Dinner at Eight (TV 1989)

Society matron Millicent Jordan arranges a dinner party to honor some visiting aristocrat oblivious to the health and financial problems of her husband.

Director:

Ron Lagomarsino

Writers:

George S. Kaufman (play), Edna Ferber (play),

Stars:

John Mahoney, Marsha Mason, Stacy Edwards

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Mahoney	...	Oliver Jordan
Marsha Mason	...	Millicent Jordan
Stacy Edwards	...	Paula Jordan
Charles Durning	...	Dan Packard
Kelly Connell	...	Dan's Assistant
Lauren Bacall	...	Carlotta Vance
Jane Alden	...	Ms. Copeland
Richard Seff	...	Fosdick
Bernadette Birkett	...	Hattie
Ellen Greene	...	Kitty Packard
Loyda Ramos	...	Tina
Ralph Bruneau	...	Dr. Wayne Talbot
Julia Sweeney	...	Miss Wendell
John Fleck	...	Plant Person
Harry Hamlin	...	Larry Renault

Storyline

A wry, insightful comedy of manners in which society matron Millicent Jordan arranges a dinner party to honor some visiting aristocrat oblivious to the health and financial problems of her husband and the emotional feelings of her daughter. Her guests include the vain, greedy, and self absorbed.

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Plot Keywords:

society matron | dinner party | alcoholic | spaniel | high society | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 December 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cena a la ocho

Filming Locations:

Hudson River, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Turner Network Television (TNT)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Remake of the 1933 film, directed by George Cukor, starring Jean Harlow, Lionel and John Barrymore, Billie Burke, Wallace Beery, and Marie Dressler.

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Quotes

Dan Packard: Love your books, love 'em!
Carlotta Vance: What's your favorite?
Dan Packard: That one ya see in all the airports with the naked bimbo on the cover. What's that one called?
Carlotta Vance: Heidi.

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Connections

Version of Dinner at Eight (1933)

User Reviews

Harry Hamlin is the Main Course

In a play on modern manners, New York socialite Marsha Mason (as Millicent "Millie" Jordan) arranges a dinner party for friends, relatives and total strangers. For the most part, the results are disastrous. Decades ago, MGM's stellar production studio, with the Great Depression hidden behind the curtain, provided the original "Dinner at Eight" (1933) with a setting that cannot be duplicated. Surprisingly, writer Tom Griffin updates the classic nicely for a "Turner TV Movie". Although re-making mega-hits seldom works, this script might have been made a good mainline feature film, given a fuller crop of 1980s super-stars...

The legendary Lauren Bacall (as Carlotta "Lotta" Vance) is light and lovely, unlike predecessors in the role. But, it's handsomely addicted Harry Hamlin (as Larry Renault) who steals this version. Like John Barrymore before him, Mr. Hamlin takes advantage of the best-written role in the play. His scenes with agent Joel Brooks (as Max Kane) are especially good. Filthy rich Charles Durning (as Dan Packard) and trashy wife Ellen Greene (as Kitty) stand-in for their characters. Reluctant dinner host John Mahoney (as Oliver "Ollie" Jordan) is solid while Ms. Mason's hostess is more high-strung than flighty (see Billie Burke).

****** Dinner at Eight (12/11/89) Ron Lagomarsino ~ Harry Hamlin, Lauren Bacall, Marsha Mason, Charles Durning