A good sophisticated drama of the early talkie era | Grand Hotel (Snap case)

All Star MGM Extravaganza | Grand Hotel (Snap case) | John Barrymore, Lionel Barrymore

DVDs:


	• Grand Hotel (Snap case) John Barrymore, Lionel Barrymore Warner Home Video, 2004 average customer review:based on 49 reviews view larger image
	for more information click here

highly recommended

Radiant glamour and dazzling exuberance !

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.

for more information click here

A good sophisticated drama of the early talkie era

This film doesn't seem that remarkable by today's standards, but in 1932 it was quite innovative. MGM used an all-star cast in a bracelet of intertwining stories that involved them all. The ballerina (Garbo) misses Russia, feels life is empty and pointless, and is saved from killing herself by the Baron (John Barrymore) who had been planning to steal her jewels to pay a large debt to some shady people that he owes. The stenographer (Joan Crawford) has set her sights on the Baron believing him to be rich, while she is being eyed by her employer, a wealthy industrialist (Wallace Beery) who is the former employer of a dying man (Lionel Barrymore) who intends to spend his life savings experiencing what he has been missing out on all these years, who in turn is befriended by the Baron. The only character who exists in isolation is Garbo's, who has a relationship with the Baron but noone else.

This is the only film to ever win the Best Picture Oscar and be nominated for no other awards. This is not because the picture is a poor one. Instead it is probably because there are so many subplots and so many players that it is hard to zero in on any one of them and say a particular link in the chain is outstanding compared to the others and therefore deserves an award. However, altogether, the actors and subplots form an entertaining film. Since this film was such a commercial success the entire formula was reused in "Dinner at Eight" the following year, and even used part of the cast from this film - John Barrymore, Lionel Barrymore, and Wallace Beery. Oddly enough that film was superior to "Grand Hotel" in many ways, but didn't receive any Oscar nominations.

Finally, much has been said about Greta Garbo's over-the-top performance in this one. I have to admit, if this was my introduction to Garbo I would be asking myself what is the big deal about her supposed great reputation. She's practically playing Ophelia at certain points in the film. However, if you think about it, Garbo's portrayal is an appropriate one considering her character's circumstances. She was a ballerina in Czarist Russia who has the world ripped out from underneath her as a result of the Russian Revolution. Now, late in her career, she is surrounded by sycophants and isn't even missed when she runs out on a performance. The little documentary that comes with the DVD does a good job of explaining more about Garbo and her performance. There's no commentary track on this DVD. Instead there is a comedy short that parodies "Grand Hotel" plus some theatrical trailers and movietone extras talking about the premiere of Grand Hotel in addition to the mini-documentary I already mentioned.

This latest release is being done for the sake of repackaging the last release. If you have the previous release and you are happy with the packaging, there is no reason to buy this one too.

for more information click here

All Star MGM Extravaganza

Yep, "Grand Hotel", MGMs star-studded extravaganza.
Joan Crawford, Greta Garbo, Lionel & John Barrymore, Wallace Beery and
more.
Despite it being extremely dated, I enjoyed this film.
The art deco sets are incredible.
The plot, OTOH, leaves something to be desired.
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.

for more information click here

Dazzling!

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!

for more information click here

Crawford Takes Her Place at the Grand Hotel

"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.

for more information click here

In this great screen drama, the glitz and glitter of Berlin's opulent Grand Hotel comes alive with its star-studded guests and employees: Greta Garbo, John Barrymore, Joan Crawford, Wallace Beery and Lionel Barrymore. Year: 1932

DVD Features:
Documentary:New making-of documentary Checking Out: Grand Hotel
Featurette:Vitaphone musical short Nothing Ever Happens
Newsreel:Premiere newsreel
Other:Just a Word of Warning theatre announcement
Scene Access
Theatrical Trailer:Trailers of this and the 1945 remake Weekend at the Waldorf

for more information click here