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Considering the cast that it has going for it, Dinner at the Ritz should be a much better film that it actually is. As things stand, Dinner is passable fare, but it should be much tastier. After all, it has as its star Annabella, who is certainly a tasty dish and capable of giving a delicious performance. Perhaps because it was still early in her English-language film career, but the one-named actress doesn't really get her star quality across here. She's gorgeous, yes, and has the appropriate glamour, but she's a bit flat in places and overheated in others. Granted, she's working at a disadvantage, as too much of the screenplay doesn't give her real meat to work from. The plot is fine, if a bit strained at times, and there are flashes of wit; but it doesn't offer sustained amusement and involvement, and the characters don't leap off the screen as one wants them to. Harold D. Schuster's direction is uneven, but he hits a few moments spot-on. David Niven is charming and suave and could easily have walked through a part like this; but he doesn't, and the film is the better for it. Paul Lukas handles his chores well, and Nora Swinburne walks off with a scene or two. The film's biggest asset, however, is probably its European lensing, which is a rare treat for a film of the period.