classicsoncall One has to wonder if an actress like Marie Dressler would have made it in today's Hollywood. She was great during her era, but boy, what she offers up in the acting department is totally offset by her looks. Actually, I'll correct myself for the moment by pointing to Anne Ramsey, that infamous 'Momma' that was thrown from the train in the 1987 Danny DeVito flick. But Ramsey's heyday was in the Eighties, and I can't think of anyone who might fill the current bill as a similar type actress.This film had a glittering cast, what with the likes of the Barrymores, Dressler, Beery and Harlow leading the charge. I can't necessarily say that Wallace Beery and Jean Harlow were inappropriately cast here as husband and wife because it worked for the story, but I had to suspend disbelief the whole time watching them. Knowing that they hated each other in real life was something that worked for their characters in the picture, though Harlow's Kitty Packard turned me off early on when she displayed such boorish behavior toward her maid Tina (Hilda Vaughn). I had to question why Tina would have stuck around with all the times she was called nitwit, dummy and stupid by her employer. And not just Kitty, but the lout Dan Packard (Beery) as well.Set during the Depression, the story focuses on what once wealthy, upscale glitterati find they have to deal with as their fortunes run dry. Preparing for her well heeled 'Dinner at Eight' party, Millicent Jordan (Billie Burke) is totally over the top in her remonstrations over late cancellations and assorted menu options. The story offers up classic maguffins in the characters of Lord and Lady Ferncliffe who are mentioned repeatedly but wind up as no-shows for the big party.Though nominally billed as a comedy, the humor is mostly understated and primarily dialog driven; it helps if one has a droll sense of humor. I didn't consider any of the characters to be particularly likable, I guess because each one was looking out for Number #1, which in each case was themselves. But it's not a bad little film over all, one of the better ones actually when you go all the way back to the early Thirties.

krocheav At the very opening I was a little put off by Billie Burke and her scatty society party - then enter the marvelous Lionel Barrymore as her shipping magnate husband who, unbeknown to her, is embroiled in serious financial problems, he gives her character much needed balance. Next I had to get over Wallace Beery and Jean Harlow. I actually thought I was going to have difficulty getting through the entrée let alone reaching dessert!, very pleased I persevered, for as soon as this picture finished I was planning my second sitting...Don't give up!. If you are new to looking at vintage sound films and you fail to enjoy this classic, then rest assured the fault could be all yours. Here is virtual perfection in every facet of motion picture artistry... Start with a good story, follow through with a good screenplay adaptation and you end up with excellence. Add to this a peerless cast of hand picked professionals, guided by the watchful eye of a solid director and you have an unforgettable soufflé....What an additional treat to see the two Barrymore Bros in the same film. While they never share a scene together the impact is potent. You'll get little more from me here, so treat yourself to a large helping of... Great perceptive writing by prolific novelist: Edna Ferber and acclaimed veteran Herman J.Mankiewicz (Citizen Kane '41 ~ It's A Wonderful World '39) ~ Screenplay: another respected veteran, Francis Marion ~ Director: George Cukor (too many other works to name) ~ Acting: (everyone who was anyone at the time) ~ Cinematography: William Daniels (The Naked City '48) ~ Producer: David O. Selznick ~ Music: Dr William Axt. The experienced viewer of classics will delight in it all, others may have to persevere just a 'tinsy' bit to gain a more than generous serving by the close of the evening. Should not be missed!.KenR...............

atlasmb I think it would be a mistake to reveal much about the story of this film, so I will deal only with it merits.David O. Selznick set out to create another of his quality productions with "Dinner at Eight", starring an all-star cast.Billie Burke, with her lilting voice, plays Millicent, the wife of a shipping business owner. She is self-consumed and intent on creating a perfect dinner party.Lionel Barrymore plays Oliver Jordan, her husband and a man with several problems on his hands. Madge Evans plays Paula, their daughter who is engaged to a young, attractive man who is cut from very regular cloth. She is involved with another man--one who offers a more exotic and challenging relationship.Wallace Beery plays Dan Packard, a coarse and aggressive businessman who is invited to the dinner at Oliver's request. His wife Kitty is played by Jean Harlow. She's a platinum-plated gold digger whose relationship with Dan is similar to that between Billie and Harry in "Born Yesterday".Edmund Lowe plays Dr. Talbot, a "masher" who treats several characters.Marie Dressler plays Carlotta Vance, a retired actress who flaunts a lifestyle she cannot sustain. Ms. Dressler often plays the matronly socialite for laughs; here she is a fully-developed character who is allowed to show her real acting talent.John Barrymore plays Larry Renault, an actor who is on the down-side of a career onstage and in film. His is one of the bravest portrayals I have ever seen, as his character's personality and situation are written so close to his own.The main strength of this film is the story, which allows each character to be developed, giving emotional depth to the story. It is well worth seeing.

mark.waltz How can you praise a movie so much and not find anything wrong with it? That is the situation for "Dinner at Eight", the film version of the George S. Kaufman comedy/drama that covers the lives of people involved in a high society dinner party in Manhattan in the early 1930's. Billie Burke's Millicent Jordan is so excited that she has gotten the wealthy British Ferncliffs to come to dinner. But as soon as she gets the good news, everything else seems to go wrong. The kitchen staff is fighting, her daughter has romantic problems, and the guests she wants can't come, so she has to invite the guests she doesn't really want only because they are business associates of her husband's.Burke is married to wealthy businessman Oliver Jordan (Lionel Barrymore) who is having health issues. When his old flame Carlotta Vance (Marie Dressler) shows up for a visit, she too is invited, although she's a bit insulted when Oliver's secretary (Elizabeth Patterson) recalls seeing her on stage when she was just a little girl. "We must have a talk about the civil war some time", Dressler snaps, eyeing the obviously middle aged woman up and down in aghast fury. "Just you and I". With those huge sad eyes and that imperious presence, Dressler looks as if she ended up being re-incarnated as the St. Bernard in the T.V. series version of "Topper", and here, she steals every moment she's on, whether offering advice to Burke and Barrymore's daughter (Madge Evans) or taking her own pooch to task for being naughty on a hotel carpet.Then, there's the Packards, Dan and Kitty (Wallace Beery and Jean Harlow), "new money" as Burke would refer to them as, and just as tacky as they appear to be. Kitty is obviously a philanderer, and Dan is too busy to even seem to care. He's working on a take-over of Jordan stock and when this is revealed to Oliver, his health begins to decline even more. Drunken actor Larry Renault (John Barrymore), in an ironic choice of casting, is desperate for work, but turns down a small supporting part in a play presented to him by his frustrated agent (Lee Tracy). In love with Evans but not wanting to saddle her with being down on his luck, Barrymore makes a drastic decision that will certainly have a massive effect on Burkes' plans.If there had been Oscars for supporting performances in 1933, Billie Burke would have won for her role of the selfish, demanding Mrs. Jordan who goes haywire and finally has a breakdown as her plans all fall apart. She goes off on a tirade so delicious that you can't believe that this is Glinda the Good Witch and all of those dizzy socialites she later played spouting. In smaller performances, May Robson, Louise Closser Hale and Grant Mitchell shine. The direction by George Cukor is superb. In the just over two hour running time, everybody has something delicious to do, and in that time, you will find so many thrills, you will want to return to dinner again and again.