Highly Overrated But Still Good

Don't listen to the negative reviews

When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

This Oscar winner is as varied tonally as it is in it's cast of characters. Romance, comedy, drama, mystery, tragedy...and yet, with all of this going on, it manages to stay fairly dull. The only things that really hold it together are the snappy dialogue and a couple of fantastic characters in Mrs. Flaemmchen and Otto, whose bittersweet ending is moving enough to raise the film above its own melodrama.

General Director Preysing being arrested for killing Baron Felix von Geigern makes little sense. The Baron was trying to rob him and a competent police force would only bring Preysing in for questioning, after which he would probably be released due to self defense. Even the audience knows he acted in anger, its unlikely that it would have resulted in charges.Also unlikely that Grusinskaya could get out of the hotel with a murder in nearby room without hearing about it.

The Grand Hotel in Berlin is the setting for the interconnected stories of the various characters. Baron Felix von Geigern (John Barrymore) lost his wealth over the years while still maintaining a facade by playing cards and thievery. He tries to steal flamboyant fragile Russian ballerina Grusinskaya (Greta Garbo)'s pearls. He befriends meek bookkeeper Otto Kringelein (Lionel Barrymore) trying to live it up at the hotel. German businessman Preysing (Wallace Beery) is trying to complete an important deal and hires stenographer Flaemmchen (Joan Crawford) although she's looking to be more than a typist. Otto is one of Preysing's insignificant workers who may hold the key to his deal.The stars are out in style in this hotel. Garbo is at her melodramatic best. Joan Crawford is the belle of the ball. The Barrymores are superb. Wallace Beery is his usual brute. I'm sure it was more compelling for its time. Many others have followed the formula of disparate people intermingling at a specific place. This is probably done better than most of its kind at its time. Two hours is a bit too long to keep up the pace.

A group of very different individuals staying at a luxurious hotel in Berlin deal with each of their respective dramas.Alfred Rushford Greason of Variety said the film "may not entirely please the theatregoers who were fascinated by its deft stage direction and restrained acting, but it will attract and hold the wider public to which it is now addressed." He added, "The drama unfolds with a speed that never loses its grip, even for the extreme length of nearly two hours, and there is a captivating pattern of unexpected comedy that runs through it all, always fresh and always pat." That just about sums it up, does it not? The 2004 DVD is decent, with some nice special features including a documentary and a short spoof. The only thing missing is an audio commentary, and who knows... maybe it will show up eventually.