Trivia / Dinner at Eight

• Actor-Inspired Element: 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.
• Career Resurrection: This was part of a series of films that provided one for Marie Dressler. Having found herself out of work during the The Silent Age of Hollywood, she became a star once again during Rise of the Talkies. 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.
• Deleted Role: 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.
• Hostility on the Set: 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.
• Playing Against Type:
  • Edmund Lowe usually played tough leading men in war movies. Here he plays the doctor with whom Kitty is having her affair.
  • Madge Evans was typecast as a Nice Girl in films during the 30s. Here she's playing a girl cheating on her fiancee.
• Playing with Character Type: Jean Harlow usually played some kind of sexpot or Good Bad Girl. Here however, while she's a sexual character, this is probably her nastiest role.
• Renamed to Avoid Association: 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.
• What Could Have Been: Clark Gable was considered for Wayne Talbot, but Louis B. Meyer thought that he would be wasted in a supporting role.

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