“DINNER AT EIGHT.”

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20296, 4 May 1934, Page 3

“DINNER AT EIGHT.”

Brilliant Cast in Picture for Regent. “By Candlelight” (Paul Lukas and Elirsa Landi) will be shown finally tonight at the Regent Theatre. Never belore—not even in “ Grand Hotel ” —has such a galaxy of talent been presented in any one film as is the case in the M.G.M. production. “ Dinner at Eight,” which will start a c the Regent Theatre to-morrow. Every character is a star, and even the smallest part is handled with the maximum of ability. The plot tells of a brief period in the lives of a group of various people drawn together at a dinner party. Romance, tragedy, comedy and self-sacrifice find their place as the picture progresses. There are no noble-minded heroes, no simple, pure heroines, no double-dyed villains. Each character ccmes from life, with human virtues and human failings. Heading the galaxy of stars is the one and only Marie Dressier, who excels in the role of a somewhat gushing actress. John Barn-more appears as the broken-down screen actor, and his brother Lionel has a very different type of role as Oliver Jordan, the head of a big shipping concern facing bankruptcy. Wallace Beery is cast as Dan Packard, a bluff and unscrupulous mining magnate, and Jean Harlow plays his ill-mannered but beautiful

cabaret-girl wife. Billie Burke plays Millicent Jordan, who arranges the fateful dinner that brings these widely different guests together. Lee Tracy has the role of Max Kane, the theatrical agent. Edmund Lowe as the philandering doctor, and Karen Morley as his understanding wife, make a charming couple, and Madge Evans receives her greatest opportunity to date in her role as Paula Jordan. The frocking of the women stars is most elaborate. In addition, the management »vill present "Hip Action,” which is the third episode of the new Bobby Jo.ies golf series. Box plans at the D.I.C.