IMDb > Grand Hotel (1932)
Grand Hotel
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

Grand Hotel (1932) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 29 | slideshow) Videos (see all 4)
Grand Hotel (1932) -- Trailer for this black and white classic drama
Grand Hotel (1932) -- MyMovieScripts.com - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.7/10   5,522 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
No change in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Edmund Goulding
Writers:
Vicki Baum (novel)
William A. Drake (play)
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for Grand Hotel on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
11 September 1932 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama | Romance more
Tagline:
Thank The Stars For A Great Entertainment !
Plot:
Berlin's plushest, most expensive hotel is the setting where in the words of Dr. Otternschlag "People come... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Won Oscar. Another 1 win more
NewsDesk:
(21 articles)
Irving Thalberg Biography: Mark Vieira’s Book Signing
 (From Alternative Film Guide. 22 November 2009, 3:21 PM, PST)
'House star' Olivia Wilde talks fame, 'Fix' and her Irish pride (IrishCentral)
 (From IrishCentral. 18 November 2009, 5:07 AM, PST)
User Comments:
Dated, melodramatic...and MAGNIFICENT more (82 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Greta Garbo ... Grusinskaya - the Dancer

John Barrymore ... The Baron Felix von Gaigern

Joan Crawford ... Flaemmchen - the Stenographer

Wallace Beery ... General Director Preysing

Lionel Barrymore ... Otto Kringelein
Lewis Stone ... Doctor Otternschlag
Jean Hersholt ... Senf - the Porter
Robert McWade ... Meierheim (as Robert Mc Wade)
Purnell Pratt ... Zinnowitz (as Purnell B. Pratt)
Ferdinand Gottschalk ... Pimenov
Rafaela Ottiano ... Suzette
Morgan Wallace ... Chauffeur
Tully Marshall ... Gerstenkorn
Frank Conroy ... Rohna
Murray Kinnell ... Schweimann

Edwin Maxwell ... Dr. Waitz
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Joan Barclay ... Young Girl in Lobby (uncredited)
Max Barwyn ... Hotel Guest / Gambler (uncredited)
Mary Carlisle ... Mrs. Hoffman - Young Honeymooner (uncredited)
John Davidson ... Hotel Manager (uncredited)
Herbert Evans ... Clerk (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
Edmund Goulding ... Cameo Appearance (uncredited)
Sherry Hall ... Hotel Guest (uncredited)
Allen Jenkins ... Hotel meat packer (uncredited)
Robert Lees ... Bellboy (uncredited)
Eric Mayne ... Gambler (uncredited)
Philo McCullough ... Hotel Guest / Gambler (uncredited)
Sam McDaniel ... Bartender (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
Greta Meyer ... Housekeeper in Room 174 (uncredited)
Sarah Padden ... Chambermaid in Room 174 (uncredited)
Lee Phelps ... Hotel Guest (uncredited)
Edward Reinach ... Hotel Guest (uncredited)
Bodil Rosing ... Nurse helping old lady into elevator (uncredited)
Dick Rush ... Gendarme (uncredited)
Rolfe Sedan ... Hotel Guest in Bar (uncredited)
Leo White ... Hotel Porter (uncredited)
Florence Wix ... Hotel Guest (uncredited)
Create a character page for: ?

Directed by
Edmund Goulding 
 
Writing credits
Vicki Baum (novel and play "Menschen im Hotel")

William A. Drake (play "Grand Hotel")

William A. Drake (adaptation) uncredited

Béla Balázs  uncredited

Produced by
Irving Thalberg .... producer (uncredited)
 
Original Music by
William Axt (uncredited)
Charles Maxwell (uncredited)
 
Cinematography by
William H. Daniels  (as William Daniels)
 
Film Editing by
Blanche Sewell 
 
Casting by
Benjamin Thau (uncredited)
 
Art Direction by
Cedric Gibbons 
 
Costume Design by
Adrian 
 
Makeup Department
Cecil Holland .... makeup department head (uncredited)
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Charles Dorian .... assistant director (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
Douglas Shearer .... recording director
Anstruther MacDonald .... sound engineer (uncredited)
Karl Zint .... sound (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Fred Archer .... still photographer (uncredited)
Milton Brown .... still photographer (uncredited)
A. Lindsley Lane .... second assistant camera (uncredited)
Charles W. Riley .... assistant camera (uncredited)
Albert Scheving .... assistant camera (uncredited)
 
Music Department
Mildred Shay .... singing voice: Greta Garbo (uncredited)
Herbert Stothart .... musical director (uncredited)
 
Other crew
Paul Bern .... supervisor (uncredited)
 
Crew verified as complete


Production CompaniesDistributors
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
112 min (Turner library print)
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Black and White
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Sound System)
Certification:
Portugal:17 (original rating) | South Korea:15 | UK:A (original rating) | UK:U (video rating) | Norway:16 (1933) | Sweden:15 | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:TV-PG (TV rating) | New Zealand:PG | West Germany:16 | Australia:PG | Portugal:M/6 (DVD rating) | USA:Approved (PCA #2276-R: 13 May 1936 for re-release)
Filming Locations:
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA
Company:
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The theatrical trailer which is commonly shown on behalf of this film was designed for an intended, but unrealized, 1944 re-release, and reflects the promotional style and lettering of the 1940's, not the 1930's. The original 1932 trailer is apparently lost. It would have most likely looked similar in design to the film's opening credit sequence. more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: When Mr. Kringelein drunkenly slams his door shut, the wall visibly shakes. more
Quotes:
Baron Felix von Geigern: [looking down from the sixth-floor balcony over the front desk] You know, I've often wondered what'd happen to that old porter if somebody jumped on him from here.
Flaemmchen: I'm sure I don't know. Why don't you try it and find out?
more
Movie Connections:
Spoofed in The Merry Widow (1934) more
Soundtrack:
Piano Concerto No.2 in C minor, Op.18 more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.

User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
60 out of 67 people found the following comment useful.
Dated, melodramatic...and MAGNIFICENT, 20 June 2002
Author: Michael Stephens from Richmond, CA

I've seen "Grand Hotel" at least fifteen times -- more than any other '30s film with the possible exception of two other classics: "King Kong" and Astaire and Rogers' "The Gay Divorcee."

Quite a few others reviewers here have commented negatively on this "creaky" old film. They are correct -- it is -- and yet, who cares? It's utterly wonderful!

The whole cast is superb -- charming, desperate, vulnerable John Barrymore; cynical, sad, appealing Joan Crawford; pathetic, whining, irrepressible Lionel Barrymore; coarse, selfish, all-too-humanly cruel Wallace Beery; and of course, the great Greta Garbo. The supporting cast, led by Lewis Stone and Jean Hersholt, are equally good.

Those who criticize Garbo as over-the-top in her portrayal of the prima ballerina are right. She IS over-the-top, AND she is absolutely glorious, whether wallowing in self-pitying, suicidal despair or radiant as the spring with a new love which astonishes and transports her. What a unique, unforgettable screen presence! What a Goddess!

"Grand Hotel" holds this viewer, anyway, entranced from beginning to end. In addition to the superlative acting, the art deco design is stunning and the music always appropriate.

Creaky? You bet. Do they make movies like this anymore? Nope. Do I wish they did? I sure do.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (82 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Grand Hotel (1932)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
stupid male pride!!!! GilmoreJunkie202
Crawford's Movie or Garbo's Movie Alix1929
SPOILER: Cut scene on DVD? heyteegs
Favorite Barrymore Performance Alix1929
Whats In A Louisiana Slip Cocktail? verbusen
Joan Crawford steals the movie! FranLovesBetteD
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
My Own Private Idaho The Good Earth The White Countess Lackawanna Blues 8½
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Drama section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.