The winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1932, and featuring such greats as John Barrymore, Greta Garbo, Lionel Barrymore, and Joan Crawford in the cast, MGM’s “Grand Hotel” is a moving drama about a number of people staying at the Grand Hotel in Berlin. You may want to have tissues handy before pushing the play button.
Before this film, I had not seen many John Barrymore films. From what I had seen, “ham” seemed to be the word that came to mind. Chewing the scenery (in the figurative sense, naturally) seemed to be his trademark, and I couldn’t quite understand his stellar reputation. Although I must admit that some of his scenery chewing was entertaining to watch. He was an alcoholic with a declining career by the time he played Mercutio in “Romeo and Juliet”, one of the first films in which he acted that I recall watching (I had seen him in “The Invisible Woman” previously, but I don’t think I realized at the time who it was I was watching). The performance was, suffice it to say, very hammy. In the 1920 version of “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”, he was, in my opinion, quite handsome as Dr. Jekyll, and more restrained at the beginning of the film. However, before too long the haminess was running rampant. In “Twentieth Century”, the hammy scenery chewing was used for comic effect. (How many times have I used some derivative of the word ham in this paragraph? Don’t worry, I’m about finished with the term for a while.) In a small, more restrained moment of that film, however, there was something in his acting, so different from the usual histrionics (see, I didn’t use that other word!) that moved me. I decided I wanted to see more of his films. Where does “Grand Hotel” fit in? Well, you can call me a John Barrymore fan now. His restrained, emotionally nuanced, heart wrenching performance in the film amazed me.
Now, on to a little plot outline. After the credits, the film opens with an overhead shot of the hotel’s telephone operators. Next we see, one at a time, intercut shots of five of the film’s characters talking on the telephone, and hear parts of their conversations. Senf, the head porter (played by Jean Hersholt), wants news of his wife, who is going to have a baby. Otto Kringelein (played by Lionel Barrymore) wants his will torn up. He has been informed that he hasn’t long to live, and he wants to live it up at the Grand Hotel while he can, spending his savings. Preysing (played by Wallace Beery) - general director of the company for which Kringelein works - converses with his wife’s “Papa” about a merger, and a deal with a cotton company, which are apparently very important to their company. Madame Grusinskaya’s maid Suzette (played by Raphaela Ottiano) informs someone that Madame will not dance today. She seems very concerned about her. Baron von Geigen (not sure of the spelling there) (played by John Barrymore) claims he needs money or he won’t be able to stay at the hotel much longer. After the telephone shots, we see Doctor Otternshlag (played by Lewis Stone), - sitting down and holding a cigarette - who states “Grand Hotel. People coming, going, nothing ever happens.”
Next comes a shot of people walking around in the hotel, and then a marvelous overhead shot of the ground floor, with its circular reception desk, and tiers of the different floors’ balconies overlooking it. Then we are back to the ground floor. The aforementioned Baron, with his daschund on a leash, walks by, and is apparently annoyed by a lady who leans down to pet it. He scoops the dog up and carries it. As the film continues, the Baron meets and befriends Kringelein.
“I may speak to the baron anytime I see him?” asks Kringelein.
The Baron laughs and replies, “Of course Kringelein, why not?”
“Well, I mean when you’re with your smart friends?” says Kringelein.
“I haven’t any friends, Kringelein.” says the Baron, a shade of sadness in his face.
The Baron attempts to make conversation with a woman, but she is not very encouraging at first. She warms up, however, and they make a date for 5:00 tomorrow. She is Miss Flaemmchen (Played by Joan Crawford), stenographer for Mr. Preysing.
Madame Grusinskaya the ballet dancer (played by Greta Garbo) gets up from bed. She proclaims that she can’t dance tonight. She seems depressed and worn. She claims there was no applause last night. But she is convinced by her manager to go and dance. In his hotel room, the Baron talks to his dog. A man enters the room. Apparently the two are working (the Baron and the man, that is, not the dog), together with others, to steal Madame Grusinskaya’s pearls. But things take an unexpected turn.
What can I say that would do justice to John Barrymore’s performance? He displayed such a range of emotions in this role - cheerful and friendly, full of amusement and laughter, contemplative, romantic, with touches of sadness, tenderness, hardheartedness, hopefulness, and worry. He was magnificent. Lionel Barrymore did a great job in his role. It was funny to hear the actor who would later be perhaps best remembered as Mr. Potter in “It’s a Wonderful Life”, railing against “Mister Industrial Magnate Preysing”. Joan Crawford, too, was great in her role. Greta Garbo, in my opinion, overacted somewhat. Wallace Beery excelled as Preysing.
SPOILER ALERT!!!! I had a feeling John Barrymore’s character might die, but I was surprised by the way it happened. Lionel Barrymore and Joan Crawford, in their scene together in the hotel room after the Baron’s death - when Kringelein breaks down at the telephone, and Miss Flaemshen takes it and talks, although she, too, is crying - I found very moving. I was crying along with them. END SPOILER ALERT
Some time I think I would like to do a more in-depth commentary on John Barrymore’s acting in this film. Despite the Baron being a crook, having a skewed code of conduct, and a crippling sense of pride, Barrymore infused the character with such warmth and dimension that it is easy to care about him and get “caught up” in his plight.
Oh, and this is the film where Garbo uttered her famous line - “I want to be alone.” :)
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