Dinner at Eight (TV Movie)

In this wryly funny dark comedy, a stylish remake of George Cukor’s classic of the ‘30s, the trashy rub shoulders with the classy as reputations are ruined and the aspic falls.

Dizzy society hostess Millicent Jordan (Marsha Mason) is planning an elegant dinner party for British royalty. But somehow the guest list winds up being a rogue’s gallery. Brassy Kitty Packard (Ellen Greene) is a tramp in designer clothes, while her crass tycoon husband (Charles Durning) is a shark in a feeding frenzy for his host’s shipping empire. If a hostile takeover doesn’t kill Oliver Jordan (John Mahoney), the appearance of this old flame Carlotta Vance (Lauren Bacall) will. But Carlotta isn’t just interested in reheating their love affair. She needs cold cash. And fading superstar Larry Renault (Harry Hamlin) would love to come to dinner, but he’s just dead… literally. He’s the victim of booze, cocaine and his massive ego.

But there’s still plenty of list, greed, ambition and scandal to satisfy the enormous appetites of Millicent’s guests. It all boils over into an evening of delicious backstabbing humor in which everybody gets dished before dinner is even served.