History Theatre / TheManWhoCameToDinner

--> '''Maggie:''' Shall I tell you something, Sherry? I think you're a selfish, petty egomaniac who would just as soon see his mother burning at a stake, if that was the only way he had of lighting a cigarette. I think you'd sacrifice your best friend without a moment's hesitation if he interrupted the sacred ritual of your self-centered, paltry little life. I think you're incapable of any emotion higher up than your stomach. And I was the fool of the world for ever trusting you.

--> '''Maggie:''' Shall I tell you something, Sherry? I think you're a selfish, petty egomaniac who would just as soon see his mother burning at a stake...if that was the only way he had to light a cigarette. I think you'd sacrifice your best friend without a moment's hesitation if he interrupted the sacred ritual of your self-centered, paltry little life. I think you're incapable of any emotion higher up than your stomach. And I was the fool of the world for trusting you.

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 family. While climbing the icy front steps at their house, Whiteside slips and breaks his hip, putting him in a wheelchair and forcing him to spend the holidays at the Stanley home 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. While climbing the icy front steps at their house, Whiteside slips and breaks his hip, forcing him to spend the holidays with the Stanleys while he heals.

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 broadcast his weekly radio program 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 is horrified at the prospect of losing his assistant, and 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.

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 broadcast his weekly radio program 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.

** Harriet Stanley is revealed to be an expy of Lizzie Borden.

TheMovie was released in 1942, directed by William Keighley and 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.

** Whiteside himself is based on Alexander Woollcott, a CausticCritic for ''Magazine/TheNewYorker'' and a friend of Kaufman and Hart. One day, Woollcott showed up at Hart's house unannounced and more or less took over, sleeping in the master bedroom, terrorizing the staff and writing in the guest book, "This is to certify that I had one of the most unpleasant times I ever spent."

** Banjo is a cross between [[Creator/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.

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: At one point Whiteside addresses Maggie as "you simpering Creator/{{Sappho}}".

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 broadcast his weekly radio show 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.

* YouCalledMeXItMustBeSerious: Maggie normally calls Whiteside "[[AffectionateNickname Sherry]]", which demonstrates the bond between them; however, when she warns him not to try anything to break up her relationship with Bert Jefferson, she calls him by his last name.

Sheridan "Sherry" 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. While climbing the icy front steps at their house, Whiteside slips and breaks his hip, forcing him to spend the holidays with the Stanleys while he heals.

* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Maggie to Sherry when her plan to keep Lorraine away from Bert backfires:

Sheridan "Sherry" 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 Mesalia, Ohio businessman Ernest Stanley and his family. While climbing the icy steps in front of their house, he slips and breaks his hip, forcing him to spend the holidays with the Stanleys while he heals.

Sheridan "Sherry" 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. While climbing the icy steps in front of their house, he slips and breaks his hip, forcing him to spend the holidays with the Stanleys while he heals.

* OutOfCharacterMoment: PlayedForLaughs - after Whiteside is able to convince Lorraine to come up to Mesalia to break up Maggie's romance, he actually greets Miss Preen pleasantly (albeit in a booming voice) after treating her like crap the rest of the time. Naturally, she's so freaked she immediately runs out of the room.

[[quoteright:305:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/img_0859.JPG]]
[[caption-width-right:305:Monty Woolley as Sheridan Whiteside.]]

* YouCalledMeXItMustBeSerious: Maggie normally calls Whiteside "Sherry", which demonstrates the bond between them; however, when she warns him not to try anything to break up her relationship with Bert Jefferson, she calls him by his last name.

[[quoteright:280:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/img_0859.JPG]]
[[caption-width-right:280:Monty Woolley as Sheridan Whiteside.]]

* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Maggie to Sherry when her plan to get keep Lorraine away from Bert backfires:

* TheThingThatWouldNotLeave: After finding out that his hip is fine, Whiteside keeps this a secret, because he needs to stay in Mesalia long enough to break up Maggie's romance.

* YouCalledMeXItMustBeSerious: Maggie normally calls Whiteside "Sherry", which demonstrates the bond between them; however, when she warns him not to try anything to break up her relationship with Bert Jefferson, she [[LastNameBasis calls him by his last name]].

Sheridan "Sherry" 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.

--> "I simply will not sit down at dinner with Midwestern barbarians."

--> '''Whiteside:''' CONFOUND IT, June, when are you going to learn that I am always kind and courteous? Bring this idiot in.

* FlyoverCountry: Whiteside, the consummate East Coast snob, expresses this opinion. His first line in the movie: