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1933, David O. Selznick, Dinner at Eight, George Cukor, Jean Harlow, John Barrymore, Lionel Barrymore, Marie Dressler, Wallace Beery
Following the great success of “Grand Hotel” in the previous year, “Dinner at Eight” is another remarkable gathering of film stars: Jean Harlow, Marie Dressler, John Barrymore, Lionel Barrymore, and Wallace Beery, among the big names of that era. This production of the MGM studios was directed by George Cukor, known for working best with women. David O. Selznick had also a great importance in the making of this film, and “Dinner at Eight” obviously has some charm and a sense of perfection that one could see in most of the productions under Selznick’s signature, the best of them being, of course, “Gone With the Wind”.
The film’s budget was estimated at $435,000 and it grossed over $2,000,000, being a box office hit. “Dinner at Eight” is full of glamour, splendid costumes, of exquisite taste, and luxurious settings. It is considered a comedy of manners and, even if it wasn’t even nominated for an Academy Award (which is really surprising), the film is an excellent screen adaptation of the play by George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber. You will certainly enjoy this motion picture of the early 30s, with its witty dialogue and memorable scenes.