The Lost World (1925)

The Lost World (1925)
First National Pictures
February 2, 1925
Sci-Fi
DVD
C

Although I'm not a silent-movie fan, I ended up watching two-thirds of the 68 minutes (in this edition), because I liked the sense of humor and was somewhat invested in the human characters, especially Bessie Love as Paula White.  But the too-long dinosaur battles, although very well done for their time, and the gratuitous blackface character (with "dialect" title cards), made me tune out.  This is based on the novel by Arthur Conan Doyle and directed by Harry O. Hoyt.

Dinner at Eight

Dinner at Eight
MGM
August 29, 1933
Dramedy
DVD
C+

George Cukor directed this pre-Code "classic" that I've been curious about for decades but didn't get around to seeing until today.  And, well, some of the comedy works, I'm less convinced by the drama, particularly the John-Barrymore-as-his-future-self plot thread.  You'll probably want to watch this for Harlow (and her wardrobe!), but I most enjoyed Billie Burke as the very Burkey airhead society matron.

Ironically May Robson, 83 by then, would eight years later in Playmates tell John Barrymore (as himself and then 59 but looking much older) that she saw him onstage as a little girl.