Dinner at Eight (1933)

All the early 1930’s Hollywood stars are in this one which received NO awards of any type but is a very enjoyable couple of hours (an essential comedy drama)! Marie Dressler and Jean Harlow have perhaps the most memorable scene discussing a book and Harlow’s "profession". Oblivious to most everything else Billie Burke is planning the titled meal in order to improve her social standing. But her husband Lionel Barrymore’s business is failing so he convinces her to invite a successful businessman (Wallace Beery) he hopes can help him. The formerly working class Beery has a trophy wife Harlow not used to being in high society. Life imitating art Burke also invites an aging out of work actor (John Barrymore) whom their daughter (Madge Evans) is secretly dating. Dressler plays an investor in Lionel Barrymore’s company who’s considering selling her stock to the unknown entity that’s interested in acquiring it. Lee Tracy plays the actor’s agent who’s trying to find him a job in Jean Hersholt’s production. May Robson plays a cook; Grant Mitchell also appears. Produced by David O. Selznick and directed by George Cukor from an Edna Ferber-George Kaufman play that was scripted by Herman Mankiewicz Frances Marion (The Champ (1931)) and Donald Ogden Stewart (Laughter (1930)). #85 on AFI’s 100 Funniest Movies list.

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