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      Dinner at Eight

      Released Jan 12, 1934 1h 53m Comedy List
      91% Tomatometer 22 Reviews 74% Audience Score 2,500+ Ratings In this comedic drama, an ambitious New York socialite plans an extravagant dinner party as her businessman husband, Oliver (Lionel Barrymore), contends with financial woes, causing a lot of tension between the couple. Meanwhile, their high-society friends and associates, including the gruff Dan Packard (Wallace Beery) and his sultry spouse, Kitty (Jean Harlow), contend with their own entanglements, leading to revelations at the much-anticipated dinner. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Premiered May 07 Buy Now

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      Critics Reviews

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      THR Staff Hollywood Reporter Put Dinner at Eight down as an exceptionally fine directorial job and place Cukor higher on your list of directors as a result of it. Aug 29, 2018 Full Review Jeremiah Kipp Slant Magazine The dinner party that closes Dinner at Eight wouldn't feel like dancing at the end of the world without Renault's final gesture. Rated: 3/4 Mar 2, 2005 Full Review Nell Minow Movie Mom Rated: 4/5 May 8, 2003 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy A sparkling script and game efforts from an all-star cast easily overcome any signs of creakiness. Rated: 3.5/4 Nov 7, 2021 Full Review Francisco J. Ariza Cine-Mundial Several superb movies in one. [Full review in Spanish] May 13, 2021 Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins Audiences of the era may have been fascinated to see the inner workings of the upper crust, but these are painfully dull, generic ordeals. Rated: 4/10 Jul 26, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

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      Valquria G Bem interessante, amei 🤩 Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/25/23 Full Review david l Dinner at Eight is one of George Cukor's more uneven directorial efforts. He did get amazing performances from his incredible ensemble cast, but he put very little visual flair into this picture. In an all-star MGM cast, John Barrymore was the standout among the gentlemen while among the ladies Harlow and Dressler were the best, Harlow even managing to steal the show from the great Dressler herself. The problem with this movie is its awkward structure. It only reached greatness in the very end as the majority of the story foolishly consisted of the guests preparing for the party instead of focusing on the titular dinner itself. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Though not his first film, "Dinner at Eight" really put director George Cukor on the map as an important filmmaker. Based on the play, the film is a crisp and smart commentary on the rich and what they believe is important. It's dialogue sparkles, and the cast shines brightly with every part. It also shows how the rich deal with tragic moments. The film manages to be very funny while circling dramatic plot developments. Jean Harlowe is wonderful at playing a dumb blonde with smart undertones. John Barrymore is at his best, even though he seems to be playing himself. A real early masterpiece. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Audience Member A 1933 film that holds up when viewed today. How odd that it wasn't even nominated for an Academy Award. It could be because it was similar to Grand Hotel which won Best Picture the year before. It really is more of a comedy/melodrama than a pure comedy, since there is much tragedy unfolding during the movie. Marie Dressler is broke, silent filmstar John Barrymore is washed up and an alcoholic, and Lionel Barrymore is in danger of losing his shipping business. The only ones doing well are Wallace Beery and Jean Harlow. Packard (Beery) is a self made millionaire with no ethics and his wife is a gold digger with eyes for another man, her doctor. The Depression-era messaging is that rules of life have changed in ways that never occurred before. The vice of opportunistic social-climbing Packards is rewarded while those playing by the rules of the past have nothing but memories. Billie Burke's performance is hilarious and many say Jean Harlow steals this film but Marie Dressler's comic touches help make it in my opinion. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/08/23 Full Review Audience Member My mother and I watched most of this movie, expecting it to be a comedy (from what the box said). Comedy? There was not a single laugh or even smile to be had. The movie ranged from boring to unpleasant, and there were plenty of big stars but nary a likable or sympathetic character in the lot. The movie stars a wealthy New York woman who wants to throw a dinner party for the purpose of social advancement, with her husband reluctantly going along. She invites over a wealthy British couple who are coming to the United States, and invites a number of other people to have the proper number, as well as the right mixture of males and females. But everyone has some sort of dark secret; the couple's daughter, who has a fiancée, has fallen in love with an actor whose career is failing; the husband's company is in serious financial trouble; a former actress is also in financial difficulty; a bullying former miner is secretly buying out the husband's company's stock, and his wife is having an affair; and this is just a sample of the betrayals and intrigues that are going on. This could have had the makings of a comedy, but we found no jokes or any other reasons to laugh. Nor did we end up caring what happened to any of the characters in the story. Pass up this dinner invitation. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review william d Excellent drama, even though there isn't much of a plot. The performances are good - particularly John Barrymore's and Jean Harlowe's - and the dialogue is sharp. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Movie Info

      Synopsis In this comedic drama, an ambitious New York socialite plans an extravagant dinner party as her businessman husband, Oliver (Lionel Barrymore), contends with financial woes, causing a lot of tension between the couple. Meanwhile, their high-society friends and associates, including the gruff Dan Packard (Wallace Beery) and his sultry spouse, Kitty (Jean Harlow), contend with their own entanglements, leading to revelations at the much-anticipated dinner.
      Director
      George Cukor
      Distributor
      Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
      Production Co
      Metro Goldwyn Mayer
      Genre
      Comedy
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Jan 12, 1934, Wide
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Jan 1, 2009
      Runtime
      1h 53m
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