User:Mliu92/sandbox/The Pleasure of His Company (play)

The Pleasure of His Company is a 1958 play starring Cyril Ritchard and Cornelia Otis Skinner, written by by Samuel A. Taylor and Skinner, and directed by Ritchard. The play was first staged at the Longacre Theatre on October 22, 1958. It was later made into a 1961 film of the same name.

Plot
San Francisco debutante Jessica Poole hasn't seen her father "Pogo" Poole since the divorce between him and her mother Katharine, many years before. Pogo went off to travel the world and enjoy himself, while Katharine remarried to stodgy banker Jim Dougherty.

Now Jessica is about to marry Roger Henderson, a cattle rancher from the Valley of the Moon in Sonoma County, and Pogo has been invited to the wedding.

Pogo arrives, as charming as he ever was. He is delighted by Jessica, and captivates her in return. He makes peace with Katharine, and even wins over Toy, the Doughertys' prized cook, though not Jim and Roger.

But Pogo is still as irresponsible as before. He invites Jessica to come away with him and "see the world". He even tries to break up her engagement, to Katharine's dismay. He also seems to be coming between Jim and Katharine, who has never quite got over her love for him.

Despite Pogo's maneuvers, the wedding goes through. But Pogo has reserved two airline tickets: who's going with him? Katharine, fearing that Pogo has won over Jessica after all, rushes to the airport. Jim, seeing Katharine leave the reception, fears she is leaving him for Pogo, and goes after her. They meet at the airport, and see Pogo boarding a plane - with Toy.

Cast
(in order of appearance):
 * Jerry Fujikawa as Toy
 * Cyril Ritchard as Biddeford "Pogo" Poole
 * Dolores Hart as Jessica Anne Poole
 * Cornelia Otis Skinner as Katharine "Kate" Dougherty
 * Walter Abel as James "Jim" Dougherty
 * Charles Ruggles as Mackenzie Savage
 * George Peppard as Roger Berk Henderson
 * Elvia Allman? as Mrs. Mooney

Original Play
Film rights to the play were bought in February 1958 for $350,000 even before the play had been produced. It was bought by the production company of George Seaton and William Perlberg.

The play debuted on Broadway in October 1958. Brooks Atkinson of the New York Times called it "thoroughly delightful".

The play was produced in London where it starred and was directed by Nigel Patrick.

Development
In February 1959 Seaton reportedly wanted Fred Astaire to play the lead alongside Lili Palmer.

Awards and nominations

 * Golden Globes
 * Best Motion Picture Actor, Musical or Comedy (Astaire, winner)
 * Berlin Film Festival
 * Golden Bear (nominated)