History Theatre / TheManWhoCameToDinner

TheMovie was released in 1942, starring Monty Woolley as Whiteside, Creator/BetteDavis as Maggie, and Creator/AnnSheridan as Lorraine. Woolley had originated the role on Broadway but was not the studio's first choice, being relatively unknown to film audiences at the time. Creator/JohnBarrymore read for the part, but his severe alcoholism kept him from getting the role (he died not long after). Creator/OrsonWelles and Creator/CharlesLaughton were also interested, but Woolley wound up reprising his role after all.

Sheridan Whiteside, a cranky, irascible New York author and critic, is conducting a nationwide lecture tour. As a publicity stunt two weeks before Christmas, he is the reluctant dinner guest of prominent Mesalia, Ohio businessman Ernest Stanley and his family. Just as Whiteside is leaving their house, he slips and breaks his hip, forcing him to spend the holidays with the Stanleys while he heals.

Sheridan Whiteside, a cranky, irascible New York author and critic, is conducting a nationwide lecture tour. As a publicity stunt two weeks before Christmas, he is the reluctant dinner guest of prominent Mesalia, Ohio businessman Ernest Stanley and his family. As Whiteside is leaving the house, he slips and breaks his hip, forcing him to spend the holidays with the Stanleys while he heals.

Sheridan Whiteside, a cranky, irascible New York author, critic and radio personality, is making a nationwide lecture tour. As a publicity stunt two weeks before Christmas, he is the reluctant dinner guest of prominent Mesalia, Ohio businessman Ernest Stanley and his family. As Whiteside is leaving the house, he slips and breaks his hip, forcing him to spend the holidays with the Stanleys while he heals.

[[quoteright:285:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/img_0859.JPG]]
[[caption-width-right:285:Monty Woolley as Sheridan Whiteside.]]

Sheridan Whiteside, a cranky, irascible New York author and critic, is making a nationwide tour. As a publicity stunt two weeks before Christmas, he is the reluctant dinner guest of prominent Mesalia, Ohio businessman Ernest Stanley and his family. As Whiteside is leaving the house, he slips and breaks his hip, forcing him to spend the holidays with the Stanleys while he heals.

Sheridan Whiteside, a cranky, irascible New York author and critic, is making a nationwide tour. Two weeks before Christmas, he has a publicity stunt dinner at the Stanley household in Mesalia, Ohio. As he's leaving the house, he slips and breaks his hip, forcing him to spend the holidays with the Stanleys while he heals.

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/img_0859.JPG]]
[[caption-width-right:300:Monty Woolley as Sheridan Whiteside.]]

TheMovie was released in 1942, starring Monty Woolley as Whiteside, Creator/BetteDavis as Maggie, and Creator/AnnSheridan as Lorraine. Woolley had originated the role on Broadway but was not the studio's first choice, being relatively unknown to film audiences at the time. Creator/JohnBarrymore read for the part, but his severe alcoholism kept him from getting the role (he died not long after). Creator/OrsonWelles wanted the part, and Creator/CharlesLaughton was suggested, but Woolley wound up reprising his role after all.

Future ''Series/InsideTheActorsStudio'' host James Lipton cowrote a {{musical}} adaptation called ''Sherry!'' in 1967. ''Series/HallmarkHallOfFame'' aired a remake in 1972, starring Welles and updating the story for the television age. Meanwhile, the original play has been revived several times, including a 2000 production starring Nathan Lane.

* ButtMonkey: Mr. Stanley is a combination of this and TheChewToy.

* JerkAss: Whiteside, persecuting Mr. and Mrs. Stanley, insulting most everyone else in Mesalia.
** JerkWithAHeartOfGold: He really does care about Maggie, though, and is generally kind to people of lower social standing such as the Stanleys' children and servants.

** Beverly Carlton is NoelCoward.

TheMovie was released in 1942, starring Monty Woolley as Whiteside, Creator/BetteDavis as Maggie, and Ann Sheridan as Lorraine. Woolley had originated the role on Broadway but was not the studio's first choice, being relatively unknown to film audiences at the time. Creator/JohnBarrymore read for the part, but his severe alcoholism kept him from getting the role (he died not long after). Creator/OrsonWelles wanted the part, and Creator/CharlesLaughton was suggested, but Woolley wound up reprising his role after all.

TheMovie was released in 1942, starring Monty Woolley as Whiteside, Creator/BetteDavis as Maggie, and Ann Sheridan as Lorraine. Woolley had originated the role on Broadway but was not the studio's first choice, being relatively unknown to film audiences at the time. John Barrymore read for the part, but his severe alcoholism kept him from getting the role (he died not long after). Creator/OrsonWelles wanted the part, and Creator/CharlesLaughton was suggested, but Woolley wound up reprising his role after all.

** JerkWithAHeartOfGold: He really does care about Maggie though, and is generally kind to people of lower social standing, like the Stanley's children.

* RunningGag: "______ minutes, Mr. Whiteside!"

*** Harpo himself also played Banjo (yes, a speaking part) in one 1941 summer theater production.

-->''"I am not only walking out on this case, Mr. Whiteside, I am leaving the nursing profession. I became a nurse because all my life, ever since I was a little girl, I was filled with the idea of serving a suffering humanity. After one month with you, Mr. Whiteside, I am going to work in a munitions factory. From now on, anything I can do to help exterminate the human race will fill me with the greatest of pleasure."''

Whiteside quickly takes over the entire household, to the extreme annoyance of Mr. Stanley. His Hollywood friends send their most "heartfelt condolences", and arrangements are made for him to conduct his scheduled Christmas Eve broadcast direct from the Stanley living room. Meanwhile, his assistant, the eternally patient Maggie Cutler, falls in love with Bert Jefferson, the editor of the local Mesalia newspaper. Whiteside, horrified at the prospect of losing his assistant, decides he must put a stop to the romance. Bert has written a play, so Whiteside hits on the idea of bringing theater actress Lorraine Sheldon to town, ostensibly to talk about the play, but really to seduce Bert away from Maggie.

Sheridan Whiteside, a cranky, irascible New York author and critic, is making a nationwide tour. Two weeks before Christmas, he has a publicity stunt dinner at the Stanley household in Mesalia, Ohio. As he's leaving the house, he slips and breaks his hip. Now he must stay in the house while he heals, taking it over in the process, to the extreme annoyance of Mr. Stanley. His Hollywood friends send their most "heartfelt condolences." Meanwhile, his assistant, the eternally patient Maggie Cutler, falls in love with Bert Jefferson, the editor of the local Mesalia newspaper. Whiteside, horrified at the prospect of losing his assistant, decides he must put a stop to the romance. Bert has written a play, so Whiteside hits on the idea of bringing theater actress Lorraine Sheldon to town, ostensibly to talk about the play, but really to seduce Bert away from Maggie.

[[quoteright:236:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/508c309b76609001a678bc43aed7dc39.jpg]]

** Banjo is a cross between [[MarxBrothers Harpo Marx]] (reference is made to "Wackko and Sloppo") and Jimmy Durante. When Durante himself played the role in the movie, the role obviously became a bit more based on his characteristics.

* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: Miss Preen, Whiteside's nurse, finally snaps at the end of the film and not only walks out on him but gives up on nursing in favor of going to work in a munitions factor.

** JerkWithAHeartOfGold: He really does care about Maggie though.

* PetTheDog: Whiteside is generally very kind and supportive to the children and staff of the house, so much so that the servants quit to work for him at the end.