Written by Jason LockardThere is something about the holiday season that I love to watch good holiday films and if they are classic even better and they don’t come much more classic than The Man who came to dinner with our star of the Month Monty Woolley!
Monty Woolley was born Edgar Montillion Woolley August 17, 1888 in New York City to a wealthy family. Wooley received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Yale and eventually became assistant professor of English and dramatic Coach at the university. He served in World War I in the US Army as a first lieutenant in Paris.
Monty Wooley who affectionately became known as "The Beard" for his long white beard; first appeared on stage than went on to film and cameos on TV and even had his own dramatic TV play series, but in 1942 would be his greatest role in the holiday classic "The Man who came to dinner."
The Man who came to dinner is a holiday comedy that was directed by William Keighley and follows Sheriden Whiteside a snooty aristocrat who is on a cross-country lecture tour. Mrs. Stanley wife and mother of the prominent Ohio Family insists on Sheriden visiting their home he agrees. When he arrives the holier than thou man slips on the icy steps of the house and is injured and is forced to spend Christmas with The Stanley’s, something he loathes, the Holidays will never be the same again!
The Self-centered celebrity dominates the lives of all who enter the house. Sheriden encourages the Stanley children Richard and June to pursue their dream, against their father Ernest’s wishes. While their Whiteside’s assistant Maggie Cuter falls for a local newspaperman and playwright Bert Jefferson. She tells Sheriden that she is going to quit and marry Bert and asks Sheriden to show Bert’s script to his contacts. Sheriden not wanting to loose such an effective assistant does everything in his power to sabotage the romance. Sheriden ends up turning the household upside down and needs the help of his friend Bango played by Jimmy Durante.
Will the family ever rid themselves of the squatter Whiteside?! Will Maggie and Bert find happiness? Do the Stanley Children follow their dreams? All the questions are answered in the Holiday Classic The Man who came to dinner!
The script is masterfully written and flawlessly performed by an all star cast that includes, Betty Davis, Ann Sheridan, Monty Wolley and more. The cinematography of this film
was
perfectly crafted. I don't know if there is such a thing as a perfect
film and I'm not saying this one is, but it is pretty close in my
opinion. Monty Whooley in 1955 after completing the film, Kismet, returned to radio for about a year, after which he was forced to retire due to health issues. Woolley was nominated twice for an Academy Award, as Best Actor in 1943 for The Pied Piper and as Best Supporting Actor in 1945 for Since You Went Away. His handprints and beard were impressed in the pavement of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in 1943. Woolley also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, officially listed in the "Motion Picture" category, though his star bears the television emblem. Monty Woolley, died due to complications with kidney and heart ailments on May 6, 1963, in Albany, New York, aged 74.
If you have never seen the Christmas classic, The man who came to dinner. I highly recommend it on DVD! On DVD the film is presented in full screen format and in Dolby Digital 1.0. The film looks and sounds stunning. Also included on this DVD is subtitles include English, Spanish, French. There is also a bonus trailer, A Featurette The Man who came to dinner Inside a comedy classic, and two short films, So you think you need glasses and six hits and a miss. Head over to Amazon.com and pick up a copy today.
Until next month when we honor another classic actor! This is Jason Lockard reminding you if you want to see a great film check out a classic!
Moral Rating: Nothing Offensive
Audience: All Ages
Genre: Comedy
Length: 112 Minutes
Released: 1942
Our Rating: A+
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