History Trivia / DinnerAtEight

* CareerResurrection: This was part of a series of films that provided one for Marie Dressler. Having found herself out of work during the UsefulNotes/TheSilentAgeOfHollywood, she became a star once again during UsefulNotes/RiseOfTheTalkies. She was voted the most popular actress for three years in a row. She couldn't enjoy this too much though, as she died from cancer in 1934.

* ActorInspiredElement: John Barrymore was very enthusiastic about his part and suggested many elements - such as Renault misquoting famous writers and being much hammier than the script said.

* MetaCasting: Creator/JohnBarrymore as an alcoholic fading star whose marriage is falling apart. He himself died nine years after this film. Likewise Marie Dressler had enjoyed success in vaudeville and Broadway, but faded from public consciousness during the 20s. However unlike Carlotta, she gladly made a comeback in films.

* PlayingWithCharacterType: Jean Harlow usually played some kind of sexpot or GoodBadGirl. Here however, while she's a sexual character, this is probably her nastiest role.
* RealitySubtext: Jean Harlow and Wallace Beery didn't get along during filming, Beery treating Harlow rudely - as he thought she was too inexperienced. As they're playing a husband and wife who can't stand each other, this is rather fitting.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen:
** Carlotta's dog was named 'Mussolini' in the script and filmed as such. However the changing political climate caused them to dub the name 'Tarzan' in instead.
** Mary Beatty and Herbert Bunston are listed in the studio records as cast members of the film, yet they do not appear at all. It is unknown whether they were recast, had their scenes deleted or it was a clerical error.
* Kitty's book is undoubtedly Creator/HGWells ' ''[[http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/33889 The Salvaging of Civilization]]''. It predicts changing the world for the better through continuing, lifetime education, ultimately leading to a world state where people will be free of their labors and able to engage in creative problem solving.
--> This clear-headed, broad-thinking young citizen of the World State will not be given up after his educational years to a life of toil -- there will be very little toil left in the world. Mankind will have machines and power enough to do most of the toil for it.
** Film scholars [[https://www.filmsite.org/dinn3.html state]] it was a reference to ''Literature/BraveNewWorld'', which had been just released.

** Film scholars [[https://www.filmsite.org/dinn3.html state]] it was a reference to ''Literature/BraveNewWorld''.

* Film scholars [[https://www.filmsite.org/dinn3.html state]] it was a reference to ''Literature/BraveNewWorld''.

--> This clear-headed, broad-thinking young citizen of the World State will not be given up after his educational years to a life of toil -- there will be very little toil left in the world. Mankind will have machines and power enough to do most of the toil for it.

** Mary Beatty and Herbert Bunston are listed in the studio records as cast members of the film, yet they do not appear at all. It is unknown whether they were recast, had their scenes deleted or it was a clerical error.

* ActorAllusion: Max Kane says "how's the great profile?" as a joke. Creator/JohnBarrymore on stage was known as 'the great profile'.

* MeanCharacterNiceActor: Kitty is a floozy who cheats on her husband and belittles her maid. Jean Harlow was known to be a NiceGirl who got on well with nearly everyone else in the cast.

* ActorAllusion: Max Kane says "how's the great profile?" as a joke. John Barrymore on stage was known as 'the great profile'.

* MetaCasting: John Barrymore as an alcoholic fading star whose marriage is falling apart. He himself died nine years after this film. Likewise Marie Dressler had enjoyed success in vaudeville and Broadway, but faded from public consciousness during the 20s. However unlike Carlotta, she gladly made a comeback in films.

* HeyItsThatGuy:
** [[Film/TheWizardOfOz Glinda]] is organising a dinner party.
** [[Film/GrandHotel General Director Preysing, The Baron and Otto Kringelein]] are attending.
** [[Film/HellsAngels Helen]] as an unhappy wife.

* CareerResurrection: This was part of a series of films that provided one for Marie Dressler. Having found herself out of work during the UsefulNotes/TheSilentAgeOfHollywood, she became a star once again during UsefulNotes/TheRiseOfTheTalkies. She was voted the most popular actress for three years in a row. She couldn't enjoy this too much though, as she died from cancer in 1934.

** [[Film/TheGrandHotel General Director Preysing, The Baron and Otto Kringelein]] are attending.

* MetaCasting: John Barrymore as an alcoholic fading star whose marriage is falling apart. He himself died nine years after this film.