Grand Hotel (Snap case)
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Movie Reviews of Grand Hotel (Snap case)
Movie Review: Money, Money, Money
Summary: 5 Stars
Lewis Stone with his twisted and burned up face, that looks bright red when he shows his right profile, steals the show if you're looking for the freakish side to pre-Code films. They would not have allowed him to wear that makeup had the film been made a year later. It's still pretty startling and symbolizes, I suppose, Janus, the face that looks backward and forward at the same time: a suitable pendant for the mise en scene of the GRAND HOTEL, where nothing changes, everything is always the same, and yet everything happens if you look at it from a different angle.
It's sort of a mishmash of acting styles, but in general terms we are seeing the final bid of silent acting as a viable art form. Garbo in particular seems to think she is still in silents, as does Wallace Beery, and their wonderful faces are always exquisitely placed within the frame. The brothers Barrymore are in there trying to make sense of modern-day "talkie acting"--unfortunately this gives Lionel the permission he's seeking to go all over the place with those ridiculous moans, snorts and giggles. Really it's enough to make you wonder why all the characters (but Beery) think of him as such a cute "odd duck." He's about as cute as a toad. John Barrymore, on the other hand, breaks on through into the slick modernity of screen acting, calming down his larger than life gestures and sublimating them to a bigger scheme of the what the story demands. (Which is peculiar in many ways and is about as far from the present-day demands of the three act structure as you couldm imagine.) His part is the most difficult as well as the most integrated, but he has to show us that he has fallen in love with Garbo's ballerina at the same time that he is developing some sort of erotic/romantic/paternal feelings for the young stenographer Flaemmchen (Joan Crawford). All the stories revolve around him, and this is possible because of the bizarre "classlessness" of his Baron. Is the Baron a real gentleman, or are his aristocratic affectations part of the con artist's resume? This question is, exquisitely, never answered and the ambiguity is at the heart of the Weimar romance.
Of course things were changing in Berlin in the very year GRAND HOTEL was being produced. Here and there you could swear you are seeing the up and coming signs of Hitler's reign coming on: in the scene, for example, where the grown bellmen line up for their shift and turn their hands palm upwards and down for cleanliness inspection.
And yes, Joan Crawford is pretty great here--though again Lionel Barrymore's relentless hamming prevents me from actually believing Flaemmchen honestly cares for him--though even if she's just after his money, the storyline still works.
Movie Review: All Star MGM Extravaganza
Summary: 5 Stars
Yep, "Grand Hotel", MGMs star-studded extravaganza.
Joan Crawford, Greta Garbo, Lionel & John Barrymore, Wallace Beery and
more.
The art deco sets are incredible.
I never understood the attraction 30's audiences had with Greta "I
vant to be alone" Garbo.
She's not much of a "looker" and her acting is, at best, mediocre.
Her character, as written, is laughably pathetic. Poor widdle Greta,
she vants to be alone. Maybe she should go to the theatre where she
dances - nobody's there!
Lionel Barrymore cringing, whining character is also a bit annoying.
Wallace Beery is great, John Barrymore's hamminess works for him in
this movie, Joan Crawford is beautiful and turns in a credible
performance.
The DVD is great, lots of bonus extras and the video quality is excellent.
Movie Review: Crawford Takes Her Place at the Grand Hotel
Summary: 5 Stars
"Don't you understand? Don't you?" -- Barrymore telling Garbo he loves her.
Vicki Baum's popular novel was given the MGM treatment for the first time in "Grand Hotel." Though it does not hold up as well as its remake, "Weekend at the Waldorf," due to the lack of symmetry between a director and one of the stars, the overall impact is not muted in the least. It remains an entertaining time capsule to the early days of sound pictures, when MGM was just starting to roar.
The story of a diverse group of people crossing paths and dramas, forming bonds and loving, probably seems old hat today. But this is where it all began. With names like Greta Garbo, John and Lionel Barrymore, and Wallace Berry, it is really Joan Crawford who emerged the most memorable. Her sparkling performance showed she could not only hold her own among the more heralded prestige stars, but could actually overshadow them with her charisma.
Garbo is a lonely ballerina in need of love; love which jewel thief John Barrymore will unexpectedly and, surprisingly to him, give her, at least until his desperate need for money brings about tragedy. Lionel Barrymore shines as the dying man truly tasting life for the first time. His performance is adorable and the best here sans Crawford, whose worldly but wistful secretary in search of the good life leaves the most lasting mark.
John Barrymore hadn't yet lost his magic and is excellent here, his performance only muted in scenes with Garbo. This can be attributed in whole to the failure of Garbo and director Edmund Goulding to mesh. Garbo gave a silent film performance in a sound film and Goulding allowed her to do so. It doesn't work for the most part, and creates some stilted moments. Only in the moments when she gives in to Barrymore's love for her does her silent radiance appear, her joy afterward and sheer happiness intoxicating to the viewer.
Berry is also good as the heavy, but once again Crawford overshadows him. You simply can't take your eyes off her, her beauty and charisma luminous proof of her star power. William Daniels' photography, gowns by Adrian, and the art direction of Cedric Gibbons all come together to make "Grand Hotel" one of the spectacular events of early sound film and a must see for Crawford's fans.
Movie Review: Radiant glamour and dazzling exuberance !
Summary: 5 Stars
Grand Hotel is a classic whose genuine glamour, artistic refinement and admirable good taste are still motive of discussion and admiration all over the world.
The agile camerawork, the perfect illumination, superb edition, level performances and rhythm are easily carved in relief since the first shot.
Greta Garbo in her role of the Russian dancer would seem to have anticipated her own signature for the posterity with that emblematic statement "I want to be alone" . On the other hand we may watch a raising promise of the acting as Joan Crawford, besides the consecrated Lionel and John Barrymore.
A film that exudes that inimitable touch of class that has permitted it to live into a fundamental region of our affective memory with almost genetic profile.
Don't miss one of the most relevant Academy Award films ever made.
Movie Review: Dazzling!
Summary: 5 Stars
It's hard to believe that a film made in the early days of talking pictures could be so totally enjoyable for today's audience! The secret, besides a clever script, dazzling sets and costumes, of course is the cast! Wow! Some people complain that the acting is too mannered, especially in the cases of John Barrymore and Greta Garbo but I heartily disagree. Garbo plays a grand diva of the old school--she thinks big, acts big, lives big. Mumbling of the type of modern acting brought on by The Actors' Studio is not appropriate here. This is more akin to Grand Opera---big passions, big gestures. The scenes with Barrymore and Garbo are priceless--two great, beautiful people---look at those perfect profiles! The chemistry between them was apparent. How fortunate we are to have this recorded on film for us.
I did not know who played the spunky little stenographer and was amazed to discover it was Joan Crawford. She was very good here and showed a sweet, innocent quality that she lost somewhere along the way, unfortunately. The rest of the cast, as everyone else has mentioned, is ...stellar!
Visually this is just such a treat. The costumes are wonderful..I loved Garbo's (politically incorrect) full length fur coats.
Usually I have to make mental "allowances" for these old films to compensate for stilted acting and unsophisticated scripts, but this was totally not needed for Grand Hotel. Totally classy, totally enjoyable!