The Man who Came to Dinner?

[tonyw]

I hope they release "The Man Who Came to Dinner" in a remastered form. Orson in his obnoxious personal would be definitely great in the title role!

[Le Chiffre]

Tony, Hallmark owns the rights, and Ray has contacted them, but they don't seem interested in releasing it for some reason. I'd settle for having them broadcast it on their Cable channel.

[Wellesnet]

From Wellesnet Facebook:

John F. Colerisi: "My recollection of seeing it when aired was that I found the production mostly unfunny/dull and although Welles was seated most of the time), he seemed to walk through his role. I might not be alone thinking this way because according to Wiki: "The New York Times criticized Sam Denoff's updating of the original play (Welles's Whiteside was a television personality competing with Johnny Carson) and listed the production in its 1972 'Worst of Television' list." This may be one reason according to the article why Hallmark has "no immediate plans to release it on home video as they have some of their other shows." I wonder if I will have the same opinion watching it again after all these years."

[Roger Ryan]

I played the role of Sheridan Whiteside in our 1981 high school production of the play and strongly argued that we retain the original 1938 time frame. Alas, the play was performed with bizarre references to Brooke Shields and Farrah Fawcett! With its thinly-disguised send-ups of personages such as Noel Coward, Harpo Marx and Alexander Woollcott, the play only really works by remaining in its late-30s period when radio was the dominant media. Not having seen the 1972 Hallmark version, I didn't realize it was updated - that's a bad sign and I don't doubt the results are disappointing.

[RayKelly]

In the 1972 Hallmark version, Sheridan promises he will send a script to Liz Taylor. There is a reference to Jackie and Ari. Sheridan is the host of a late night TV talk show and Carson is his rival. I *may* have misheard during my viewing at the Paley Center two weeks ago, but I think there was also a reference to the Shah of Iran. Watching on a computer screen with headphones in a library is not ideal, but the direction seemed flat at the start and improved as the show went on.
As for why it has not been released, the digital copy at the Paley Center looked like a very good 2nd generation VHS dub. And I wonder if back in 1972 Hallmark secured the rights for repeated airings.