The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942): Dir: William Keighley / Cast: Bette Davis, Monty Woolley, Richard Travis, Ann Sheridan, Jimmy Durante: It is not about who came to dinner, but the attitude he possessed. When crass Sheridan Whiteside slips on the icy steps at the residents of a businessman and breaks his hip, he is holed up there. He takes over immediately with acquaintances showing up and inconveniences following. This is often very funny but structure is staged with corny humour. Director William Keighley brings a humorous conclusion. Bette Davis plays the loyal secretary experiencing love. When this becomes complicated due to her clingy boss, she decides to quit. She is loyal but does not desire being tied down to demands. Monty Woolley is quite funny as the cranky boss taking advantage of a housing situation and totally annoying everyone there even when it becomes clear that his injury has healed. He plays the sarcastic Whiteside and his lesson is one of the film's best jokes. Richard Travis plays a newspaper journalist whose play impresses Davis who addresses it to her refusing boss. Ann Sheridan plays an actress whom Whiteside uses in an attempt to break up his secretary and her new beau. Jimmy Durante becomes part of the plan in order to get Sheridan out of the picture. It echoes what goes around, comes around, even before dinner. Score: 7 / 10
Review of The Man Who Came to Dinner
