TCM Pick O’ The Day: Saturday, January 10th
by John Nolte
5:00pm PST – Dinner At Eight (1933) – A high-society dinner party masks a hotbed of scandal and intrigue. Cast: John Barrymore , Lionel Barrymore , Marie Dressler , Jean Harlow Dir: George Cukor BW-111 mins, TV-PG
In his post, ‘Hollywood on the Recession: Told You So,’ my colleague Tom Shillue reports that Hollywood’s gearing up to respond to our present-day economic woes with a series of blame-the-rich films. This was disappointing news, especially for those of us into the second draft of our blame-Fannie Mae-Freddie Mac screenplays. But does anyone want to spend ten bucks to be reminded of reality when getting out of bed offers the same experience for free. Which leads me to why the Almighty invented Turner Classic Movies.
For Americans suffering hard times during the Great Depression, movies were an oasis not a talking point. Certainly there were exceptions. Warner Brothers found a distinctive voice with grittier fare, especially the gangster picture which gave those feeling powerless the vicarious pleasure of watching people grab power, but this was an era predominantly made up of screwball comedies, DeMille’s lavish epics, musicals, monster movies and adventure films.
Back then Hollywood knew their only chance of survival was to offer something found nowhere else: Pure Escapism. So Fred twirled Ginger, Shirley Temple was orphaned, Andy Hardy aw-shucked, Paul Muni emoted, Cagney took no crap, Flynn rescued de Havilland, Garbo laughed, and Gable…? Well, all he had to do was grin. And what happened? People with no money found the money. The studios were pushers, the audience addicts, and the drug … looking back now we now know it was art.
Sure the industry struggled, but it survived, and today’s pick, Dinner At Eight is an excellent example as to why. The rich weren’t scapegoated. They were brought to earth and humanized with all their silly luxury problems. Audiences knew that for a mere two bits they too could be rich for a couple hours. In that darkened theatre they were transported. They lived in lavish penthouses, went to the best night spots, wore tuxedos, drank martinis and talked on white telephones.
If Big Hollywood’s decided to transport us to Revolutionary Road instead of Dreamstreet, the beauty of it is that it doesn’t matter. The past is there for the asking, white telephones and all.
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27 Comments
I’m reading a Neil Diamond biography (don’t hate) and the author keeps making the point that Diamond feels he owes it to his fan to be entertaining…
Heavens what a concept. Entertainers being entertaining. I long for some light escapism instead of the politically hectoring sucker-punch.
Finally, a movie post! Well said. And thank goodness for TCM. And white telephones. And martinis.
KEIRA: …which is why Neil Diamond’s still packing them in after thirty years.
I love Neil Diamond, so no hate. You should check out Saving Silverman which is an underrated gem all about the Diamond-love. He even has a cameo. ACOMANAYAYAHHHHhhhhhh
It’s Harlow night on TCM Saturday so Dinner At Eight is just the start.
During the depression, some rich were portrayed as powerful (Edward Arnold in Meet John Doe & Mr Smith Goes To Washington), frivolously rich (It Happened One Night & Bringing Up Baby) or not really as rich as they appear (My Man Godfrey & The Cheaters). But none of the rich were portrayed as evil enough to sell unsafe products like you see in an episode of Law and Order. People seemed to know that you didn’t get a job from a poor person. A populist like Capra knew Edward Arnold hired a lot of people and even Barbara Stanwyck would lose her job if she didn’t bring in enough revenue from her John Doe stunt.
Now you get movies like the remake of The Manchurian Candidate where an evil corporation is the bad guy. Maybe that’s why so many people think the government can create jobs while only taxing the rich and businesses.
“…why the Almighty invented Turner Classic Movies.”
That’s funny. That’s also EXACTLY how Ted Turner thinks of it.
Well said, DH, and so true. Reality is free, and I certainly don’t need any movies to remind me of it, especially ones that are more depressing than reality has ever been, at least to me. Lessee, reality, warped reality, or some real entertainment…well, the warped reality just ain’t no fun no matter how you look at it, and reality is gonna happen regardless, so that leaves real entertainment, maybe some laughs or inspiration to boot!
JEB-
That’s a good point. Often, politicians and Hollywood, push class warfare. Rich = evil. Which isn’t always the case in real life. Rich folks are just as human as poor folks and I appreciate it when a flick reflects that. I havew rich friends and I see no reason to envy and hate them because they earned their money.
I have the same opportunities to be rich as anyone else, and if folks can’t be grateful when they got little or no money they sure as heck ain’t gonna be thankful if they are rich. Just look at some of the Hollywood stars who, ironically, are behind a lot of the class warfare, envy, blame and hate the rich bandwagon. They are never happy and they never will be with attitudes like that. Rich, middle class, or poor, it doesn’t matter. Be thankful and joyful and life is gonna be better.
Half full beats half empty every time.
bs’d
This is one of the best non Marx Brothers comedies ever. Marie Dressler was a comic genius, whether acting as a foil for the Marx Bros or her stint as Miss Marple. I would also like to add another movie I think is one of the best (certainly mysteries) ever filmed. It is THE VERDICT (not the Paul Newman’s Verdict). A B&W gem from 1946 with Peter Lorre and Sydney Greenstreet. It is brilliant from the opening scene to the surprise ending. The grainy quality of black and white only adds to the suspense.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039080/
If you can find it, let me know what you think.
Mama
mamamitzvah@gmail.com
My husband and I gave up television in disgust a couple of months ago and all I miss is TCM. It has gotten to the point that those old movies are the only ones I really like. Actual dialog! Interesting story lines. What a concept.
And, I do so love Neil Diamond. Can’t help it. Years ago a young man told me that Neil Diamond gave one of the most exciting concerts he had seen. Sadly, I’ve never been to one but I do like him a lot.
I love this movie. I love it so much that I can even put up with Burke and Harlow — not that they were bad actresses, but both of their voices grate on me. (In very different ways, of course!) Just Dressler’s reaction to Harlow’s statement that she’s been reading would be worth the price of admission, if there were a price of admission other than turning on TCM.
My parents took me to a Neil Diamond concert when I was 12. The only night he was in town was on my birthday, but they really wanted to go and felt guilty for leaving me on my birthday. So they took me along. It was hands down the best concert I have ever seen. Only Billy Joel comes close. How many other performers can entertain 12 years old and their parents?
And John, your point about Depression era movies is so true. Will Hollywood figure it out in time to save itself?
I really want to still call you Dirty Harry. Old habits die hard.
Agreed: Dinner At Eight is a gem. So much better than the late-’30s preachy Steinbeckian/populist apcray that takes itself sooo seriously.
I love Dinner at Eight. I also never miss one of the Thin Man films or His Girl Friday because the dialogue is still so witty, quick and smart. What was it about the late ’30s/early 40’s that produced such clever and irreverent dialogue? Maybe it was the existence of actual writers, not policy analysts masquerading as writers? I’ve stopped seeing movies at the theater because so many don’t engage me and are poorly written. Puffed up with their own self-importance, they can’t help but disappoint.
A later film I never tire of watching is Barry Lyndon for the sheer visual beauty and the haunting score (especially the andante con moto from Schubert’s exquisite second piano trio in E Flat – if that doesn’t break your heart, you have none.) For me, this is pure escape into another world. Marisa Berenson as the transcendently regal Lady Lyndon is the embodiment of “suffering in silence”. That film demonstrates that the rich are different, but not necessarily happy or fortunate.
“Neil Diamond gave one of the most exciting concerts he had seen”
Neil Diamond is, hands down, the best performer/entertainer I’ve seen in concert. He’s one of the reasons I don’t like shows like American Idol. Can you imagine him making even the top twelve?
Dinner at Eight is a great movie! Marie Dressler is wonderful in this flick. Her dialogue with Jean Harlow is worth watching, you won’t forget her reaction to Harlow’s “reading” declaration. It’s kind of like the reaction conservatives have when someone says that there is no liberal bias in the press.
Jean Harlow night tonight?? Count me in! Dinner at Eight is one of my favorites.
Thanks, Nick, for highlighting the classics. I was starting to feel like a lonely 24-year-old geek.
Love the oldies for many reasons, not the least of which are their ability to transport one to worlds otherwise unattainable, their absence of gratuitous profanity, and their generally grammitically correct English.
Embarassed: Should have been “grammatically”…apologies.
I absolutely LOOOVE “Dinner At Eight”. Great cast, great comedy! (love the last bit of dialog with Dressler and Harlow). I’m also looking forward to the rarely shown “Bombshell”.
It’s great to see that there are still people out there that appreciate the classics.
My wife and I recently joined Netflix and haved started watching more B&W movies.
What has surprised me the most, is not just the clever dialogue (puts modern movies to shame), but the accurate portrayal of real-life drama. Relationships, issues at work, even emotional and psychological problems (just watch ANY Jimmy Stewart movie) are all dealt with in a very convincing, emotionally evocative, and adult manner.
Before recently, I had imagined all B&W movies were cheesepuffs, chock full of hammy performances and corny “dance offs” between 2 skinny guys in high-waisted pants to “get the girl.”
Now, I’m of the opinion that movies from the 40’s and 50’s are much more edgy than modern fare. Not in the vulgar Quentin Tarantino sense that we think of now, but in an even more RAW sense of edginess – older movies truly exposed real human emotion, both the ups and downs. You just don’t get that anymore. Now you get contrived situations, stereotypes, and caricatures, hyperbole.
I adore TCM, but I thank Ted Turner, not the Almighty. I leave that to the folks at CBN.
Back in 1984 I wrote and directed a movie called NIGHT OF THE COMET (about two valley girls at the end of the world, if you don’t remember). People heaped praise upon me for the snappy patter and two self-reliant babes who could be funny, sexy, tough, vulnerable, smart, dumb, all in one character. Every bit of that stuff was taken from Ginger Rogers and Jean Harlow movies, movies I grew up with (on TV)
Fav Jean Harlow line — From Red Dust — She to Gable: “Turn around and slip me the works.”
Elaine, it took the Almighty to make something as wonderful as TCM come from a guy like Ted Turner.
Ack, we’re not ten minutes in and I’m ready to wring fluttery Billie’s neck. They better get Dressler in here PDQ.
Marie Dressler was one of MGMs biggest starts in the very early 30’s. The studio insisted that she be in the movie and it made George Cukor nuts. Years later he confessed to thinking she was terrible as they were filming, and not nearly on a par with the other actors. He admitted telling Thalberg she was ruining the movie. He said it was only after he saw the movie that he realized she knew exactly what she was doing and was stunned that he didn’t realize it.
Dinner at Eight is a great movie, but Netflix does it a great disservice by calling it a comedy. (At least, it was so classified when it popped up as a recommendation for me.) It’s got funny lines, to be sure, but it’s got some serious and dark moments too.
Still, very much worth watching. Jean Harlow totally steals the show.
It’s Harlow night on TCM Saturday. Read more about it at http://wfpc.net/dinner_at_eight_.html
[...] Big Hollywood » Blog Archive » TCM Pick O’ The Day: Saturday … (bighollywood.breitbart.com) – January 10, 2009Sure the industry struggled, but it survived, and today’s pick, Dinner At Eight is an excellent example as to why. The rich weren’t scapegoated. They were brought to earth and humanized with all their… more Dinner at Eight blog posts … [...]
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