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Topic: Dinner at Eight (Read 639 times)

things-and-other-stuff
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Dinner at Eight
« Thread Started on May 30, 2005, 12:16pm »

Picked up the newish DVD of this classic and watched it for the first time in a couple of years. It's actually part of the Warner's Classic Movie Collection which also includes To Be or Not to Be, Libelled Lady, Bringing Up Baby and another I cannot recall.

If you like the big stars many of them are found here: Lionel Barrymore, Marie Dressler, Jean Harlow, John Barrymore, Wallace Beery, Billie Burke, Edmund Lowe, etc. Similar to Grand Hotel but this one's more of a comedy while Grand Hotel can be a little over-the-top melodramatic in spots (especially Garbo's spots). Both films feature both Barrymore brothers, but in this one they're never actually on screen with each other at the same time.

Highlights of this movie include unhappily married couple Beery & Harlow at each other's throats, Lionel Barrymore at his best, Marie Dressler being very funny, and my favorite parts: John Barrymore essentially playing John Barrymore. The first scene with him is a riot as right after referring to his character as "The Great Profile" the camera zooms in on the Great Profile him/itself. His hotel room is littered with old publicity photos of himself during his hey day. Barrymore is an alcoholic struggling actor, the biggest star of the Silents struggling to make it in the new talkies. He is trying to land a lead role in a stage play and is horrified to discover he is being considered for the role of a beachcomber who has one line in the play. He's at his best here, how could he not be? Meanwhile Lionel is struggling to keep his shipping business afloat, as the main theme of this 1933 film is actually the Great Depression. We have the shipping magnate, the great actor, a former stage actress/current socialite (Dressler) struggling to stay afloat. Great entertainment for the majority who weren't (aren't) super-wealthy, and who I'm sure were delighted back in the 30's to watch these rich folks fight to keep their fortunes and reputations.

I'd recommend this film to anyone as it holds up well and even if you don't like the classics gives an excellent historical representation of a the upper segment of society during the Great Depression...and it's really funny too!

DVD extras include a so-so 45 minute or so documentary on Harlow from the early 90's and hosted by an annoying Sharon Stone, also a spoof/satire of the movie itself from the 30's which is actually about 25-30 minutes long. It's actually pretty funny if you watch the movie itself first.

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Jeff
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Re: Dinner at Eight
« Reply #1 on May 30, 2005, 6:17pm »

Saw the film this past Saturday on TVO here in Toronto who put a lot of the classic films of that era and into the 50's - 80's as well commercial free. Yes it never fails with John and Lionel Barrymore. The second one was Grand Hotel with I vaaaaant to be alone!!!!! Good old Greta Garbo. They are worth watching once in a while. My cup of tea is James Cagney. / Jeff :-*

« Last Edit: May 30, 2005, 6:18pm by Jeff »

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Re: Dinner at Eight
« Reply #2 on May 30, 2005, 11:47pm »

I have that Grand Hotel DVD on order with Columbia House, I'll let you know if it has any interesting extras when it arrives. Getting costly to upgrade all of the old VHS to DVD, but at least I can get a few bucks each for the videos on eBay after I get the DVD's. Makes me feel like I get a discount to some degree.

Which Cagney flicks do you like best, Jeff....gangster/tough guy or song & dance man? I prefer the tough guy of the early 30's myself. He even pretty good as he gets older in movies like Mister Roberts and way later in Ragtime.

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Re: Dinner at Eight
« Reply #3 on May 31, 2005, 6:19pm »

Hi Cliff:
It would have to be a toss up as he never did anything that could be called bad in the over 70 films he made. (5 alone in 1931) He was back then what Al Pacino is today and one of my favorites. Back to Cagney and I would say public enemy (1931) and come fill the cup (1951) He plays an alcoholic newspaperman in this if I am correct. Another would be captains in the clouds (1942)

« Last Edit: May 31, 2005, 6:27pm by Jeff »

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Re: Dinner at Eight
« Reply #4 on Jun 1, 2005, 12:23am »

I haven't seen either of the last two you mention. Public Enemy is great, Blonde Crazy is pretty good too. I also enjoy G-Men, White Heat, and Angels With Dirty Faces which is probably my favorite. Come Fill the Cup sounds familiar but I can't really picture it, maybe it's just in my head from documentaries.

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