DINNER AT EIGHT

US, 1989, 95 minutes, Colour.
Lauren Bacall, Charles Durning, Ellen Greene, Harry Hamlin, John Mahoney, Marsha Mason.
Directed by Ron Lagomarsino.

Dinner at Eight is a remake of the 1933 MGM classic with such stars as Lionel and John Barrymore, Marie Dressler and Wallace Berry, Jean Harlow. It is glossilly updated to New York of the late 80s - with all kinds of in references. However, the characters, while appearing more glamorous than their 30s counterparts, nevertheless give 80s versions of the trials of their predecessors. There is a focus on the problems of the contemporary world, in the atmosphere of preparation for a lavish and snobbish dinner. Lauren Bacall has the opportunity to be waspish - especially in the famous line updated to computers that she says to Ellen Greene at the end. John Marley is very sympathetic as Oliver Jordan. Marsha Mason has a good role as his hostess wife. Charles Durning is his usual self. Ellen Greene (Little Shop of Horrors) takes on the Jean Harlow role and Harry Hamlyn gives a modern television hero version of the John Barrymore character.

1. Entertaining comedy drama? Remake of 30s classic? The parallels, the updating?

2. Telemovie style? Glossy and sophisticated? 80s frankness? For the wide television audience? New York locations, interiors? The strong cast?

3. The title and the focus on the dinner, the invitations, the preparations, the significance for Millicent Jordan?

4. The focus on Millie, her social aspirations, the English aristocracy coming to a meal? Her guest list? The criteria? Her ignoring her husband's business problems and his health? Her daughter's romantic problems? Clashes with Carlotta? Her concern about the meal, the aspic, the fighting amongst the cooks, where to put the shrubs? The aristocracy bowing out? substitute guests? Her phone calls? The beginnings of the dinner, the orchestra and their bandages? Her having to focus on Oliver, coming to her senses, her acknowledging her flightiness, reconciliation?

8. Oliver, his business background, his health? A genial man, memories of Carlotta and joy to see her? Packard and his threats? The loss of his firm, the share, Carlotta and her selling her shares? Wandering in the rain? The angina attacks? Preparation for the dinner, his health, the collapse, reconciliation with Millie? Coming down and Pacards telling him about the takeover plan?

6. Paula, relationship with her parents, engagement to Ernest, the affair with Larry, his drug taking, her moving away, waiting for him to come to dinner, his not coming, trying to tell her parents, the confrontation with Carlotta? Coming to her senses? With Ernest?

7. Carlotta, her bitchy style, her novels? Manner and infuriating way of speaking? Her wit? Friendship with Oliver, clashes with Millicent, his secretarial assistant? The question of the share? Her return, her drinking? Coming to dinner, the confrontation with Paula?

8. Packard and his wife, the southern style, boisterousness, deals, trying to squeeze Jordan? Confrontations? His wife, television, her having an affair with the Doctor? Her background? The brittle marriage, the invitation, their going to dinner? Her threatening to tell the truth? Her winning out, Packard telling the truth? The comedy of the dumb chorus girl?

9. Larry and his fading career, his age? Difficult with producers? The affair with Paula? The buying of cocaine, taking it, clash with Paula? Max and his trying to get him a job, his arrogance, the arrival of the producer, his
boorish behaviour? The collapse, his taking the pills and killing himself?

10. A cross section of society? Contemporary problems? The focus on the dinner and the finale as the guests went into dinner at eight?