|
|
Post by snsurone on Nov 17, 2017 14:43:31 GMT
I love this comedy/drama with its roster of MGM stars.
One thing that puzzles me, though: the dinner is scheduled for 8 PM, and afterwards, the guests are expected to attend the theater along with the hosts.
What theater raises its curtains at such a late hour?
Also, wouldn't some of the guests be too tired after the dinner to go see a play?
It would make better sense if these people went to the theater at 8, and then returned to the Jordan home for a late supper.
The only character I didn't care for was Paula Jordan.
I just can't understand what she saw in that drunken, has-been actor Larry Renault, who obviously didn't give a damn about her, except as a booty call!
Her fiance Ernest was so sweet in his brief scenes; IMHO, he deserved better than Paula.
|
|
|
|
Post by mattgarth on Nov 17, 2017 14:50:24 GMT
Favorite line among so many lines:
Carlotta Vance exits, throwing a kiss to the vulgarly romantic Dan Packard: 'Farewell, Lochivar!"
He responds: "What did she just call me?"
|
|
|
|
Post by teleadm on Nov 17, 2017 17:44:04 GMT
"Kitty: (Jean Harlow) I was reading a book the other day. Carlotta: (Marie Dressler) Reading a book? Kitty: Yes. It's all about civilization or something. A nutty kind of a book. Do you know that the guy says that machinery is going to take the place of every profession? Carlotta: [Looking her over] Oh, my dear, that's something you need never worry about." For people who were wealthy I don't think it mattered what time a theatre was showed, since they didn't have to wake up until after 12 PM, and they were hardly the working class. Larry Renault is so swallowed up in himself and his former greatness, but as an old rogue I guess he could still charm a girl or two along the way towards his downfall.  |
|
|
|
Post by snsurone on Nov 18, 2017 2:32:59 GMT
That is one of the most famous closing lines in movie history.
What's really funny is that Kitty believed she was complimented and not insulted.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
@Deleted
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2017 10:54:45 GMT
That is a very good film.
|
|
|
|
Post by petrolino on Nov 18, 2017 11:32:50 GMT
Great ensemble piece!
|
|
|
|
Post by snsurone on Nov 19, 2017 1:55:41 GMT
"Kitty: (Jean Harlow) I was reading a book the other day. Carlotta: (Marie Dressler) Reading a book? Kitty: Yes. It's all about civilization or something. A nutty kind of a book. Do you know that the guy says that machinery is going to take the place of every profession? Carlotta: [Looking her over] Oh, my dear, that's something you need never worry about." For people who were wealthy I don't think it mattered what time a theatre was showed, since they didn't have to wake up until after 12 PM, and they were hardly the working class. Larry Renault is so swallowed up in himself and his former greatness, but as an old rogue I guess he could still charm a girl or two along the way towards his downfall. Granted, I'm no expert on union activities, but I cannot believe that Actors' Equity would permit its players to perform at such a late hour unless they were richly compensated financially. The formation of Equity in 1919 was quite a coup, with such theater managers as George M. Cohan adamantly opposed to the idea, which cost him a number of friends, such as Ethel Barrymore and Harry Davenport. Before this union was established, actors were responsible for buying their own costumes, and were subject to rigorous and sometimes inhumane conditions regarding their employment. This union eventually led to the SAG and other unions to protect show biz personnel.
|
|
|
|
Post by them1ghtyhumph on Nov 19, 2017 2:11:04 GMT
Really like this and Grand Hotel. Big fan of the Barrymore brothers
|
|
|
|
Post by snsurone on Nov 19, 2017 23:45:35 GMT
One thing I noticed was that Marie Dressler did not look well at all.
Could she have been already suffering from the cancer that took her life the following year?
|
|
|
|
Post by snsurone on Nov 20, 2017 13:48:09 GMT
Really like this and Grand Hotel. Big fan of the Barrymore brothers What do you think of RASPUTIN AND THE EMPRESS, which stars all three Barrymore sibs? |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
@Deleted
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 20, 2017 14:36:06 GMT
I know you did not ask me.
But in my opinion Rasputin and the Empress is not a good movie.
|
|
|
|
Post by them1ghtyhumph on Nov 20, 2017 18:58:54 GMT
Really like this and Grand Hotel. Big fan of the Barrymore brothers What do you think of RASPUTIN AND THE EMPRESS, which stars all three Barrymore sibs? I thought Lionel was excellent |
|
|
|
Post by louise on Nov 21, 2017 20:33:46 GMT
Like all these sort of films, it's an uneasy mixture of comedy and melodrama. since I like comedy and dislike melodrama! I never find films like tjis entirely satisfactory. It's good in parts.
|
|
|
|
Post by Eva Yojimbo on Nov 22, 2017 10:46:08 GMT
Like all these sort of films, it's an uneasy mixture of comedy and melodrama. since I like comedy and dislike melodrama! I never find films like tjis entirely satisfactory. It's good in parts. You should fix that. Melodrama done well and/or with a touch of comedy/satire is great. |
|
|
|
Post by marshamae on Nov 22, 2017 17:07:59 GMT
Well this is a huge favorite. What some would call melodrama is ,in my opinion, a necessary part of TGE mix. What allows the Billie Burke character to be so ridiculously self-absorbed about her party, her aspic, her insistance that she had the worst day, is the " melodramatic moment " when she realizes her husband is really sick. Without that moment of heartbreak, we would loathe her. That moment shows us there is a likable woman in there and allows us to find her selfishness funny.
The whole cast is brilliant, expertly walking the tightrope between comedy and tragedy . It's John Barrymore that always stays with me. His self- mocking character, a drunken egotist, stuck on his profile is meant to be funny because it takes the Mickey on Barrymore's own ruined career. Barrymore is still a supremely gifted actor ,though and his suicide, with the careful attention to the lighting of his profile as he passes out, is a little gem of fine timing and technique. I never watch it without tearing up.
The other huge star is the script. As Matt said, there are so many good lines you hardly know where to start.
|
|
|
|
Post by snsurone on Nov 22, 2017 23:05:07 GMT
It's good to hear from you, Marshamae; it's been a long time.
Hope everything is OK with you.
Billie Burke made a career of playing "silly" society matrons.
In fact, her only truly mature character was Glinda in THE WIZARD OF OZ.
IMHO, the best performance came from Jean Harlow.
She was so deliciously vulgar that you have to love her.
And she ends up as a thoroughly admirable character at the party, when she threatens to expose her husband's attempts to ruin their hosts financially.
Early in her career, there was one critic (I think it was Bosley Crowther) who was outspoken in his condemnations of her performances.
Well, after she signed with MGM and did RED DUST, he did a 180, and became one of her biggest fans.
It's sad that she died so young (only 26); I bet if she had lived she might have become an Oscar nominee, if not a winner.
|
|
|
|
Post by marshamae on Nov 23, 2017 15:06:50 GMT
Thanks snsurone! Alls well. I love Harlow too and this is one of her best. I love the scene where the maid blackmails her , so sneakily demanding a bracelet.
Her duets with Wallace Beery are a joy. It takes a 10th avenue dame to push back at this big bully. Like his scenes with Joan Crawford in Grand Hotel , putting him with tough gals meant you got a fight worth watching and him put in his place . It always amazes me he had such a big career. He was an unpleasant presence on the screen and a dreadful man.
|
|
|
|
Post by snsurone on Nov 23, 2017 15:42:11 GMT
Beery and Harlow first appeared together in THE SECRET SIX, her second major film.
At the time, he was outspoken in his condemnation of her and her ability.
Later, when she was more experienced, they did DINNER AT EIGHT and CHINA SEAS, but he still didn't like her.
I'm thinking that basically Beery was a misogynist.
That said, IMO, he was a very good actor.
He was wonderful opposite Marie Dressler in MIN AND BILL and TUGBOAT ANNIE.
Pity that they were only together for a moment in DINNER AT EIGHT.
And he did win the Oscar for his performance in THE CHAMP, which I think is a maudlin picture, especially in the scenes with whiney Jackie Cooper.
BTW, I believe Bobs Watson replaced Cooper as a whiney child actor when the former grew too old.
|
|
|
|
Post by teleadm on Nov 24, 2017 16:41:32 GMT
snsuroneAbout Wallace Beery... I don't remember if it was June Allyson or Judy Garland or someone completely else. That said something like, MGM sold him off as a lovable old rouge, but in reality he was a very unpleasant alcohol stinking old slob. That they let him be since his movies made money.
|
|
|
|
Post by snsurone on Nov 26, 2017 22:08:48 GMT
Beery's younger brother, Noah, Sr., died of a heart attack in 1946, while attending his big brother's birthday party.
I've never seen any of Noah's performances, so I don't know if he was a good actor or not.
Seems he was typecast as villains, and was eclipsed by brother Wally and his own son, Noah, Jr.
I loved Noah Beery, Jr. in all his TV roles, from the clown in CIRCUS BOY, to Jim Garner's father in THE ROCKFORD FILES.
In fact, Rocky was my favorite character on that show.
|
|
