Grand Hotel

Hello again. Not any real changes to the stucture of these posts. I still will do all the things I did in my previous post. However, I have also decided to take thes reviews a a bit more professionally. I will critique the plot, the acting, and the technical aspects of the movie and also give them a score. So here it goes the next movie on the list - Grand Hotel.



Movies Also Nominated:

• Arrowsmith
• Bad Girl
• The Champ
• Five Star Final
• One Hour with You
• Shanghai Express
• The Smiling Lieutenant

Found On:

• Megavideo

Play-By-Play:

• MGM's Roaring Lion logo - Ars Gratis Artis (Art for Art's Sake) - Pretty funny if this isn't a philosophical slogan that implies that this creation serves no purpose other than to be art, it actually means that it was created for someone named Art. I will from now on assume that it is Art Vandelay.
• Credits in the beginning, tradition is still in swing. From my learnings from the last movie. These are the characters in order of their importance.
• So here are the main characters of Grand Hotel:
• The Dancer - Grusinskaya - Greta Garbo
• The Baron - John Barrymore
• The Stenographer - Flaemmchen - Joan Crawford
• General Director - Preysing - Wallace Beery
• Otto Kringelein - Lionel Barrymore
• Dr. Otternschlag - Lewis Stone
• The Porter - Senf - Jean Hershol
• While the rest of the credits roll, pretty cool kaliedescope effect in the background, reminds me of the beginning of Good Will Hunting.
• Here we go...
• Old timey telephone operators answering and handleing a mindbottling amount of wires and dials.
• First part of calls:
• Senf calling the clinic to check on his wife and newborn child, being told to be patient.
• Otto talking to Heinrich, telling him to tear up his will. He apparently is dying from something and hasn't got much time till he dies. So he has decided to do something while he can and never going back home. He staying at the prestigous Grand Hotel. He calls Preysing his "Big Boss." Otto doesn't like him.
• Preysing calling his home, talking to his mom and dad about his company's merger, which is very important to the company. He is having a conference with them tommorrow morning. He is awaiting an telegram from the Manchester Cotton Company. 
• Suzette is making a call becuase Grusinskaya is not feeling well and will not dance today or go to the rehearsal. Something is preying on her mind... I knew it zombies.
• The Baron calling becuase he needs money or he won't be able to stay at the hotel. Also he is talking about something that he has laid the groundwork for by finding out someone's room position, becoming freinds with someone's ballet master, Mr. Pemenov.
• Second part of calls
• Otto and Heinrich: Otto has withdrawn all his savings and is going to spend it all. The hotel is very expensive but also very wonderful, Music all the time... Wonderful.
• Senf, saying that he would lose his job and that the hotel is like a jail.
• Preysing promising to his father to make the merger go through. He never fails.
• Suzette is worrying frantically over the dancer
• The Baron nat asking for advice, he needs money.
• The doctor says "The Grand Hotel... People coming, going... Nothing ever happens." Fade out.
• A few interesting establishing shots of hotel.
• Suzette telling the counter staff that her car will not be needed today.
• The Baron scolding a bellhop for not giving his dog (Adalphis) a walk. Pretty funny bit where Baron reaches into his pocket like he is going to tip him but then decides against it.
• Baron gives Senf a package to give to Grusinkaya and then greets to Mr. Pemenov, who is just getting his key to his room,168.

• Mr. Pemenov is worried about Grusinkaya becuase she did not do well in her last performance.
• Dr. Zimmerman meets up with Mr. Preysing, still no news from Manchester. So here it is:
• Preysing's company is trying to merge with the Saxonia Company
• However Saxonia will not merge unless Preysing is tied up with the Manchester Cotton Company, Preysing is waiting for the telegrem from them becuase he is having a meeting with Saxonia very soon
• Dr. Zimmerman suggests that he seem optimistic in the meeting and not even bring up Manchester, Preysing says that he will not becuase he is an honest business man.  
• They leave. Dr. Zimmerman tells the counter staff to send the stenographer to Preysing's room, 166.
• The doctor asks for there is any calls, telegrams,or messages for him, there isn't. Barron comments that he seems to be waiting on somthing that never comes.
• Otto being very impatient about getting a better room. The doctor offers Otto his room, the staff say that won't be nessecary. They give him room 176.

• The clerk hands a message to Baron. While preparing for his new room Otto drops his hat, Baron picks it up for him. Baron introduces Otto to the Doctor. 
• The Baron meets a Man dressed like a limo driver. Baron teels him not to come into the lobby, but the man insists becuase time is getting short.
• The stenographer comes in and is sent up to Preysings room. She catches the elevator with Otto, Baron, and Mr. Pimenov.
• She goes into Preysings room, but she is asked to wait outside becuase he needs to get dressed.
• Outside Otto is explaining to Baron that he took out all his savings and plans to live it up while he can, Baron seeing his opportunity, calls Otto his freind.
• The Baron trys to make small talk but is rejected by the stenographer. He then askes her to dance, She say no. He finds out that she is Mr. Preysings stenographer. He asks if she would mind taking some dictation from him, she rolls her eyes. But he charms his way to a date with her tommorrow at 5 pm in the yellow dancing room.

• Otto comes by and asks to speak to the Baron. Ms. Flem's eyes light up when she hears that he is a Baron. Otto invites them for wine and caviar in his new room. Mr Preysing finally is ready and call Ms. Flem into his room.
• Otto tells Baron that he has worked in Mr. Preysing's textile factory for a long time and knows him very well. As Otto and Baron are talking, Suzette comes out of room 170 and tells them to be quiet becuase she is sleeping.
• In the dancer's room: We finally see the Grusinskaya. She says she is very tired and cold and cannot dance tonight. The package from Baron is opened it is a gown. The hotel calls and says that her car is here, she send it away. Mr Pemenov comes in to get her but she says she does no want to go becuase there was so few in the audience and there was no applause. 

• Her manager come in and gets on her for not being ready to go. She says she id canceling the performance, he thinks that she is joking. He tells her that the show is sold out. She decides to go. Mr. Pemenov and her manager leave while Grusinkaya gets ready.
• Outside the manager tells Pemenov that he lied to her, in hopes that when she hears the music she will snap out of it.
• Grusinskaya sends Suzette back to take the pearl necklace back to the room because she doesn't want to wear them. The elevator door opens and they are just about to go in but and Flora and an older woman ask to hold the door, Grusinskaya helps them in. Baron was waiting outside the elevator but does not go in.
• Grusinskaya get in her car and drives away.
• Baron is talking to Adalphis about self-control. Baron's limo driver tells him that he late the dancer has already left. I guess the plan is for Baron to steal the pearls tonight and take the midnight train out of there. The limo driver says the others say that he is too much of a gentleman and too scared to do it. Baron says he is just being careful. Baron doesn't like his tone, it's all wrong. He sends him away.

• Back to Preysing: The stenographer is busy typing up the merger documents, Preysing is easily distracted by her legs. He asks her about the men she was talking too. She keeps trying to keep him on track. A bellhop comes and gives Preysing a message, it says that the deal with Manchester is off.  He sends her away.
• While Preysing is contemplating the consequences, Baron is seen outside his window slinking across the balcony.
• Baron scales the building to get to Grusinskaya's room.

• Preysing walks out into his balcony. Baron gets into the room and gets the pearls. He heads back to the balcony but sees Preysing so he can't get out. He heads for the door, but a housekeeper is about to come in. He hides in the closet. 
• The phone rings, the housekeeper picks it up and tells the caller that the dancer is not there. Suzette runs in grabs the phone, it's Pemenov on the line, they cannot find the dancer.
• Just then Grusinskaya walks in, they ask her where she been, "I want to be alone." The manager walks out saying that she will be alone because this is the last straw. Everybody leaves the room, except baron who is still in the closet.
• Grusinskaya starts a shower. Baron makes his way towards the balcony, but must hide behind the shade as Grusinskaya walks into the room to make a call to the theater. She tells Pemenov where she is and finds out that Dupree is dancing in her place. She tells him she's finished. She hangs up the phone, thinking about what she'll do. She decides to commit suicide.
• Baron steps out from the shades, he covers his track by acting like a admirer, who often would just go into her room just to breathe the same air she did.
• He says he could of left out the window unnoticed but couldn't because he couldn't stand to see her in such despair. She asks who he is, he says he is just someone who can love her. She asks him to leave because she wants to be alone, he begs her to let her stay. She says he can stay for just a minute.

• The doctor and Otto are walking down the hall, talking about about a party Otto just came from. Otto stumbles around his room, very drunk,  and passes out.
• Back to those switchboard operators. taking calls.
• Back to Preysing: He is in the meeting with Saxonia. He dances around the subject whenever Manchester is brought up. There is an argument about who approached who first about the merger, Preysing insists that Saxonia came to him first.
• Grusinskaya is talking about when she was in school but then asks about baron. He tells her his name and about his life. He says he belongs in jail for the things he done in his life. He confesses about about being a hotel thief, but says everything he feels about her is true, he shows her the pearls. She can't believe it, she throws the pearls down and says he can keep them, and tells him to leave. 
• He says he needed money that why he did it but he couldn't go through with it. They kiss.

• Grusinskaya is in a much better mood. Suzette knocks on the door, Grusinskaya sends her away. Pemonov calls and tells her about rehearsals. Grusinskaya wants Baron to go to Vienna with her. He says he doesn't have the money, she offers to pay, he declines but says he will get the money for the train. He leaves.
• Suzette sees Baron leave. She and the manager come into the room. He tells her that the Vienna engagement has been canceled, Grusinskaya calls him mad. and Suzette and the manager leave. Grusinskaya calls Baron just to tell him she is happy.
• In the bar, the Doctor is ranting about the hotel to Otto, "Hundred different doors leading to one hall, no one knows anything about the person next to them. When you leave; someone occupies your room, lies in your bed, that's the end."

• Back to Preysing: Dr. Zimmerman is pleading with Saxonia to agree to the merger. The Saxonia people start to leave deciding against the merger. Preysing seeing that his company is in a crisis, he tells the Saxonia people that the deal with Manchester was successful, Saxonia immediately sign the papers and agrees to the merger.
• Preysing shows Zimmerman the telegram he got earlier. Zimmerman tells him he must go to England to get the Manchester deal straightened out. But first they decide to celebrate the merger, they leave for the yellow room to find the stenographer.
• The stenographer makes her way down to the yellow room and asks Otto id he has seen Baron. Otto tells her that he has been with him all day. Baron comes by and Ms. Flem and him hit the dance floor.
• Baron tells Ms. Flem that he has been out all day chasing money. Baron asks Ms.Flem to dance with Otto. She says he is very different than he was yesterday. Baron tells her that h fell in love last night.
• Preysing asks to speak to Ms.Flem but Baron tells him that she is busy. She asks Otto to dance.

• Mr. Preysing comes in again and tells Ms.Flem that he has a big typing job right now and that Otto will not accept her invitation to dance. Otto asks Preysing "Does the world belong to you Mr. Preysing? Haven't I got any right to live"
• Baron comes by to see whats going on. Ms. Flem takes Otto off to dance. Baron tells Preysing to leave Otto alone.
• While dancing Otto tells Ms. Flem that for the first time in his life he's happy. He starts to stumble and has to stop. Preysing seeing his opportunity take Ms. Flem to the bar and tells Otto to go away.
• Otto tells Preysing that he is not taking orders from him here, that he cannot just go around insulting people. that he is just an ordinary man who married into money. Preysing fires back and calls him an embezzler, because he's there a the Grand. Preysing fire him. Otto tells Preysing "If one of your employee was half as stupid in a small way then you are in big way..."
• Preysing turns around and starts to choke Otto.

• Preysing say again that Otto is fired. Otto laughs and tells Preysing that he is dying and before your can discharge him he'll be dead. Preysing storms off. Baron come by and comforts Otto.
• Senf, the porter, is talking to another employee about his hospital visit.
• Preysing tells Ms. Flem that he needs to go to England and he invites her to be his secretary.
• Otto invites Baron to the casino, but he declines because he is broke. Baron leaves to talk to the Limo driver. Baron tells him that he quits and is working on a way to pay back the money.
• The driver tells him that he might find a bullet in his instead. Baron leaves to meet Grusinskaya.
• Grusinskaya is on her way to the theater she invites Baron. But he can't go, she leaves.
• Otto comes back and offer to give the Baron some money, he refuse but instead takes Otto up on his gambling invitation.
• Up in Otto's room they get a few fellows to play cards. Baron quickly loses. However Otto is raking it in. After Otto wins all the money the other starts to leave, but Otto wants them to stay and live it up like he is doing. Otto all riled up,drops his wallet and faints.
• As Otto wakes up the doctor says he hasn't got much time. Baron pocket Otto's wallet. Otto suddenly wakes up looking for his wallet. Otto's cries in despair because that money is last thing he has in the world.
• Baron feeling bad for Otto takes the wallet out of his pockets, pretending to just find it, gives it back to Otto. Baron says it late and leaves.

• Walking past room 170, he starts to knock, but walks away. He meets up with Ms.Flem who is staying there for the night as Preysing's secretary. Baron leaves.
• Grusinskaya enter the hotel from the theater. Her manager goes to Baron's room and knock,but there is no answer.
• Back in Preysing's Room: Ms. Flem is getting ready for bed,Preysing comes in and try make his moves on her, but she ignores them. Preysing sees shadow in the other room. He goes in to investigate.
• Preysing finds Baron in the room. Baron feigns ignorance and tries to leave out the door but it is locked. Preysing confronts Baron and demands that he give back what he stole. Baron give him his wallet back, tells him he was desperate, and begs for mercy. 
• Preysing says that Baron is a thief and is going to jail. Preysing heads for the phone to call the police. Baron tries for the balcony but Preysing grabs him. Preysing then begins to savagely hit Baron with the phone.

• Ms. Flem walks in and sees what Preysing has done ans runs out of the room screaming. She heads to Otto's room and tells him to go to the Baron in Preysing's room. 
• Otto gets to Preysing's room and see the Baron dead on the floor, Preysing tells him that he was trying to steal from him. Otto says that that is something to kill someone over.
• Preysing tries to get Otto to lie when the police interrogate him he refuses and grabs the phone to call the police.
• Grusinskaya is in her room, she comments that the music has stopped, that it shouldn't be this quiet in the Grand Hotel, and that her congratulatory flowers make her thing of funerals (Wow laying it on think with the metaphors) Grusinskaya says she cannot wait for Italy, she is going to be so happy there. She calls the Baron's room but there is no answers
• Outside they load the body into Buggy. Preysing gets escorted out in handcuffs.
• Senf comes in for work after staying up all night at the hospital and is told about the murder. He is saddened by Baron's death.
• Suzette tells the housekeepers that they must not tell Grusinskaya about the baron.
• Ms. Flem is still in Otto's room, he asks how she is doing. She is very sad. Otto invites Ms.Flem to stay with him, she agrees. They order two ticket to Paris.
• Grusinskaya tries to find Baron. Her manager say he may be already on the train. They rush her out to the car. it drives away.
• As they leave another car drives up, two more guests arrive.
• The front counter phone rings, it's the hospital for Senf. His wife is fine and she has give birth to a boy.
• Otto and Ms. Flem step out of the elevator, grab their tickets, tip the bellhops, and walk out of the hotel on their way to Paris.
• The doctor end the movie with the same line that he said in the beginning of the movie. "The Grand Hotel... People coming, going... Nothing ever happens." Fade out. The end.

Review:

• Plot: I have always like these types of movies, where the story arcs seem unrelated and begin to intertwine and connect. Basically there are five different stories in the movie. Grusinskaya's story: She is a famous dancer who has almost reached the end of her dancing career. Baron's story: A Baron who is desperate for money plans to steal a pearl necklace to pay off his debt. Preysing's Story: A company president who travels to meet with another company to set up a merger. Otto's Story: An terminally ill factory worker withdrawals all his saving to live it up in a fancy hotel. Senf's story (Not as important as the others): An overworked hotel porter must work while his wife is having a baby. Each of these stories can stand on it's own but the fact that they intertwine make for a very good movie and a very long play by play. 10/10
• Acting: This movie definitely has star power. Greta Garbo, John Barrymore, Joan Crawford, Wallace Beery, Lionel Barrymore, Lewis Stone, and Jean Hersholt. I of course have only heard of a few and some of those only indirectly from their famous offspring but they each are great in this. Garbo play the dancer and runs the gamut of emotions throughout the movie, no wonder she was voted as one of the great actresses of all time. John Barrymore played a very good Baron, very smooth and charming. Joan Crawford is very beautiful and played Ms. Flem very well. Wallace Beery was good as Preysing, who was angry throughout most of the film but was not very convincing when he had to be scared. Lionel Barrymore, one of my favorite characters in the movie, was great especially the scene when he finally stands up to Preysing. Lewis Stone  who played the doctor and Jean Hersholt who played Senf both delivered their few lines very well. Overall, great acting throughout. 10/10
• Technical Aspects: The pace of the movie was excellent, even though it ran more than two hours, it didn't feel like it. A very dense story with complex characters could very have dragged on, but the way it was shot and edited made it very enjoyable. The lobby scenes were done very well, with the camera following from each character to the next. There were a couple bad edits that I noticed but nothing too bad. 9/10
• Overall: A great movie with great stories play by great actors. 29/30

Next Movie:

• Cavalcade