History Film / DinnerAtEight

* SpiritualSuccessor: To ''Film/GrandHotel'', the previous year's Best Picture winner, which not only employed a similar narrative structure but had some of the same actors playing similar parts (Lionel Barrymore as a sympathetic, terminally ill man, John Barrymore as a tragic figure who meets a sad end, Wallace Beery as an obnoxious CorruptCorporateExecutive).

* YourCheatingHeart: Kitty is having an affair with her doctor, who is himself married. The doctor wants to break it off and go back to his wife, while Kitty is trying to maintain her hold on him. The doctor also cheated on his wife with many other women before.

''Dinner at Eight'' is a 1933 film directed by Creator/GeorgeCukor and featuring an AllStarCast. The movie features a half-dozen plotlines concering the various members of the New York elite that have been invited to a society dinner.

* EvilGloating: Dan does a ''beautiful'' job of this in front of Kitty, thinking she's too stupid or avaricious to understand his EvilPlan. He's also repeatedly bragged about getting to see the President (this would be UsefulNotes/FranklinDRoosevelt) and his ambitions to become a cabinet minister or some other important government position. Kitty, angry with Dan for neglecting her, threatens to expose his villainy, ruining his chances for Washington, unless he stops it, agrees to go to the dinner and explains to Oliver. Dan complies (with a kick in the ass from Kitty), of course blaming his henchmen and making himself look good in the process, but the point is that Oliver (recovering from a serious heart attack) understands his company will be safe.

* {{Blackmail}}: Kitty's maid, who knows who Kitty is having an affair with, blackmails Kitty into handing over a diamond bracelet.

* CorruptCorporateExecutive: Packard is leading Jordan on while attempting to take control of Jordan Lines through front men. Kitty threatens to expose his schemes.

* GoldDigger / TrophyWife: Kitty, who is only in it for Dan's money.

--> '''Max''': Oh, no. l'm just telling you the truth... You know, you never were an actor. You did have looks, but they're gone now. You don't have to take my word for it. Just look in any mirror. They don't lie. (''forces Renault to look at himself in a nearby mirror'') Take a good look. Look at those pouches under your eyes. Look at those creases. You sag like an old woman! Get a load of yourself! Wait till you start tramping around the offices, looking for a job, because no agent's going to handle you. Sitting in those anterooms hour after hour, giving your name to office boys that never even heard of you. You're through, Renault! You're through in pictures and plays and vaudeville and radio and everything. [[{{Foreshadowing}} You're a corpse, and you don't know it. Go get yourself buried!]]