Grand Hotel Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Rich people problems get temporarily solved in a fancy building, but don’t worry, everything is still awful.

🍿 Grand Hotel: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Setting the Scene at the Grand Hotel

The film opens at Berlin’s Grand Hotel, a luxurious hub where lives intersect. Dr. Otternschlag, a war-scarred doctor, observes the comings and goings, famously stating, “Grand Hotel… always the same. People come, people go. Nothing ever happens.” This sets the stage for the interwoven stories about to unfold within the hotel’s walls.

The Ballerina and the Baron

Grusinskaya, a melancholic Russian ballerina, battles despair and considers ending her life. Meanwhile, Baron Felix von Geigern, a charming but impoverished nobleman, plans to steal her valuable pearls to settle his debts. Their paths collide when the Baron enters her room, leading to an unexpected connection and a budding romance as he saves her from suicide.

Ambition and Industry

Flaemmchen, a young stenographer, seeks to improve her circumstances and catches the eye of General Director Preysing, a ruthless industrialist facing financial ruin. He hires her as his secretary, but his intentions are far from professional. Otto Kringelein, Preysing’s former bookkeeper, learns he is terminally ill and decides to spend his remaining days living lavishly at the Grand Hotel, seeking a taste of the life he’s always been denied.

Intersecting Destinies

As the characters’ lives intertwine, Kringelein befriends Flaemmchen and the Baron, finding solace and companionship. Preysing, desperate to secure a deal to save his company, becomes increasingly ruthless. The Baron, torn between his feelings for Grusinskaya and his financial obligations, finds himself in a dangerous situation.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Grusinskaya (Greta Garbo): A temperamental Russian ballerina struggling with her career and seeking solace in love.
• Baron Felix von Geigern (John Barrymore): An impoverished nobleman turned jewel thief who finds redemption through love.
• Flaemmchen (Joan Crawford): An ambitious stenographer navigating the complexities of love and social mobility.
• General Director Preysing (Wallace Beery): A ruthless and cunning businessman facing financial ruin and moral compromises.
• Otto Kringelein (Lionel Barrymore): A terminally ill bookkeeper who decides to live life to the fullest in his final days.
• Doctor Otternschlag (Lewis Stone): A scarred doctor who provides cynical commentary on the lives of the hotel guests.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Dr. Otternschlag: “Grand Hotel… always the same. People come, people go. Nothing ever happens.” – This line serves as a cynical commentary on the transient nature of life and the drama within the hotel.
• Grusinskaya: “I want to be alone.” – An iconic line spoken by Garbo’s character, capturing her desire for solitude amidst her emotional turmoil.
• Baron Felix von Geigern: “Pearls are cold. Everything is cold and finished.” – The Baron says this to Grusinskaya after she expresses that the pearls were cold when he gives them back.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $700,000
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: $32

💥 Grand Hotel Reviews

Personal Review

I was absolutely captivated by ‘Grand Hotel.’ The intertwining stories of these diverse characters, set against the backdrop of such a luxurious hotel, created a mesmerizing experience. Garbo’s performance as the ballerina was so dramatic and touching, and I was completely drawn into the Baron’s story. The ending left me with a bittersweet feeling, pondering the fleeting nature of life and happiness. I definitely recommend watching this classic!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of classic Hollywood cinema”
  • “Viewers interested in ensemble dramas”
  • “Those fascinated by pre-Code era films”
  • “Admirers of Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford, and the Barrymore brothers”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Brief violence”
  • “Implied sexual situations”
  • “Themes of suicide and despair”

Professional Reviews

• Hollywood Reporter: “A landmark film showcasing early ensemble storytelling. The opulent art deco design is stunning. While melodramatic, the performances weave together threads of desperate characters into a cohesive tapestry of class, romance, and desperation. Edmund Goulding’s direction keeps the pace engaging and entertaining.
• Variety: “A fascinating look into the last days of the Weimar Republic as seen from the balcony of a suite at the Grand Hotel in Berlin. Garbo’s performance is one of her best as well.

Audience Reactions

The performances of the cast, especially Joan Crawford, were praised.: The intersecting story arcs are very well created and very well done.

Overall Consensus: A classic melodrama with a stellar cast that still captivates despite its age.

Awards

1. Academy Award (Best Picture)- 1932

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “John Barrymore was so excited to work with Greta Garbo that he accepted a three-picture deal with MGM.”
• “Grand Hotel is notable for being the only film to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards without receiving any other nominations.”
• “The film is based on Vicki Baum’s novel ‘Menschen im Hotel’ and a subsequent stage play.”

🖥️ How to Watch Grand Hotel?

Currently, “Grand Hotel” is available for purchase or rental on platforms like Amazon Prime Video. Check these services for the most up-to-date availability.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Grand Hotel, you might like these similar films:

• Dinner at Eight (1933): Similar ensemble cast and intertwined storylines set around a social gathering.
• Weekend at the Waldorf (1945): A remake of Grand Hotel, set in a New York hotel during World War II, with similar character dynamics.
• Gosford Park (2001): A modern ensemble drama set in a grand English country house, exploring the lives of both the wealthy and their servants.
• The Player (1992): An Altman film with many stars. Also, The studio making Grand Hotel references a grand hotel.
• Skyscraper Souls (1932): Another early sound film with interconnected plot lines featuring several major stars, and is about people scheming.

🛒 Grand Hotel Related Products

• Grand Hotel (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]: High-definition digital transfer, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray. An essay by film scholar Farran Smith Nehme
• Greta Garbo: A Life Apart: This biography offers a detailed look at Greta Garbo’s life, career, and enduring mystique.
• Deco Style: Graphic Design of the Roaring Twenties: Explore the Art Deco design that characterized the 1920s and early 1930s, showcasing the architecture and aesthetics of the era.
• Grand Hotel Movie Poster: A high-quality reproduction of the original movie poster.

🎧 Soundtrack

Grand Hotel features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Soldier on the Shelf” – performed by Sherman Myers (i.e. Montague Ewing
• “The Merry Widow” – performed by Franz Lehar

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

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