"...You've never had to meet Sheridan Whiteside."-Maggie Cutler, The Man Who Came to Dinner
Happy December 3rd!
It's officially 22 days til Christmas, in case you're interested.
And so, we've reached the second post of A Very Vintage Christmas.
Today is Saturday, so this is the first classic Christmas movie pick of the season.
I hope you like it!
The Man Who Came to Dinner
1942
Starring Monty Woolley, Bette Davis, Ann Sheridan, Richard Travis, and Jimmy Durante
Sheridan Whiteside, aka "Sherry" (Woolley), a famous critic, radio broadcaster, and entrepreneur, is traveling through the town of Mesalia, Ohio. Having to stop anyways, he recieves an invitation to dine at the home of Ernest and Daisy Stanley, a prominent family in the town. It would be rude to not accept, so Sherry must attend, though it is against the vicious old man's will. While climbing the icy steps outside of the Stanley home, Sherry slips and hurts his hip. He is carried into the house and a doctor is called for,who says that Mr. Whiteside must stay indoors and chair-bound until he heals. Mrs. Stanley, a social climber in Mesalia, is overjoyed that THE Mr. Sheridan Whiteside will be staying in their home with some degree of permanance....at first.
The family is thrown for a loop when Mr. Whiteside takes over their home, confining them to the upstairs rooms, making long-distance calls on their phone, having constant deliveries made, inviting a number of guests over, and snapping at everyone who comes into his presence. The only person who seems to be able to handle the old gentleman is his secretary, Maggie Cutler (Davis), who was traveling with him and is also staying in the Stanley home. Unfortunately, she seems to be forever absent, being caught up in a whirlwind romance with Burt Jefferson (Travis), the owner of the local paper.
Though he would have a good deal of trouble ever admitting it, Sherry has quite a soft spot in his heart for his secretary.So, when Maggie comes home one evening telling Sherry that she's going to marry this Burt Jefferson, Sherry gets very upset.He doesn't want to lose his one good friend, so begins to cook up a plot to keep Burt Jefferson away from her.He calls up a protegee of his, supposedly up-and-coming actress, Lorraine Sheldon (Sheridan). When he has her come into town, he gets her to try and seduce Burt and take him out of the picture. Maggie figures out what he's up to, gets angry, and calls in a friend of her own to try and get Lorraine out of town.The plan almost works, but Lorrain figures it out, and refuses to leave. Things escalate until Maggie tells Sherry she's quitting.She'll get his affairs in order for him up to Christmas Eve, and then she's out.
Sherry soon realizes he's made a much bigger mess than he intended, and has to fix it, because he hates to see Maggie unhappy.Working under a time limit before he's thrown out of the house, because Mr. Stanley is also fed up, he calls up his old friend Banjo (Durante), to help him get rid of Lorraine. With Banjo's help, Lorraine is sent packing, and Maggie and Burt end up together. Sherry goes to make his grand and dramatic exit from the Stanley home, and slips and falls on the steps a second time, re-injuring his hip.
I love this movie!I thought it would be a perfect first pick of the season.It's all about Christmas, and it's full of humor.
If you'd like to see the trailer, go here:
To see various clips of the movie, go here:
And if you'd like to price/buy it, go here:
So, stay tuned tomorrow for another classic Christmas movie pick.
Don't forget to comment, whether good or bad.
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And have a very merry and A Very Vintage Christmas!
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