dec 15

Have you ever had the feeling that you wanted to stay…? This is a fun, slightly dark, ultimately satisfying film. Find it and watch it.

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aya t

@ayaueta Dec 15

Another screwball comedy w' jimmy durante cameo was great as banjo, hachatcha! Bette davis was cute as the man's masochistic secretary. Monty wooley as the irascible demanding man (male karen) who's quick to disparage the "Midwestern barbarians," averse to spending his valuable time amongst commoners but who came to dinner but never left. Ann sheridan as his nice but overworked host trying desperatly to fulfill all his unreasonable demands. Lol.

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Kalissa H

@kali_416 Nov 30

Pretty good. I enjoyed it.

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joe d

@Welshboy 12/28/2024

Funny, articulate ,witty and sniping.

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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

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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)