The Meanest Man in the World
“Wham! It's a Laugh Hit!”
Synopsis
Compassionate small-town lawyer Richard Clarke moves to New York City to seek his fortune, but is unsuccessful until he takes a friend's advice and tries to convince the world he's a ruthless heel. Suddenly he's the most popular lawyer in town -- but he could lose his fiancée.
Top Cast
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Jack Benny
Richard Clarke
Priscilla Lane
Janie Brown
Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson
Shufro
Edmund Gwenn
Frederick P. Leggitt
Matt Briggs
Arthur Brown
Anne Revere
Kitty Crockett
Margaret Seddon
Frances H. Leggitt
Helene Reynolds
Wife
Tom Dugan
Cop in Park (uncredited)
Tor Johnson
Vladimir Pulasky (uncredited)
Mae Marsh
Old Lady (uncredited)
Lyle Talbot
Bill Potts (uncredited)
Will Wright
Pawn Shop Owner (uncredited)
Chester Clute
Lawyer (uncredited)
Harry Hayden
Realtor (uncredited)
Frank Orth
Bartender (uncredited)
Nick Stewart
Elevator Operator (uncredited)
Paul E. Burns
Farmer in Traffic Accident (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
February 12, 1943
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Sidney Lanfield
- Screenplay & Story
- George Seaton, Allan House
- Original Score
- Cyril J. Mockridge
- Original Title
- The Meanest Man in the World
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 57m
- Production Studios
- 20th Century Fox
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Sidney Lanfield
George Seaton, Allan House, George M. Cohan
Cyril J. Mockridge
J. Peverell Marley
Robert Bischoff
William Perlberg
Department Leadership Roster
Sidney Lanfield
Director
George Seaton
Screenplay
Allan House
Screenplay
William Perlberg
Producer
Robert Bischoff
Editor
J. Peverell Marley
Director of Photography
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Meanest Man in the World.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Meanest Man in the World
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Meanest Man in the World about?
Compassionate small-town lawyer Richard Clarke moves to New York City to seek his fortune, but is unsuccessful until he takes a friend's advice and tries to convince the world he's a ruthless heel. Suddenly he's the most popular lawyer in town -- but he could lose his fiancée.
Who directed The Meanest Man in the World?
The Meanest Man in the World was directed by Sidney Lanfield.
Who stars in The Meanest Man in the World?
The principal cast of The Meanest Man in the World includes Jack Benny, Priscilla Lane, Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson, Edmund Gwenn, Matt Briggs.
When was The Meanest Man in the World released and how long is it?
The Meanest Man in the World was released in 1943 with a total runtime of 57m.
Who composed the musical score for The Meanest Man in the World?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Meanest Man in the World was composed by Cyril J. Mockridge.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Meanest Man in the World?
The Meanest Man in the World holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).