The Man Who Came to Dinner Remake?

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 7/18/06 at 12:28pm

Would it work? I don't know if it would. Because we'er getting crap like Little Man, Scary Movie, Date Movie, Larry The Cable Guy Health Inspector, and many others! But my main question is would a classic movie remake with no stupid comedy and no dirty sexual references be a hit?

[Smaxie]

Posted: 7/18/06 at 12:32pm

Can't think of a reason why it would need to be remade. The original film is sublime. And the thing moves like a bolt of lightning. Hollywood would just **** it up these days.

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 7/18/06 at 12:34pm

Well, I'm not saying the original was bad. I'm just saying if it had a remake would it be a hit?

[Smaxie]

Posted: 7/18/06 at 12:34pm

No. It's too smart.

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 7/18/06 at 12:36pm

Yeah that's what I was thinking!

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 7/18/06 at 12:39pm

What?

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 7/18/06 at 12:44pm

Oh. That's ok!

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 7/18/06 at 1:35pm

PERFECT REMAKE CAST (or revival.....though there was one about 6 years ago...o well! Just...here's a great cast)

Sheridan Whiteside: Nathan Lane (of course)

Maggie Cutler: Harriet Sansom Harris

Beverley Carlton: Tommy Tune or Johnny Depp (think about it!)

Lorraine Sheldon: Carol Burnett

Dr. Bradley: William Duell

Banjo: Mike Myers or Lewis J. Stadlen

Harriet Stanley: Rue McClanahan

Bert Jefferson: Hank Stratton

Mr. Stanley: Dick Van Dyke

Mrs Stanley: Betty White

June Stanley: Mary Catherine Garrison

Richard Stanley: Zach Shaffer

Miss Preen: Kathy Griffen?

[CapnHook]

Posted: 7/18/06 at 1:38pm

This is my favorite play of all time.

I wouldn't trust it in Hollywood's hands. It's too easy to turn it into a "stupid" comedy. They'd cast Steve Martin as Whiteside and all would be lost.

No. No no no. It'd have to be in the right hands of a director, producer, and studio. Not likely. Too easy to turn it into a Lindsey Lohan teen comedy. They'd keep the concept and cut the wit.

[MCfan2]

Posted: 7/18/06 at 1:40pm

I've always wished Jimmy Stewart could have played Bert in the original. He could have brought some depth and color to a part that was rather flat and dull as written. The actor who did play it (I forget his name) didn't manage to do anything with it. But Jimmy may have been too big a star then to be considered for such a small role (and I think he may also have gone overseas for WWII by that time).

[EdmundOG]

Posted: 7/18/06 at 2:47pm

The original movie is a hot chunk of poo. They got Bette Davis, and suddenly the movie became "The Assistant of the Man Who Came to Dinner".

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/18/06 at 2:52pm

My school did this play my sophmore year, I played the Expressman, which is a small but kind of fun part. It didnt play well with our audience which was small to begin with. If they update some of the references, it might work, but when we did the show (as written) we got very few laughs. The biggest laughs came from Banjo whirling Sarah around.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/18/06 at 3:03pm

OK here's my million dollar idea:

"The Woman who Came to Dinner" Starring Martha Stewart as herself.

"Domestic Diva Martha Stewart is invited to dinner by a family in small-town Ohio. As she is leaving, she slips and falls on their front steps and is confined to bed for a week. During that time, she demands the entire house be redecorated, puts the entire family on a macrobiotic diet and grooms the family pet until it is unrecognizable. She also encourges the family's son to come out and urges the daughter to join the military. No dinner is acceptable, no pillow fluffy enough. Long time Martha pals Oprah and Bill Clinton are the first two to turn up to wish her well, but before long the house is in an uproar after visits by Al Franken, Donald Trump and prison roomate "Marge."

[CapnHook]

Posted: 7/18/06 at 3:11pm

JoeK - YOU ARE MY FAVORITE!!!!

I *LOVE* that idea! In all seriousness, that would make a GREAT fringe show! I think I'll write it! How should I credit you in our program?

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 7/18/06 at 4:29pm

I love the original. This is by far one of my favorite plays. I dont htink hollywood should go near it. If you wish to see Lane and Harris you can get the revival DVD but otherwise its fine as is.

[Flahooley]

Posted: 7/18/06 at 4:39pm

Could it be done again? Sure.
Would it make money? Possibly.
Does it need to be done again? No.

The original film is readily availabe. The recent broadway revival is readily available. There are countless productions of the play every year. The play is still in print.

There is no shortage of THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER in our culture.

[MadelineKahnFan]

Posted: 7/18/06 at 6:38pm

The Man Who Came To Dinner is an classic comedy film. Bette Davis played the non de script role while the beautiful and talented Ann Sheridan played the flash bitchy hysterical role. One of the most sexiest woman of the 40's along side Veronica Lake. I used to wish Madeline Kahn would star in a remake of this movie. Cyndi Lauper is availbale give her a juicy comedic role, she will steal every scene she's in.

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 7/18/06 at 6:38pm

I have the script,both versions on DVD, and I've been in it 3 times as Banjo! But I think more people besides theatre lovers, people who were in it, and people who don't have anything better to watch on TV and switch over to TCM should know about it! It's a great movie and show and more people should know about it!