Reel Old Movies

“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 wrote the