“Dinner at Eight” (1933) was among 25 movies selected Wednesday for the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry for 2023. Jean Harlow was the breakout performance of the all-star ensemble cast that included Marie Dressler, John Barrymore, Lionel Barrymore, Wallace Beery, Billie Burke, Lee Tracy and Edmund Lowe. George Cukor directed the MGM dramedy about a high class dinner party in which secrets are revealed. The box office hit is full of crackerjack exchanges such as this one: Kitty (Jean Harlow) : I was reading a book the other day. Carlotta (Marie Dressler) : [Nearly trips] 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. It’s no surprise that the screenplay has all-star talent behind it, too: Frances Marion and Herman J. Mankiewicz...
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