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Grand Hotel [1932 film]

by Edmund Goulding (Director)

Other authors: John Barrymore (Actor), Lionel Barrymore (Actor), Vicki Baum (Original play), Wallace Beery (Actor), Joan Crawford (Actor)2 more, William A. Drake (American play version), Greta Garbo (Actor)

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932292,161 (3.71)7
The glitz and glitter of Berlin's Grand Hotel comes alive with this story of love and betrayal. Contains both fullscreen and widescreen.
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» See also 7 mentions

Showing 2 of 2
A hotel thief falls in love with his mark.

2/4 (Indifferent)

I guess the idea is to have enough stories whirling around to distract you from how none of them are complete.

(Nov. 2021) ( )
  comfypants | Nov 28, 2021 |
A group of very different individuals staying at a luxurious hotel in Berlin deal with each of their respective dramas. (From IMDb) ( )
  DrLed | Nov 4, 2017 |
Showing 2 of 2
At the time of its release it was a success, but in the contemporary era the film has been misremembered by critics, historians and film lovers as nothing more than a “star vehicle”, as if the all-star cast is a detriment rather than an asset. In fact, Grand Hotel is a jewel of the pre-code era, featuring engaging human conflict without going past the point of believable melodrama....From its costumes to its set to its performances, Grand Hotel exudes sophistication and understands itself. Why it has been ignored by the modern film community is perhaps unanswerable, but hopefully its reputation will be restored in the near future, especially if this reviewer has anything to say about it.
 
Better than just a good transcription of the Vicki Baum stage play. A commercial picture of high box office potential, first by assembling the most impressive aggregation so far of strictly Bradstreet screen names, and then by filming the play practically unaltered in form, but played along broader and probably simpler acting lines....Thing that distinguishes “Grand Hotel” is that it is the first big splurge for a long time that doesn’t lean over backward on the artistic side. It’s basic human appeal can’t go wrong with the screen fans, as was the case in “The Guardsman” and again in “Street Scene,” both notable achievements in studio craftsmanship but not great moneymakers. Here is a picture specifically for the whole theatre, and paced and shaded for the widest possible circulation.
 
It is a production thoroughly worthy of all the talk it has created and the several motion- picture luminaries deserve to feel very proud of their performances, particularly Greta Garbo and Lionel Barrymore. So far as the direction is concerned, Edmund Goulding has done an excellent piece of work, but occasionally it seems as though he relies too much on close-ups. Nevertheless he has sustained a steady momentum in darting here and there in the busy hostelry and working up to an effective dramatic pitch at the psychological moment. In all, the picture adheres faithfully to the original and while it undoubtedly lacks the life and depth and color of the play, by means of excellent characterizations it keeps the audience on the qui vive.
added by Lemeritus | editNew York Times, Mordaunt Hall (pay site) (Apr 13, 1932)
 

» Add other authors (1 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Goulding, EdmundDirectorprimary authorall editionsconfirmed
Barrymore, JohnActorsecondary authorall editionsconfirmed
Barrymore, LionelActorsecondary authorall editionsconfirmed
Baum, VickiOriginal playsecondary authorall editionsconfirmed
Beery, WallaceActorsecondary authorall editionsconfirmed
Crawford, JoanActorsecondary authorall editionsconfirmed
Drake, William A.American play versionsecondary authorall editionsconfirmed
Garbo, GretaActorsecondary authorall editionsconfirmed
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The glitz and glitter of Berlin's Grand Hotel comes alive with this story of love and betrayal. Contains both fullscreen and widescreen.

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A group of very different individuals staying at a luxurious hotel in Berlin deal with each of their respective dramas. -IMDB
Actors: Greta Garbo, John Barrymore, Joan Crawford, Wallace Beery, Lionel BarrymoreDirectors: Edmund Goulding, Roy MackWriters: Burnet Hershey, Béla Balázs, Vicki Baum, William A. DrakeProducers: Irving Thalberg
The Best Picture of 1931-2 "Grand Hotel" deserved it's Oscar and deserves it's place in history as a forerunner of star-studded films to come. The cast alone is worth watching the film for. But the film stands on it's own as well and is smoothly done considering the intertwining stories of various people whose paths (and fates) cross in that posh Berlin establishment. Greta Garbo as a depressed ballerina is one reason to see this but there's John and Lionel Barrymore in great roles, Joan Crawford as an ambitious stenographer with moral issues, Wallace Beery and other recognizable actors in character roles. Warner Bros. has done a good job with the DVD print so this is definitely a collector's item. There are some amazing interior shots inside the hotel with a wonderful art deco look to them. This hotel where "nothing ever happens" is a must for vintage classic film lovers. It's a rare treasure that's been wonderfully preserved for future film lovers to enjoy. See it for a classic look at what going to the movies in the 30's used to be about.
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