The Man Who Came to Dinner (1941) - Classic Christmas Archive
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Christmas holidays hoot based on classic play (a monster hit of the time) has Monty Woolly as blustery, opinionated radio personality, quite popular and in demand, who feigns a leg injury so he can stay put in the well-to-do digs of an Ohio businessman, becoming the overwhelming presence that dominates the household, even ordering around the servants to do his bidding! Bette Davis loved the play so much that she took a less glam role as the busy secretary who makes sure Woolly meets his obligations and eventually falls in love with the town newspaper man wanting a major story from her larger-than-life employer. That Woolly inspires the businessman's kids to follow their hearts--one to marry a union organizer making his life difficult and another to pursue life as a photographer--reinforces the misery the house patriarch endures.
This good-natured romp has plenty of characters and a cast that is a knockout. Ann Sheridan as an elegant diva infatuated with a stuttering millionaire often poked fun of by Monty, Richard Travis as the hunky newspaper man Davis eyes, Jimmy Durante exploding on screen as a skirt-chaser Hollywood comedian with a penchant for popping the bottoms of the ladies when he isn't whisking them off their feet (a feminist's worst nightmare), Billie Burke as the lady of the house totally a fangirl of Woolly as he causes her family and life to turn upside down and inside out, Reginald Gardiner as thespian and playwright who stops by to greet old friend Woolly and do Davis a favor by imitating Sheridan's desired catch in a hilarious phone conversation, Mary Wickes as put-upon nurse Woolly bosses around something fierce, and beleaguered Grant Mitchell as the man of the house at his wit's end with the overpowering Woolly.
Included are such highlights as Sheridan fooled by Gardiner with the aforementioned conversation, Sheridan and the mummy sarcophagus, Durante attacking a piano without even looking at the keys while singing about whether or not he should stay or go, Durante lifting Wickes off her feet and promising to make her holiday all the better (!), Davis and Gardiner plotting against Woolly after Woolly initiated the whole Sheridan situation to free his secretary from Travis, the constant arrival of items including animals like penguins and octopus from fans of Woolly to him at Mitchell's doorstep, the creepy sister of Mitchell whose secret (has to do with giving mother "40 whacks") is soon realized by Woolly after talks between the two and a picture of herself younger, and Woolly's first day in the home where he basically commandeers the place as if all his own with Mitchell nearly blowing his top. It might be nearly two hours, but the plot is so active and cast so good (and the script is just rich with barbs, sharp wit, and dialogue that gives the cast characters with plenty of the bones to leave lasting impressions) it goes by surprisingly fast. A great treat to kick off the Christmas season. Woolly kills it in the title role, while Davis plays off him well even if he wasn't her choice for the film. The calls from famous folks like Eleanor Roosevelt and the idea that Winston Churchill is sending Woolly presents absurdly builds his reputation amusingly throughout.
This good-natured romp has plenty of characters and a cast that is a knockout. Ann Sheridan as an elegant diva infatuated with a stuttering millionaire often poked fun of by Monty, Richard Travis as the hunky newspaper man Davis eyes, Jimmy Durante exploding on screen as a skirt-chaser Hollywood comedian with a penchant for popping the bottoms of the ladies when he isn't whisking them off their feet (a feminist's worst nightmare), Billie Burke as the lady of the house totally a fangirl of Woolly as he causes her family and life to turn upside down and inside out, Reginald Gardiner as thespian and playwright who stops by to greet old friend Woolly and do Davis a favor by imitating Sheridan's desired catch in a hilarious phone conversation, Mary Wickes as put-upon nurse Woolly bosses around something fierce, and beleaguered Grant Mitchell as the man of the house at his wit's end with the overpowering Woolly.
Included are such highlights as Sheridan fooled by Gardiner with the aforementioned conversation, Sheridan and the mummy sarcophagus, Durante attacking a piano without even looking at the keys while singing about whether or not he should stay or go, Durante lifting Wickes off her feet and promising to make her holiday all the better (!), Davis and Gardiner plotting against Woolly after Woolly initiated the whole Sheridan situation to free his secretary from Travis, the constant arrival of items including animals like penguins and octopus from fans of Woolly to him at Mitchell's doorstep, the creepy sister of Mitchell whose secret (has to do with giving mother "40 whacks") is soon realized by Woolly after talks between the two and a picture of herself younger, and Woolly's first day in the home where he basically commandeers the place as if all his own with Mitchell nearly blowing his top. It might be nearly two hours, but the plot is so active and cast so good (and the script is just rich with barbs, sharp wit, and dialogue that gives the cast characters with plenty of the bones to leave lasting impressions) it goes by surprisingly fast. A great treat to kick off the Christmas season. Woolly kills it in the title role, while Davis plays off him well even if he wasn't her choice for the film. The calls from famous folks like Eleanor Roosevelt and the idea that Winston Churchill is sending Woolly presents absurdly builds his reputation amusingly throughout.
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--December 1, 2016--
--December 1, 2016--
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