Berlin?s opulent Grand Hotel is a place where ?nothing ever happens?, according to the world-weary Dr Otternschlag (Stone), who is one of the many guests. He is a fleeting character, but one who seems to see a lot, despite this claim. There are five main players in this story of intertwining lives. Madame Grusinskaya (Garbo) is a jaded prima ballerina who wants nothing more than to ?be alone?. Flaemmchen (Crawford) is a worldly stenographer for hire, and cheeky to boot. Preysing (Beery) is the gruff General Director of a large company who is desperate to secure a company merger to keep his business afloat. Otto Kringelein (Lionel Barrymore) is a very sweet but dying office clerk intent on living it up (for once in his life) in his final weeks. Finally, there?s the suave but financially desperate Baron Von Geiger (John Barrymore) who moonlights as the hotel thief with a heart of gold. I don?t want to blow the plot, but expect a real mixed bag of emotions as you watch these intersecting stories build to a climax without ever venturing further than the hotel foyer. There?s humour, sadness, romance, triumph and tragedy in no particular order. It?s just another piece of classic drama from the ?golden years? of Hollywood.

The plot is based on a novel by German ?migr? Vicki Baum, is directed competently by Edmund Goulding, and is a simple but great idea. It?s fly-on-the-wall stuff. Things DO happen in hotels, whether fellow guests know it or not. I fell in love with this film when I first saw it. Apart from the fact that it features the unique talents of Greta Garbo (I?m biased here, but she?s so beautiful!), it?s an all-star MGM cast where everyone pulls their weight in terms of acting ability. Many have said that Crawford steals scene after scene from her co-stars. I do agree with this on the whole ? there?s something about her character and way of delivering lines that is perfectly flirtatious and SO appropriate. I silently rejoiced whenever she was on screen - she seemed supremely comfortable in the role. Yet EVERYONE?S so good! I?m only sorry that they didn?t pair Crawford with Garbo for even a brief scene together, but it was not to be. THAT scene would have made cinema history. My imagination has run away with me here. What else can I promote?! The set design is wonderful (thanks to famous MGM art director Cedric Gibbons), and the actresses costumes are always interesting when MGM?s legendary Adrian provides them. There?s a funky art-deco look to the whole production.

It was nominated and won for Best Picture at the 1932 Academy Awards. It must?ve been too ?sensitive? a task to nominate the various cast members for individual awards, pitting them against each other, as there are no actor/ess nominations for this film, and I?m sure it isn?t from lack of merit, somehow. My cynicism dominates here, but it would?ve been clearly seen as a battle of the MGM egos, and casualties were likely. Who would want a pissed off ?stable of stars? to mollycoddle in 1933? So I guess ?someone? figured it wasn?t worth the risk! Interesting politics. It?s STILL a fine film, despite the lack of awards.

THE EXTRAS

The extras on this DVD are quite good considering the age of this film. I was especially surprised to find a little gem entitled ?Nothing Ever Happens?, a 15 minute musical short from Vitaphone that gently but cleverly pokes fun at the film. The effort they went to in producing this ?short? is just wonderful! It?s a great addition to the package, and definitely the highlight of these extras. I can?t explain it - you have to see the film, THEN watch this short. It?s a classic lampooning.

Next in significance is the ?Premiere Newsreel?, approximately 10 minutes in length, and was shot on the night of the film?s premiere screening at the legendary Grauman?s Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard in LA. You know, the place where all the famous hand and footprints line the pavement. It?s an interesting document in cinema history. Many of the film?s stars attend with their respective partners. It?s clearly a ?big deal? for all involved, especially the MGM ?stable? of stars. It?s worth noting that this was perhaps the first time in cinema history where an all-star studio ?ensemble? cast of BIG names all appeared in one film. The sound quality is (understandably) poor, but audible, and it may seem surprising just how stiff and ?rehearsed? all of the (presumably) ad-lib dialogue seems, but I believe it is how most stars of that era approached their public ? VERY carefully! Image was everything. Unfortunately the divine Garbo is a notable absentee, but for anyone who knows anything about her lifelong attitude to stardom, this is standard behaviour. So ? all told, it?s a great little window into the prevailing star-psychology of the times. It?s endearing because this ?holistic? star attitude no longer exists in Hollywood, no matter how hard they try. And they DO try.

?Checking Out: Grand Hotel? is a mini-documentary, about 20 minutes in length, that gives all the information most people will want to know about the film. Standard fare for more modern films, but definitely a rarity for the older black and white ones. I was very happy to see that a genuine attempt had been made to put together a background to this wonderful 1932 film. It?s well worth the effort, so I thank Warner Brothers for bothering. Their extras for this film are GOOD for what they reveal about another era of film-making in Hollywood. Goes to show that you don?t have to wade through 3 hours of often boring ?overkill? extras to get a real FEEL for the film and it?s context. THANKS WB ? I?m impressed, and that?s rare for me!

The more standard features are included ? there?s a theatrical trailer, scene selection and a really great choice of subtitles (English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Arabic, Romanian and Dutch). English and Italian subtitles for the hearing impaired are also thrown in.

?Just A Word of Warning? is here called a ?theatre announcement? and amounts to another version of a theatrical trailer, being similar in style and length.

CONCLUSION

?I want to be alone?. Yes ? this is the 1932 film where Garbo makes THAT famous statement, one that will crystalise in the minds of the world media and fans from that point on, and mythologise her persona. This film is packed with MGM stars from cinema?s ?golden years? ? Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford, Wallace Beery, Lewis Stone and John and Lionel Barrymore (yes?.Drew?s relatives!). The acting is great, and the sets and costumes are a feast for fans of classic Hollywood style. Winning the Best Picture academy award for that year, this is a well-told tale of five characters whose lives intertwine in a typical day at the Grand Hotel in Berlin. It?s got a little bit of everything in it, trust me. If you want to broaden your horizons with film classics, this is a very good place to start.