“Grand Hotel. . . always the same. People come, people go. Nothing ever happens”. But we know this is not so. The winner of Best Picture at the 1932 Academy Awards (the only film to ever win the big prize without being nominated for any other Oscar), Grand Hotel is the first film to ever bring together a who’s who cast to create an ensemble. Breaking the mould, where studios would have had only one or two of their stars in a single film (to cut down on costs as well as avoid strife), MGM united five of their top actors.
The iridescent Greta Garbo plays Grusinskaya, a temperamental prima ballerina who is depressed and disillusioned, feeling like her best days are behind her. The versatile John Barrymore plays the Baron, a man who, despite his aristocratic title, has fallen on hard times, desperate for money. Wallace Beery (Oscar Best Actor winner from the previous year for The Champ) is General Director Preysing, a ruthless company owner who is attempting to form a merger with another company in order to save his own. Another one of the Barrymore’s, Lionel, takes on the role of Otto Kringelein, a terminally ill employee of Preysing, who, for the first time in his difficult life, is enjoying himself, splurging while he lives in the Grand Hotel. Rounding out the main cast, youthful stenographer Flaemmchen (Joan Crawford) is a multifaceted character who is both kind and sultry; believably caring while also looking to get ahead.
The story, which takes place entirely within the Berlin, Germany hotel, follows the cast as they flit around, living their varied lives. Their comings and goings often intersect in interesting ways. The Baron, being threatened as he owes a fair amount of cash, has been tasked with stealing pearls from the wealthy ballerina – though, deep down, he is infatuated with her striking beauty. Despite his shortcomings, he is a kind man, perhaps the least snooty (despite his wealthy title and upbringing), taking the fish-out-of-water Kringelein under his wing. The dying man, unused to lavish lifestyle, overextends himself, trying too hard to make friends while often overindulging in the finer things in life.
Preysing, a haughty high-nose, does not recognize his own employee, then upon hearing that the man works for him, suggests that Kringelein is a thief (as he is enjoying himself at the lavish hotel). Flaemmchen, a lowly stenographer who is always desperate for work, accepts a job from Preysing, despite her not truly liking or trusting the man. Actually, she is attracted to the charming Baron, who does treat her well, though he is more focussed on the money and the prima ballerina.
What follows is a slice of life – love, passion, affairs, friendships, lies, thievery and murder will all rear their heads in unique and surprising ways.
Released prior to the Hays Code being strictly enforced (when Hollywood began to severely censor films), Grand Hotel is rich with sultry drama. At one point, the Baron, who has ingratiated himself with Grusinskaya, begins to kiss the dame (for quite a lengthy time for this era). As the story goes, the pair, who worked well together, continued the make-out session some three minutes after director Edmund Goulding yelled cut. There is a famous line that Garbo utters, “I want to be alone. . .”, which has been associated with her actual personality and real life philosophy. A rather private, shy, quirky individual, she did not like to interact with other celebrities on set, or having many people watch her while she was filming. . . except Barrymore. The two hit it off, with him influencing her to allow photos to be taken with him behind the scenes (something she just did not do).
The half sheet poster for Grand Hotel, which features striking images of the five stars MGM united to create the first ensemble
Some of the dialogue also pushes the envelope. When the Baron discovers early on that Flaemmchen is a stenographer, he slyly asks, “Fascinating. I don’t suppose you’d, uh, take some dictation from me sometime, would you?”. It is fitting, as Crawford oozes vivacious sensuality, and each man is more or less infatuated with her more frank, less conservative nature.
Featuring a superlative cast (star power that does not disappoint in the least), wonderful set design, and a rich dramatic story, Grand Hotel provides a now nostalgic vibe that harkens us back to the golden era of Hollywood. For those of you who do know this era well, it will surely please, while for those who do not, it is a worthwhile way to enter into this bygone time – as its snappy dialogue, quick pacing and engaging star power grips our attention from the very beginning to the utter end. So, enjoy this altogether grand experience. . . and I can promise you that something most definitely will happen.