1935, USA, Language: English (98’); Screening: 09.06, 13.30, Toldi Cinema, Nagyterem

The literary historian Aladár Schöpflin’s insights about Ferenc Molnár’s The Good Fairy, from which William Wyler shot his classic film, hit the nail on head when he wrote: “Ferenc Molnár, in his light-hearted comedy The Play is the Thing, and even more so in his new work from this year, reached the point where he is making total theatre. Everything that is on the stage works together with the actors, the magnificently laid table, the champagne in glasses, the beard of one of the players, the money of another character, the furniture of the attorney’s office, the pencil sharpener, in fact all the props are considered with an eye to some sort of theatrical effect. The tale belongs to these props. Reality is of no importance whatsoever. Molnár knows that on the stage it is not reality that is needed, but its illusory image. Acting coordinated with absolute precision, every word, every movement reckoned out, and everything is done as though it was going by itself.” With these words, Schöpflin accurately describes not only the play but the film by the three times Oscar winner creator of Ben-Hur.

Directed by: William Wyler
Written by: Ferenc Molnár (play)
Screenplay by: Preston Sturges
Director of photography: Norbert Brodine
Music by: Heinz Roemheld
Cast: Margaret Sullavan, Herbert Marshall, Frank Morgan, Reginald Owen, Eric Blore, Beulah Bondi
Genre: comedy
Production: Universal Pictures
Format: black and white, 1.37:1

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