The Lady or the Tiger? (1942)
Fred Zinnemann's clever MGM short finally answers literature's most debated question: what really lies behind that second door?
The Lady or the Tiger? - Movie Information
- Original Title: The Lady or the Tiger?
- Release Year: 1942
- Directed by: Fred Zinnemann
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama
- Runtime: 10m
- Original Language: English
- Release Date (Theatrical): March 28, 1942 (United States)
- Alternative Titles: M-G-M Miniatures No. M-333: The Lady or the Tiger (US)
- Production Companies: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- Production Countries: United States of America
The Lady or the Tiger? - Plot
Author Frank R. Stockton, often asked the question, finally decides to divulge the untold ending of his story, The Lady or the Tiger?
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The Lady or the Tiger? - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Fred Zinnemann
Main Cast
- Carey Wilson
- John Baragrey
- Vince Barnett
- Marie Windsor
- Barbara Bedford
- William Bailey
- Bess Flowers
- Mitchell Lewis
- William Tannen
Writers
- Herman Boxer
- Frank R. Stockton
Producers
- Jack Chertok
The Lady or the Tiger? - FAQs
What is The Lady or the Tiger? about?
This 1942 MGM short film brings Frank R. Stockton's famous 19th-century story to life. The author himself — long pestered by readers demanding an answer — finally steps in to reveal the ending of his tale about a princess forced to choose between a lady and a tiger behind two doors.
Does the film finally reveal the story's ending?
Yes — and that's the whole point! Stockton's original 1882 short story famously left readers hanging with no resolution. This MGM short takes a clever meta approach, presenting the author himself as a character who at last divulges the answer that generations of readers had been demanding.
Who directed The Lady or the Tiger? short film?
Fred Zinnemann directed this short, early in his career at MGM. He would go on to become one of Hollywood's most celebrated filmmakers, winning Academy Awards for From Here to Eternity (1953) and A Man for All Seasons (1966).
Who stars in The Lady or the Tiger? (1942)?
The cast includes Carey Wilson as the Narrator, John Baragrey as the Princess's Sweetheart, Vince Barnett as the King, and Marie Windsor as the Princess. William Tannen plays Frank R. Stockton himself, the author at the center of the film's clever framing device.
Is The Lady or the Tiger? based on a real story?
It's based on a real short story — not a true event. Frank R. Stockton published "The Lady, or the Tiger?" in 1882 in The Century Magazine. It became one of the most debated stories in American literature, celebrated for its deliberately unresolved, open ending.
How long is The Lady or the Tiger? (1942)?
It runs just 10 minutes — a genuine short film, part of MGM's "Miniatures" series of compact, self-contained dramatic pieces. Despite its brief runtime, it tackles one of literature's most enduring mysteries with wit and a satisfying narrative twist.
What are some films similar to The Lady or the Tiger??
If you enjoy literary adaptations and character-driven drama, you might also like The History of Love (2016), Bastard Out of Carolina (1996), That Evening Sun (2009), and Come Sunday (2018) — all thoughtful, story-focused films with strong dramatic foundations.
Who wrote the screenplay for The Lady or the Tiger??
The screenplay was written by Herman Boxer, adapting the original story by Frank R. Stockton. The production was overseen by producer Jack Chertok, with Sol Kaplan composing the score and Adrienne Fazan handling the editing.
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