By Ranjan Bhaduri
Dec.20, (THAINDIAN NEWS) Last night TCM channel showed a wonderful comedy named “The Man Who Came to Dinner”. It is in fact a comedy with urbane overtones. This comedy is adapted from a popular and successful Broadway play which was in demand in the 1940s. However, this does not make the movie look dated and people from all generations can relate to it. The storyline is humorous, with a few thoughtful insights.

The comedy was made by Moss Hart and George S. Kauffman and deals with a much awaited dinner guest turning out to be a troublesome nuisance. Daisy and Ernest Stanley play the two generous hosts while the guest is played by Sheridan Whiteside, a radio personality. The latter ends up breaking his hip and remains attached to a wheelchair for a few weeks. The short tempered man drives everyone to their wits end with his cheesy one liners. Even Maggie Cutler, his secretary does not get spared from his verbal onslaughts.

The characters in the movie put in convincing performances and this adds value to the movie. The role of Whiteside’s doctor is played by Taneene Jahanbani. Doctor Bradley, with a panache for untimely entrance helps in easing the tension in the plot. Lee Sisson, who plays the role of Harriet Stanley adds some amount of eccentricity to the comedy as well. Even the sound cues have been used intelligently like the doorbells and telephone rings. The comedy has been shown numerous times on TV but its replay value has not diminished. It is worth a watch during Christmas for certain.