Grand Hotel (1932)

Well Deserved Praise

ridiculous rating

A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

General Director Preysing being arrested for killing Baron Felix von Geigern makes little sense. The Baron was trying to rob him and a competent police force would only bring Preysing in for questioning, after which he would probably be released due to self defense. Even the audience knows he acted in anger, its unlikely that it would have resulted in charges.Also unlikely that Grusinskaya could get out of the hotel with a murder in nearby room without hearing about it.

Winner of the best picture Oscar for 1932, the film is unusual in that it had no other nominations. By 1932 the sound "Talkie" had been perfected and there is no audible hiss on the soundtrack while the editing is smooth and there is now an added musical soundtrack to augment the action. On screen the close up is used over and over but in a very cinematic way, this is no medium shot filmed play. Even after 85 years the performances from the assembly of the cast is fantastically good only Garbo rather jars with her not so much theatrical more silent era over dramatics, all swaying arms and facial extortion's but this was what she gave the audience of the the time and her legions of film fans, it is hard for us now to fully appreciate just how famous she was way way back.I had never seen the film before stumbling on this very good DVD from 2013 which has a excellent transfer.The tableau of interlinked story lines then a fresh new plot device works marvellously well and i was hooked on the story from first to last, all set rather intriguingly in Berlin one year before Hitler and the Nazi's seized power.

Known as the film to win Best Picture but receiving no other Oscar nominations and as the first all-star film to many, 'Grand Hotel' still holds up as very impressive with a huge amount to admire 85 years later.'Grand Hotel' is not quite a masterpiece, at least to me. It does run a little too long and inevitably for a film adapted from a stage play there are parts that creak whether in pacing or drama (which was not unexpected seeing as it was always a potential trap that numerous early films adapted from stage plays fell into).While Greta Garbo's performance has been criticised for being over-the-top (which is an understandable and valid criticism), again to me there is one actor who overdoes it much more, and pretty painfully too, and that is Wallace Beery. A take or leave it actor and no stranger to hamminess, Beery's bombastic scenery chewing on occasion does threaten to unbalance the film.Even though not a subtle performance in a theatrical role that called for theatricality, it cannot be denied that Garbo's presence here is luminous and impossible to forget and she always had a gift for comedy (as seen in 'Ninotchka'), dignity (as seen in 'Queen Christina') and for pathos (as seen in 'Camille' and 'Anna Karenina').John Barrymore personified suave better than anyone before the likes of George Sanders (this was before his decline where alcoholism did him in and his performances became self-parody), while his brother Lionel is amusing and heart-breaking in a role far removed from his iconic villain Mr Potter from 'It's a Wonderful Life'. It's Joan Crawford at her most subtle, most charming and most sparkling who steals the show however.So essentially, with the exception of Beery, an all-star cast giving fine performances. They are supported by a number of factors, such as the meatiness and density of the characterisations and a script that still sparkles in its wit and sophistication. Edmund Goulding directs with class.Despite the long length, 'Grand Hotel' rarely lags and very nearly always remains interesting, with interconnecting story lines done so deftly and with such colour. 'Grand Hotel' was a visual and technical achievement back then, and to this day still dazzles with its stunning set and some ingenious cinematography that solves all potential scene change problems and allows one to revel in the hotel's glory. The score is just as ravishing.Overall, while not a masterpiece 'Grand Hotel' is still a delight. 8/10 Bethany Cox

I have always had a strange fascination with Greta Garbo, something about her aloofness makes me orbit around her films over and over again. Grand Hotel presents us with a very lonely persona, much to Garbo herself; stunning, yes, but lonely. The music, the acting, the feeling the film provides you inflicts you with greatness. Perhaps I am biased, considering my fanaticism with Garbo, but she's stunning in this role as the sad, dramatic, suicidal woman who drops her petals and folds her tent. John Barrymore is great as well and GOD (!) Joan Crawford? Always a pleasure for me to see her face. All I needed for this film to be spectacular was Bette Davis and Marlene Dietrich (probably fighting each other). I love this film and I reckon that I'll continue to watch it every couple of years. Highly recommend it if you like oldies, truly oldies, and are in the mood to be stunned by Garbo and Crawford.