Okay, I have a confession to make: I'd never seen this all the way through until tonight, though of course, I'd seen clips.
Marie Dressler is giving my new favorite performance! She's glorious. Huge, over the top, but utterly convincing and completely supported emotionally. And how she manages to flirt and not be grotesque is beyond me.
Gorgeous work!
Updated On: 1/10/09 at 10:11 PM
Agree! Brilliant film, all around They don't make 'em like this anymore...
Dinner at Eight is one of the funniest films ever made! Marie Dressler is hysterical! Especially the last line of the film! The entire cast is one of the film history books!
True. And Billie Burke really knows what she's doing. I guess I always thought she just fluttered her way through her film career, but seeing this made me realize that no, this lady is a pro.
Wasn't it fabulous? Overflowing with brilliant performances from that incredible all star cast - and the grand dame Marie stealing it from all of them!
A friend says that Garbo has to work hard to keep up with her in ANNA CHRISTIE--and that you can tell they both know it.
Leave it to Mamie!
I've never SEEN that hit picture! And what's that on top? A bird's nest?
Love the movie, love Dressler! Long may she wave.
Here is the scene with Jean Harlow.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zQe-lVm7L4
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
Marie Dressler RULES. Her Carlotta Vance is one of the best performances of the 1930s.
Joined: 12/31/69
I love the studio era, where so many performers had a stock character that you could trot out periodically. These big ensemble films are just so joyful as each little star gets to shine...
It's the way she gets stopped in her tracks that is so priceless! (It's like she's walked into an invisible wall of Jello)
I will willing admit that I've gotten laughs in a few shows by recreating (or doing my best attempt to) that bit.
I remember some critic describing her take in that final scene as being like a train derailing.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
"I love the studio era, where so many performers had a stock character that you could trot out periodically."
That's the problem with movies today, there are no character actors. Where are Thelma Ritter, Marjorie Main, Don Knotts, etc? Character types rarely show up in movies today.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
To an elderly lady who claims to have seen Carlotta do TRELAWNEY when she was just a little girl: "How extraordinary. We should sit down some time and discuss the Civil War. Just you and I."
About Paula's fiance, whose last name is De Graff: "De Graff? De Graff? I think I knew his father..." She works her way around her assorted large bits of jewelry, and finds a particularly large brooch: "I did!"
She would have made an AMAZING Mme. Armfeldt...if a trifle vulgar.
Last year I found a fantastic biography of Dressler at the Silent Film Festival in SF. It not only covered her personal life, it was the most in depth coverage of her theatrical career as well as her movie career. If you really want to know more about her, get the book.
http://www.amazon.com/Marie-Dressler-Performances-Filmography-Discography/dp/0786428449/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1231787280&sr=8-2
in case the link doesn't work: it's called Marie Dressler: A Biography, with a Listing of Major Stage Performances, a Filmography and a Discography (Paperback)and it's available on Amazon.
Justme, thanks so much for the info!
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Interesting....I bought all those books within the last two years! The Kay Francis Book (and there is another one as well that I bought) are the best biographies I've read in years. Lots of good, juicy stuff in those!
Speaking of Kay Francis, Justme, are you a fan of "Trouble of Paradise."
My all-time favorite movie, as you know, Reginald!
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