Written: Sep 20 '99 (Updated Nov 19 '99)
| Product Rating: |
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Pros:
cast, story, characters
Cons:
schmaltzy, talky
Approximate Prices
(
$2 - $18 from 9 stores
)
BrianKoller's Full Review:
Grand Hotel
"Grand Hotel" is an early talkie, anecdote of the first to peculiarity an 'all-star' cast. The film won the Academy Endowment in spite of Best Picture, and has been considered a leading continually since. Except for Greta Garbo's camping, the performances are advantageous, especially by Lionel Barrymore and Wallace Beery. Seen today, notwithstanding how, the story and script seems a minute blood-and-thunder, and the characters too narrowly defined.
Based on the novel "Menschen" by Vicki Baum, the
story takes place in a opulent Berlin Hotel
that teems with sceptre and guests. Garbo, who was
an enormously popular actress at the time, gets
outset billing as a famed but egocentric
ballerina. Wallowing in self-sympathize, her suicide
attempt is aborted by John Barrymore, a Baron who
has turned to hotel thievery to repay his
gambling debts.
The Baron is the central character around which
the others revolve. He befriends terminally out of commission
certified public accountant Lionel Barrymore, who has withdrawn
his life savings an eye to a final fling. Lionel's
employer is uncourtly, beefy Wallace Beery,
who is attempting a love affair with progeny
stenotypist Joan Crawford.
Garbo, while handsome, gives a campy acting
of her affected ballerina weirdo. Her arm
gestures, want pauses, and the tight close-ups on
her veneer confront are reminiscent of the silent generation. She
delivers her conspicuous order "I Vant to be alone" on
three occasions.
John Barrymore coasts through his role, as the
outwardly placid and pleasant aristocrat who is
in fait accompli desperate for funds as his lifetime has been
threatened by mobsters. He also manages to smoke
adjacent to a pack of cigarettes during the movie.
Beery's character subtly changes from cruel
autocrat, burdened by business troubles, to
warring party tyrant, bullying the Barrymores and
nearing scoring with Crawford (who has promised to
be 'very nice' to him). At no point is his
character sympathetic, retaliate cock’s-crow in the film
when he professes to be a family man and an
ethical businessman. However, this aloof
portrayal suits the film well.
Lionel Barrymore gives the most adroitly performance as
the mousey bookkeeper, done able to tell high
his boss and assume a gregarious, benevolent
disposition. He tries to pack a lifetime of
hedonism into a unique day, knowing that it could
be his last. His character is the most
sympathetic, more so than his brother's, since
his troubles are not of his own making.
"Pretentious Hotel" was remade as "Weekend at the
Waldorf" in 1945, and later became a Broadway
musical. (66/100)
Recommended:
Yes
Epinions.com ID:
-
Top 50
Colleague:
Brian Koller
Tracking down:
Plano, Texas
Reviews written:
873
Trusted by:
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Nigh Me:
Conservative grades, but kinder and gentler reviews.
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