Grand Hotel

 

 

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The extra features on this DVD edition are highly desirable -- get the DVD for the features, but get a recent VHS tape for a better print. The DVD release is so grainy it's fuzzy and often seems out-of-focus. Contrast is murky is many scenes. In one specific scene: when Joan Crawford enters a dark room and discovers Beery standing over the baron's corpse; the grim heaviness of the textures and depth of shadows, the stark horror on Crawford's face -- these are lost in the fuzzy grain of the DVD but are clearly preserved on VHS. Having seen this film many times on the big screen and on tape, it appears that the DVD seriously lacks the smooth, almost lush visual quality of earlier issues. This is also one of those old-line films that looks gorgeous on a big theater screen but suffers dramatically on smaller devices. Despite the shortcomings of the DVD, this is still the grande ol' Grand Hotel of yore, a relic (but a magnificent one) of late Victorian melodrama (and dig Rachmaninoff in the background during Garbo's scenes!). But I'd still advise the VHS tape if you want the rich graphics of the original. It also appears that the master for this transfer, whatever its source, has visible physical defects that I don't see on earlier tapes. The 2-channel DVD sound is not representative of the weighty mono original, has a clearly audible hiss and too much treble. The sexy undertone of Garbo's voice is missing here, as is J. Barrymore's dramatic baritone (Compare scene 8 on the DVD when Barrymore mutters "I don't like your tone", with the VHS version -- audibly, the sound of that line on the tape is more darkly effective). The look and sound of the DVD fail to convey the unique, all-important "deco" qualities that somehow add so much to the original film's overall effect. I'd suggest that the VHS edition is something most classic movie fans will appreciate more than they would the DVD. An aside: originally, Garbo didn't want to share star honors with Crawford out of fear that Crawford would diminish Garbo's role. Garbo was partially correct: Crawford steals the show, but Garbo is still a sight to behold.

Grand Hotel(released Sept/32)was MGM's biggest film extravaganza to date and featured some of the biggest screen names all together in one film;at MGM or elsewhere.It certainly had a major impact on all future releases from all of the major studios and their usage of their own star power.No matter how else the film may be perceived going on over 75 years now,it is a fascinating glimpse at the power and clout at the disposal of the biggest studio of its' day.
The film stars Greta Garbo as Grusinskaya,a Russian ballet dancer,Wallace Beery as Mr.Preysing an industrialist,John Barrymore as Baron Von Geigern,Lionel Barrymore as Mr.Kringelein an accountant,Joan Crawford as Flaemmchaen,a stenographer,Lewis Stone as Dr Otternschlag, and Jean Herscholt as Senf,the head hotel porter.MGM wonder kind Irving Thalberg assembled the cast and put this film into production.MGM owned the rights to the story and had backed its' Broadway play version a couple of years before so its' transition from stage to screen was relatively smooth.
The story works on many levels at once.Among the many guests is Grusinskaya,a worn down ballet dancer who is staying at this the Berlin(Germany)property of the Grand Hotel chain.Her performances of late have been poorly received and she is very depressed.More than once she utters(what was to become)the immortal line:"I (v)want to be alone!".Baron Von Geigern is also friendless,alone and more importantly,broke.He owes some lowly people some money and plans to steal Grusinskaya's pearls.But he inadvertently falls head over heels in love with the ballerina(only in the movies,folks!).Meanwhile a lowly desk accountant Kringelein has come to the hotel to enjoy a final fling,as he has a terminal illness.He runs into his company boss Preysing,who is not only a bully but who is also desperate.He is seeking a merger with some foreign companies and it is not going well.Preysing has hired a stenographer called Flaemmchaen.She has fallen hard for the Baron but her feelings are not to be reciprocated.She agrees to accompany Preysing to England on "business" but he catches the Baron trying to steal his wallet.Presying kills him and ends up being arrested for murder.Flaemmchaen and Kringelein both grieve at the Baron's demise(the Baron was good to them both)and come to the agreement that Kringelein will spend the last days he has treating Flaemmchaen and himself to the best time they can possibly have,and leave at once for Paris.Gruisnskaya who has been on cloud nine ever since the Baron's admission of his love and devotion to her,leaves for Vienna on the train where she hopes to rendezvous with the Baron;which we know will never be.Throughout all this turmoil and trouble the head porter Senf has had a wife in labour(the longest in screen history!) and at the end she finally gives birth to a boy.Mother a child are doing well,thank you.As the main protagonists leave the hotel new faces arrive to breathe a new life into it,as life indeed does goes on.Dr.Otternschlag has come in and out of the film throughout dispensing tidbits of advice,both practical and philosophical.He was a veteran of WWI who had the right side of his face disfigured due to a grenade and the resulting infection which set in.At the end of the film,as he does in the beginning,he states"...nothing ever happens here".Filled with obvious irony and a telling testimony to the doctor's lack of perception and to the blinders he carries around with him.
Grand Hotel was ably directed by Edmund Goulding,or should I just say he ably assisted the proceedings.These were huge talents put into his hands and I doubt whether Goulding had to give much direction to the likes of either Barrymore or a Lewis Stone or Jean Herscholt;pros all.The newest of the main cast is Joan Crawford.She was at this point still an up and coming actor but she gives a very nice performance and stands toe to toe with all the veterans that surround her.Speaking of which,Lionel Barrymore gives a splendid performance as Kringelein the deathly sick desk accountant.His choice of dress,accessories and demeanor enhance his role beautifully.Then there is his talented brother,the Great Profile himself,John.John also turns in a boffo performance as the desperate but gentlemanly and kind Baron.Garbo,well I must be honest,I have never been a Garbo fan.With her deep throaty voice and less than(to me)subtle acting ability,I have always considered her far over rated.However while she continues to over act here,she at times does hit an amenable mark and is at her best with her scenes with Barrymore.And speaking of her and Barrymore you might take a closer look at the case cover for this DVD,taken from a period lobby card.Notice the couple's embrace;look familiar? It should.It was the self same embrace(and look) of the much played up "romance" between a younger Garbo and the screen's then leading man John Gilbert of just a few short years before in the "silents" period.Both were MGM properties then,but while Garbo was getting bigger and bigger,Gilbert had been long disgraced and persona non grata at MGM.He would be dead in about four years.
Technically this is virtually the same release print from the 2004 initial release;same picture and same features.The picture,while generally good in contrast and crispness,still needs a bit of work as it can get quite grainy and scratchy at times.There are a number of interesting features included:a featurette on the movie,footage of its' premiere at the Graumann's Chinese Theatre,a "warning" theatrical film clip of the films' last days of showing in the L.A area,its trailer and a quite funny Warners Vitaphone 1933 short"Nothing Ever Happens".It's a musical spoof,often scripted in rhyme both spoken and musical.All the minor Warner actors here are made up to look as close to the stars of the Grand Hotel as possible and they did a bang up job,I can tell you.Also watch for the chorines that come in and out of the short;they are like refugees from the Radio City Music Hall!
All in all a nice release of a "grand" old picture,chock full of some of the best stars off the then MGM lot.Though it certainly runs the gamut of emotions,it can easily be perceived as quite melodramatic with a depressing overtone throughout.I find the performances here by the Barrymore brothers to be the scene stealer's throughout.It's a juggernaut of MGM talent and it is little wonder it ended up winning a best picture OSCAR that year.It just shows the tip of the iceberg of talent MGM had at their disposal in the 30s.Look at MGM today and wonder at just how far the mighty have fallen!

If you want to know about Hollywood splendor... this is your movie. The "golden age of the movies" greatest studio was the MGM and Mr. Mayer and company put all the best in this brilliant adaptation of Vicki Baum novel. I love every frame of it. The art deco, the music, the stars... Oh, my God! This is cinema! The cast is superb. The Barrymore brothers, the little Crawford (then), the great Beery. And Lewis Stone, what a kind of gentleman and good actor. And Garbo, of course. When she is sad, you are sad. When she is happy, you are happy. And when she said: "The sun!". Is summer for us.

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4.0 out of 5 stars Grand But Depressing
I'm breaking a rule here. I usually write a review for lesser known vintage films to help them out but shun the big name classics. Read more

Published on Feb 26 2004 by Robert M. Fells

5.0 out of 5 stars Garbo and Crawford, need I say more?
Finally on DVD, Grand Hotel is an early talkie classic that deserves all the praise it has received over the (many) years. Read more

Published on Feb 23 2004 by Joan Crawford

5.0 out of 5 stars GRAND ENTERTAINMENT.....
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. Read more

Published on Feb 19 2004 by Mark Norvell

5.0 out of 5 stars Ultimate Movie Legend!
When younger movie buffs ask me for suggestions for "old" movies they should watch to get an idea of Hollywood's long-gone glamor, "Grand Hotel" is my answer... Read more

Published on Feb 11 2004 by Jery Tillotson

5.0 out of 5 stars ALL-STAR CAST ,Best Picture 1932 now on remastered DVD!
Warner Brothers continues to re-release all of Hollywoods Golden Years Classics Movies thru their "Warner Home Video Inc" label under the SPECIAL EDITION DVD series... Read more

Published on Feb 5 2004 by forrie

3.0 out of 5 stars GRAND HOTEL IN LESS THAN GRAND TRANSFER
"Grand Hotel" concerns guests staying at Berlin's Grand Hotel. There's the high strung, tempermental ballerina (Greta Garbo), the sassy vamp-like stenographer (Joan Crawford), the... Read more

Published on Jan 30 2004 by Nix Pix

5.0 out of 5 stars Joan Crawford and Lionel Barrymore Steal the Show!
I watched this movie when I was first getting into old movies. I recognised Greta Garbo's and John Barrymore's names right away, but after seeing the movie, I wanted to see any... Read more

Published on Oct 23 2003 by Samantha Glasser

3.0 out of 5 stars Not nearly as good as the book...
This is probably unfair to say, because the book "Grand Hotel" was based on has been out of print for decades and is incredibly hard to find, but this blockbuster... Read more

Published on Oct 11 2003 by bruce hutton

5.0 out of 5 stars My Favorite Film
There a few films that like a great song that can be heard over and over again and never get old. For me it is this movie. I love every single thing about this movie. Read more

Published on Sep 3 2003 by M. Hencke

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the great films!
I think this is a really wll sone film. It's really the deco era through and through. Greta Garbo is glamerous in it, and th ebeautiful young Joan Crawford is in it as well... Read more

Published on Feb 14 2003 by Rosella Ann Myles

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