Dinner at Eight (1933)

100% of critics liked it
(16 reviews)
74% of users liked it
(2,603 ratings)

Based on the Broadway hit by George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber, Dinner at Eight is a near-flawless comedy/drama with an all-star cast at the peak of their talents. Social butterfly Mrs. Oliver Jordan (Billie Burke) arranges a dinner party that will benefit the busines of her husband (Lionel… More Based on the Broadway hit by George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber, Dinner at Eight is a near-flawless comedy/drama with an all-star cast at the peak of their talents. Social butterfly Mrs. Oliver Jordan (Billie Burke) arranges a dinner party that will benefit the busines of her husband (Lionel Barrymore). Among the invited are a crooked executive (Wallace Beery), who is in the process of ruining Jordan; his wife (Jean Harlow), who is carrying on an affair with a doctor (Edmund Lowe); a fading matinee idol (John Barrymore), who has squandered his fortune on liquor and is romantically involved with the Jordan daughter (Madge Evans); and a venerable stage actress (Marie Dressler), who since losing all her money has become a "professional guest." Nothing goes as planned, due to various suicides, double-crosses, compromises, fatal illness, and servant problems. But dinner is served precisely at eight. The script by Herman Mankiewicz, Frances Marion, and Donald Ogden Stewart is a virtual enclyopedia of witty lines and scenes, right down to the unforgettable closing gag. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 53 min.
Directed By: George Cukor
Written By: Frances Marion, Herman J. Mankiewicz, Donald Ogden Stewart
Genres: Drama, Romance, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Aug 23, 1933 Wide
On DVD: Mar 1, 2005

Critic Reviews

Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
A deluxe flipbook of caricatures, a blatant pageant of studio thoroughbreds, a study of tuxedoed, bejeweled pretense
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Features a stellar cast of all-star MGM veterans who all know how to overact.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Taking advantage of MGM's talent pool, George Cukor directed this witty 1933 comedy with a big-gun cast that includes Marie Dressler, John Barrymore, Wallace Beery, and Jean Harlow.
Carol Cling, Las Vegas Review-Journal
Scintillating '30s comedy with an all-star cast and quip-happy script.
Matt Brunson, Creative Loafing
A sparkling script and game efforts from an all-star cast easily overcome the creakiness.
Brent Simon, Now Playing Magazine
A comedic roundelay in which colorful character, tension, quips and societal norms all entertainingly commingle.
Jeremiah Kipp, Slant Magazine
Featuring a crème de la crème assortment of Hollywood players, character actors, and rising stars, Dinner at Eight is entitled to a more deluxe treatment.
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.
, Film4
Each star has a memorable moment.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Sterling film version of the play with some great performances.

Read all 10 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

After you get through the first half of the movie, which is really talky and long, it gets good. It's dramatic and exciting, and the story has a great realistic ending. The actors are good too. This was a good movie.
Lanning :

Incredibly good play-turned-movie adaptation. An all-star cast, with exceptional performances by John Barrymore, holding up the tragic end of the balance, and Marie Dressler delivering the best laughs. A must-see just for the great weave of comedy and tragedy.
Michael G

My mother has talked up this movie ever since I was a kid and after many years and finally getting around to seeing it, I just don't see the big deal. Admittedly I was only paying half attention (didn't really like anyone in the cast) and my mom was talking through some of… More
My mother has talked up this movie ever since I was a kid and after many years and finally getting around to seeing it, I just don't see the big deal. Admittedly I was only paying half attention (didn't really like anyone in the cast) and my mom was talking through some of it. All I really got out of this movie was a more lighthearted and sometimes funnier version of Grand Hotel when I was expecting more of a screwball comedy. Maybe I'll come back to it somewhere down the road but not anytime soon.
jay n

It's a little antique but the acting is great from the entire cast. Harlow and Dressler shine brightest.
Marion R

okay
Sunil J

Wonderfully clever.

Read all 6 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Marie Dressler as Carlotta Vance

            John Barrymore as Larry Renault

            Wallace Beery as Dan Packard

            Jean Harlow as Kitty Packard

            Lionel Barrymore as Oliver Jordan

            Billie Burke as Mrs. Oliver Jordan

            Lee Tracy as Max Kane

            Edmund Lowe as Dr. Wayne Talbot

            Madge Evans as Paula Jordan

            Jean Hersholt as Joe Stengel

            Karen Morley as Mrs. Wayne Talbot

            Louise Closser Hale as Hattie Loomis

            Phillips Holmes as Ernest DeGraff

            May Robson as Mrs. Wendel The Cook

            Grant Mitchell as Ed Loomis

            Phoebe Foster as Miss Alden

            Elizabeth Patterson as Miss Copeland

            Hilda Vaughn as Tina Mrs. Packard's Maid

            Harry Beresford as Fosdick

            Edwin Maxwell as Mr. Fitch the Hotel Manager

            John Davidson as Mr. Hatfield the Assistant Manager

            Edward Woods as Eddie

            George Baxter as Gustave the Butler

            Herman Bing as The Waiter

            Anna Duncan as Dora the Maid

            May Beatty
            
            Herbert Bunston
            
See full cast