Stometer
Save your money for something good and enjoyable
2freensel
I saw this movie before reading any reviews, and I thought it was very funny. I was very surprised to see the overwhelmingly negative reviews this film received from critics.
Tayyab Torres
Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.
Yash Wade
Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.
Raoul Pifkey III
What more could you want? A list of great actors and great writing. I think this film was way ahead of its time. This film holds up to today's movies easily.I am reminded of Grand Budapest Hotel. Although this movie is not a satire or comedic as that film was, it has the scope and grandeur of the latter film. It refers openly to, in effect, prostitution for money in order to get a job (sounds familiar), a carefree but sad Baron (Is he really a baron?) who is broke, and charms the ladies into falling in love with him (they can't help themselves and neither can he), and a dying and lowly accountant who works for a brutish boss, and is finding true happiness finally at this late time in his life. (Joan Crawford, John Barrymore, and Lionel Barrymore)These characters and more have a tragic side which is mostly not obvious. All are flawed, and helplessly so. Money plays a central part in this movie. It shows how it can control people's lives and their choices. For example, a good and decent man, the accountant, living a miserable and unhappy life. He has been dealt a bad hand and now he is dying. Perhaps his own choices and lack of courage has controlled his life, but in the process of dying, he finds the courage to face his demons. Would we all find that a freeing aspect, though of course none of us wants his terminal illness. These actors did a great job with their roles, and there are more than I mention here. So this is a great movie, a great character study, and I don't know why I didn't give it a 10.
christopher-underwood
Watching this last night, I was rather surprised to discover that I had never seen it before and also that it is really rather good. I know everybody says it is but I rather expected it to creak a bit, overstay its welcome, be a little too stagey but it is fine. Helped enormously by Joan Crawford who puts in the most sparkling performance and helps get the film off to a roaring start. I found the introduction of Greta Garbo less convincing but gradually warmed to her as she mellowed from the overwrought prima donna to love struck beauty. The Barrymore's, Lionel and John are fantastic and together with the rest of the cast help to keep this ever interesting and amusing film together. The script is perfect and well shared out amongst the fine array of talent, again helping to keep an even flow so that unlike other films of this period there is no plodding centre section and the ending is so sudden and splendid, one is inevitably left with a smile on the face. I can see myself watching this again.
elvircorhodzic
GRAND HOTEL is a drama in which the director tried as a place of major activities to present the narrative framework, rather than the main characters. The film is to the world collected in the largest, most expensive and most luxurious hotel in Berlin. The hotel where nothing happens is full of people. In the hotel each tells his life story. I thought for a moment that this place is the filter through which people dismiss environmental dilemmas, but in the end it turned out that is not so. Grand Hotel is as the world's hive, the platform on which we see the theater of human relations. The film is a classic and scenery very attractive, but I was not impressed.The theme is expressed through rather vague relationship between a man and two women. Which fool now explain relationships? World triggered disillusioned, lack of life and breathing lungs, inability liberation from the chains of the business world, the world of others and other people who live on the body and soul of an individual, and you should start it joy and love. Each of the three persons of the 'triangle' presses the specific fate. None of these three people can not get rid of, and then things like the comedy of confusion flat to develop in the direction of love. The film is somewhat fun, the atmosphere is very good and even felt a slight melancholic tone.Grusinskaya (Greta Garbo) is a Russian ballerina. Her figure and her facial features, gestures in speaking her mind and body are stunning. I probably am not a supporter of the style that the film brings Garbo. It was at one time the most dominant character, but in the second weakest link. However, Greta Garbo in its expression has something that I really like. The Baron Felix Von Geigern (John Barrymore) was the dominant male character in the film, but his performance was not convincing. Otto Kringelein (Lionel Barrymore) is probably the character with which the ordinary worker can relate to. Diving I would characterize it as a little excessive, but very good. Wallace Berry and Lewis Stone do well in small roles. Joan Crawford tried to compete with Greta Garbo. She had a great role that is not used in the right way. I'll be back Greta Garbo. Without her, this film would not be hoped interesting. Greta Garbo, its performance than an ordinary film Grand Hotel made the film to be ethereal, disturbing and exciting, dark and bright as she herself.Grand Hotel is a film about the world, about human destiny, of sorrow, misfortune, loneliness, the poor and frail captive people in the exterior shell only. People have their roles, their professions, their journey just not themselves. As Grusinskaya, or as Kringelein, or as a typist Flaemmchen, or as unfortunate baron, or even as a short tempered materialism charge industrialist Preysing. Without love all people are unhappy.
utgard14
Exceptional all-star MGM drama about the various characters staying at the Grand Hotel and their stories. John Barrymore plays a down-on-his-luck jewel thief. Greta Garbo is a ballet dancer who just "wants to be alone." Lionel Barrymore is a clerk who is dying and has saved up all his money to spend his last days in luxury. Wallace Beery is a villainous German industrialist whose business is teetering on collapse. Joan Crawford is the pretty young stenographer who attracts Beery's lustful eye. Also a memorable turn from Lewis Stone as a doctor with a facial disfigurement from World War I who watches all the goings-on in the hotel and dryly states "Nothing ever happens in the Grand Hotel." They're all great performances but my favorite was probably Lionel Barrymore. A wonderful film that will keep your attention throughout. Dark, mature, sophisticated storytelling. A must-see for everybody.