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"People come. People go. Nothing ever happens," one world-weary patron (Lewis Stone) of Berlin's finest hotel comments. Movie audiences knew better. They were witnessing the glorious comings, goings and intersecting stories of a starry array billed as "the greatest cast in stage or screen history!"
Ruined aristocrat John Barrymore. Terminally ill clerk Lionel Barrymore. Ruthless tycoon Wallace Beery. Scheming stenographer Joan Crawfoes. And disillusioned ballerina Greta Garbo. Teaming them was a masterstroke whose success fostered more star-packed extravaganzas. The radiant film captured the 1931-32 Best Picture Academy Award. What a grand showcase of the allure and style of classic movie-making!
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
I bought this movie solely for the purpose of seeing Greta Garbos performance as well as Joan Crawfords, what I found was an interesting sample of Hollywoods golden age, at its very best! The story covers several people and how their lives not only mingle as the movie draws to its close, but how their lives are changed forever, but not all being happy endings. Garbo and Crawford steal the show, but the male cast lend strong support also. The one aspect of the film is that it has not quite stood the test of time, though it is still excellent watching and the first star vehicle ever in Hollywood (it was later equalled with "Dinner at 8" starring Marie Dressler) and lends itself to be the finest of its kind. Whether watching it for a star or for its screenplay, it makes riveting watching throughout. It won an Oscar for best picture defeating such movies as "Shanghai Express".
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Wonderful performances and photography. I am still amazed at how MGM could build film sets like that (the hotel set was apparently the largest ever built in those times).
The story cannot fail to touch you and the extra DVD menu brings you back to the premier night with Crawford's arrival at
the Chinese Theatre. It might not be Garbo's 'deepest' role but she cannot fail to move you even without speaking or to make you smile with a sometimes over dramatized performance that fits perfectly with the times and the character played.
The story cannot fail to touch you and the extra DVD menu brings you back to the premier night with Crawford's arrival at
the Chinese Theatre. It might not be Garbo's 'deepest' role but she cannot fail to move you even without speaking or to make you smile with a sometimes over dramatized performance that fits perfectly with the times and the character played.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
i love this film, it has charm, drama, a bit of comedy and also those marvellous sets. "M.G.M" sure knew how to spend money on their films.
this was the first film i saw with that swedish beauty greta garbo and how stunning she is too! her scenes with john barrymore have a genuine sense of sexual passion to them. during the scene where she kisses him for the first time, garbo held on to barrymore after the director called cut. she was known for being a bit of a recluse and also for displaying moments of intense shyness according to co-star lionel barrymore. however, when she heard that she would be starring opposite john barrymore, greta garbo was looking forward to it and even waited for barrymore to arrive on the set apparently on the first day of shooting.
wallace beery plays the least sympathetic character in the picture, what with his harsh, uncompromising behaviour, both as a businessman and as a person. he also quite a sleaze with his secretary, played by a young joan crawford.
lionel barrymore plays the most sympathetic character as a man who hasn't much time left and so, he wishes to enjoy himself whilst he has the chance.
his younger brother john plays a raffles-type character who needs to urgently settle a debt by planning to steal some of garbo's priceless pearls.
a true classic.
this was the first film i saw with that swedish beauty greta garbo and how stunning she is too! her scenes with john barrymore have a genuine sense of sexual passion to them. during the scene where she kisses him for the first time, garbo held on to barrymore after the director called cut. she was known for being a bit of a recluse and also for displaying moments of intense shyness according to co-star lionel barrymore. however, when she heard that she would be starring opposite john barrymore, greta garbo was looking forward to it and even waited for barrymore to arrive on the set apparently on the first day of shooting.
wallace beery plays the least sympathetic character in the picture, what with his harsh, uncompromising behaviour, both as a businessman and as a person. he also quite a sleaze with his secretary, played by a young joan crawford.
lionel barrymore plays the most sympathetic character as a man who hasn't much time left and so, he wishes to enjoy himself whilst he has the chance.
his younger brother john plays a raffles-type character who needs to urgently settle a debt by planning to steal some of garbo's priceless pearls.
a true classic.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Very Good
I was very pleased with the quickness of goods, the DVD also arrived in good condition i would recommend
Published on 15 Oct 2009 by Ms. S. Ellis
Classic Morality tale well told.
Joan Crawford and the Barrymores steal this picture and there is not much even Garbo can do about it.
Amazing stuff. One of the best films ever made by MGM. Read more
Amazing stuff. One of the best films ever made by MGM. Read more
Published on 15 Aug 2009 by MrViewer
The two most beautiful women of hollywood in one film
Greta and Joan loverly. This is one of my favorite films, Garbo as an over emotional ballerina Grusinskaya and Joan as a typist Flaemmchen, both fall fron John Barrymore who... Read more
Published on 26 Jan 2007 by Ms. A. Montague
Garbo lets it down
One of the most legendary efforts of early Hollywood talkies, 'Grand Hotel' fails to be completely satisfactory three quarters of a century later. Read more
Published on 24 Feb 2004 by Michael Bo
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