MovieChat Forums > Dinner at Eight (1934) Discussion > Who Thought Millicent Was A Hoot?

Who Thought Millicent Was A Hoot?

posted 12 years ago by ClaireTrevorDecoDame
8 replies | jump to latest

Billie Burke did a great job with the role. She had some of the best lines in the film and I completely loved the way she delivered them.

I roared with laughter at her line about Dan Packard "You're joking! Ask that common little woman to the house with that noisy, vulgar man? He smells Oklahoma!" It wasn't just the line that was good, her delivery made it even more hilarious. The bit with the butler being stabbed and the aspic later on was equally as priceless. "I'm half out of my mind! Do you know what's happened to me? I've had the most ghastly day anybody ever had! No aspic for dinner! And Ricky in jail and Gustav dying for all I know, and a new butler tonight and that Vance woman coming in. And having to send for crab meat. Crab meat!"

[–] Eric-1226 12 years ago

Who Thought Millicent Was A Hoot?

Well, *I* thought she was a hoot, but by the same token, you can't dismiss the "hootiness" of some of the other cast: Marie Dressler, Lee Tracy and Jean Harlow - and perhaps even some of the others. Also, Harlow's maid, Tina, was a hoot. That's what makes this film so memorable and enjoyable: a mix of quirky people hamming it up for a helluva' story that bleeds both comedy and tragedy. It's a telling, slice-of-life sort of story that ultimately makes you think, because it has more than a grain of truth in it.

[–] xxpo 12 years ago

The way she picks up that poor little doggie because she walked him for 15 min and then he POOS on the carpet was HORRIFIC.

Poor thing.

Since this was prior to concern with hurting animals in films ... Wonder if she really was holding him by the back of the hair on his head and letting him dangle in MID AIR that way?

Also wonder how may takes it took to do that scene and why the doggie tolerated being held that way as well as he did???

Isn't the socialite also TOPPER'S WIFE??

Never saw her looking so young before!

[–] Picador66 11 years ago

Yes, the socialite is Topper's wife. She's also Glinda, the Good Witch of the North in THE WIZARD OF OZ.

[–] BlondeVixen 11 years ago

Billie Burke was always funny. Flighty, twittering, bird-like voice. Funny, in Oz, she was the calmest, most level-headed of the bunch.

[–] joystar5879 11 years ago

The little Pekinese, Tarzan, was Carlotta Vance's dog. Pekes are usually picked up by the very loose skin on their shoulders. You even see it at Dog Shows.

"I do hope he won't upset Henry.."

[–] k-gage 8 years ago

they used a stuffed dog in that scene. if you watch closely you'll see it never moves on its own.

[–] bron-tay 11 years ago

omg, one of my favorite movie exchanges of all time:

Maid (tearful, having catalogued the day's disasters): Will that be all, Ma'am?
Millicent: I hope so!

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Please put some dashes above your sig line so I won't think it's part of your dumb post.

[–] lnoft97 11 years ago

I wonder if 'crab meat' was seen as low(er) class in those days. It costs a FORTUNE now. The aspic is just gelatin, but requires some skill (and a mold) to make.