Watch it at Amazon
GRAND HOTEL (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1932), directed by Edmund Goulding, from the stage production by Vicki Baum, marks one of MGM's most prestigious film projects of its day. Other than being one of those rare films of the 1930s to be constantly revived, if not overplayed, on television over the past decades, it has stood the test of time solely due its impressive all-star cast. Of the five major leading actors, top-billing goes to Greta Garbo, MGM's most important box-office star. However, unlike other Garbo films, GRAND HOTEL, is not all Garbo. She shares screen time with other top-named MGM performers, ranging from John and Lionel Barrymore, Wallace Beery and Lewis Stone. The only other big name actress to appear in this production is the very young and more down-to-earth Joan Crawford, billed third in the cast after Garbo and Barrymore, who, in fact, has more screen time than the legendary Garbo. Crawford appears a few minutes from the start of the film and her presence continues right up to its near fadeout. Garbo's character doesn't make her first appearance until 20 minutes from the start of the story and is gone some ten minutes before the film is over. While many might consider Crawford the best of the two female stars in GRAND HOTEL, Garbo, who's acting style may not work well for the more contemporary viewers, should be observed and studied here. Her role as Grusinskaya, the Russian ballerina, is performed two ways. In the early part of the story, she is lonely, depressed, striving for success. After she encounters the Baron (John Barrymore), she finds love and becomes a changed person, full of life and laughter. Watching this transformation on screen is seeing the two sides of Greta Garbo.Edmund Goulding directs the movie, which runs at 113 minutes, at a fast pace, starting the first few minutes with overhead camera shots of numerous switchboard operators of the Grand Hotel connecting the incoming calls, followed by the brief introduction of the central characters conversing on the telephone in thehotel lobby: Senf (Jean Hersholt), the head hotel clerk, awaits the news of his wife who is about to give birth to their child; Otto Kringelein (Lionel Barrymore), a bookkeeper, diagnosed with an incurable disease who quits his job to enjoy his remaining days to the fullest; Preysing (Wallace Beery), a no-nonsense industrialist staying at the hotel to negitiate a business deal with important clients; Suzette (Rafaella Ottiano), the maid to the famous Russian dancer, Grusinskaya, who expresses concern about her employer; Baron Felix Von Greigern (John Barrymore), an adventurer traveling with his Dachshund dog, desperately in need of money to pay off a heavy debt, planning to do his latest robbery by stealing valuable jewels from the famous ballerina by entering her room after she leaves for a performance; and Otternschlag (Lewis Stone), a scarred doctor who walks about the hotel lobby, observing the goings on, and reciting to himself quietly, "Grand Hotel, people come, people go, and NOTHING ever happens!" Within these few minutes, the viewer gets an insight to these characters. Then comes Flaemmchen (Joan Crawford), a stenographer with ambition, hired by Preysing as his personal secretary. She soon makes the acquaintance of the handsome Baron and the poorly dressed Kringelein. Later that evening, after the lonely and unhappy Grusinskaya (Greta Garbo) leaves the hotel for the theater, the Baron sneaks into her room from the outside window to rob her. After she returns, the Baron, still in her room, hides himself, and takes notice that Grusinskaya, whose career is failing, intends on taking her own life. He suddenly appears to her, telling her that he is one of her biggest admirers. In spite of telling the Baron that she wants to be alone, the Baron remains, and even after learning of his intentions to rob her, he wins her over, thus, spending an entire night together and falling in love. The problem remains: How will the Baron be able to get money he so desperately needs? As for the other guests, will Preysing, a married man with two grown daughters who has made Flaemmchen his mistress after working hours, succeed with his business negotiations? Will Flaemmchen continue to get something out of life by not being particular on how she does it? Will ballerina Grusinskaya marry her beloved jewel thief Baron or will she go on with her career? Will Kringelein get the happiness he deserves before he succumbs? What will his hotel bill be like after he checks out from most expensive hotel in Germany? Will that kill him before his illness does? While GRAND HOTEL could have told its stories in separate segments, it's done as one film focusing on separate characters through different time frames. Of the central characters, only Senf, the hotel clerk, played by Jean Hersholt, is the least important, but actually a character needed to fill in the void. He only appears in a few scenes unrelated to the plot. Lewis Stone's role is also secondary, but memorable, especially with his opening and closing lines. Wallace Berry, an all-American character actor, in a characterization somewhat new to him and different to his audience, is cast against type, sporting glasses, a short haircut, mustache and German accent, something similar to German character actor, Sig Rumann. Lionel Barrymore, sporting a derby, oversized clothing, thick mustache and glasses, is almost unrecognizable as Kringelein. In fact, he almost comes off best over the other major actors. Although playing a tragic figure, he does have one comedy bit, a memorable scene where he returns to his room drunk, struggling to strip himself of his clothing, belting out one big belch, and stumbling into bed. This scene alone always manages to get some laughs. The underscoring that accompanies this scene sounds like the score played from a silent comedy short. Barrymore later gets a poignant scene where, after winning a large sum of money playing cards, discovers that his wallet containing all his money, is missing, but in reality, stolen by the Baron. Nearly in tears and desperation, crawling on the floor looking for it, the wallet is later "found" by the Baron, who has had a change of heart, and returns it to him.Fortunately, GRAND HOTEL does not play like a filmed stage play. The art decco and luxurious sets are a sight to behold. And why not? The Grand Hotel happens to be the most expensive and luxurious hotel in Berlin. While it's set in Germany, only the American Beery speaks with an accent. As for Garbo, her accent is natural.Featured in the supporting cast are: Robert McWade, Purnell B. Pratt, Ferdinand Gottschalk, Tully Marshall, Murray Kinnell and Frank Conroy. Look closely for Mary Carlisle (a Paramount starlet in "B" films in the late 1930s) as the giggling young bride near the end of the story. GRAND HOTEL obviously registered well upon its release. It had earned an Academy Award as Best Picture of 1931/32. In later years, GRAND HOTEL has become imitated and spoofed many times. MGM would remake GRAND HOTEL as WEEKEND AT THE WALDORF (1945), moderinizing the story to New York City with World War II background, featuring its current top marquee names of Ginger Rogers, Lana Turner, Walter Pidgeon and Van Johnson. It was later adapted into a Broadway musical in the 1990s. Both screen versions are available on both video cassette and Turner Classic Movies cable television. For a good time with a film classic, check in the GRAND HOTEL and see what the stars are doing for the weekend.
You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.
