One of the greatest early sound films, Grand Hotel (1932) also developed techniques that would contribute to the process of set manipulation and production within a film. The hotel lobby scenes featured a three hundred and sixty degree desk, adding a revolving vantage point around the action, giving the film a less stagy feel. The dialogue is sharp and elegant, and the format of the film became so well known, that any movie featuring a group of characters in a busy place with overlapping stories is called a "Grand Hotel Theme." The cast is all excellent, including Greta Garbo, John Barrymore, Joan Crawford, Wallace Beery and Lionel Barrymore.
The Grand Hotel in Berlin, where "People come and go. Nothing ever happens.":
A group of strangers find their lives overlapping briefly in the corridors, rooms, lobby and bar. These folks include Baron Felix von Geigern (John Barrymore), a broke aristocrat, and part-time jewel thief. Otto Kringenlein (Lionel Barrymore), a terminally ill man, who, having just found out he will die soon, plans to live out his remaining days squandering his savings in the lap of luxury. Flaemmchen (Joan Crawford), a stenographer and part-time model...
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| Grand Hotel. 1932: Joan Crawford and John Barrymore |
General Director Preysing (Wallace Beery), who is at the Hotel on business...
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| Grand Hotel. 1932 |
and Russian ballet dancer, Grusinskaya (Greta Garbo)...
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| Grand Hotel. 1932: Greta Garbo |
who has grown despondent with her life and career...
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| Grand Hotel. 1932: Greta Garbo and John Barrymore |
but finds new love with the Baron...
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| Grand Hotel. 1932: Greta Garbo and John Barrymore |
Friendships develop...
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| Grand Hotel. 1932: Joan Crawford |
and conflicts arise and the stories intertwine and unfold...
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| Grand Hotel. 1932: John Barrymore |
