Molnár, Ferenc, << MOHL nahr, FEH rehnts >> (1878-1952), became the most widely known Hungarian dramatist of his time. He specialized in writing light romantic comedies with witty dialogue. In The Guardsman (1910), a jealous husband pretends to be his own rival. The Glass Slipper (1924) presents a comic version of the Cinderella story. Liliom (1909), a more serious play about an amusement park barker, later served as the basis for the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Carousel. Molnár’s other popular comedies include The Devil (1907), The Swan (1920), and The Play’s the Thing (1926).
Molnár was born in Budapest. He studied law and worked as a journalist before turning to drama. In addition to his plays, he wrote several novels and many humorous character sketches and essays. In 1940, Molnár moved to the United States and later became an American citizen.
