In a play on modern manners, New York socialite Marsha Mason (as Millicent "Millie" Jordan) arranges a dinner party for friends, relatives and total strangers. For the most part, the results are disastrous. Decades ago, MGM's stellar production studio, with the Great Depression hidden behind the curtain, provided the original "Dinner at Eight" (1933) with a setting that cannot be duplicated. Surprisingly, writer Tom Griffin updates the classic nicely for a "Turner TV Movie". Although re-making mega-hits seldom works, this script might have been made a good mainline feature film, given a fuller crop of 1980s super-stars...
The legendary Lauren Bacall (as Carlotta "Lotta" Vance) is light and lovely, unlike predecessors in the role. But, it's handsomely addicted Harry Hamlin (as Larry Renault) who steals this version. Like John Barrymore before him, Mr. Hamlin takes advantage of the best-written role in the play. His scenes with agent Joel Brooks (as Max Kane) are especially good. Filthy rich Charles Durning (as Dan Packard) and trashy wife Ellen Greene (as Kitty) stand-in for their characters. Reluctant dinner host John Mahoney (as Oliver "Ollie" Jordan) is solid while Ms. Mason's hostess is more high-strung than flighty (see Billie Burke).
****** Dinner at Eight (12/11/89) Ron Lagomarsino ~ Harry Hamlin, Lauren Bacall, Marsha Mason, Charles Durning
