| Photos (see all 29 | slideshow) |
| Greta Garbo | ... | Grusinskaya | |
| John Barrymore | ... | Baron Felix von Geigern | |
| Joan Crawford | ... | Flaemmchen | |
| Wallace Beery | ... | Preysing | |
| Lionel Barrymore | ... | Otto Kringelein | |
| Lewis Stone | ... | Dr. Otternschlag | |
| Jean Hersholt | ... | Senf | |
| Robert McWade | ... | Meierheim | |
| Purnell Pratt | ... | Zinnowitz | |
| 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) | |
| Mary Carlisle | ... | Honeymooner (uncredited) | |
| John Davidson | ... | Hotel Manager (uncredited) | |
| Herbert Evans | ... | Clerk (uncredited) | |
| Edmund Goulding | ... | Cameo Appearance (uncredited) | |
| Lawrence Grant | ... | Bit Part (uncredited) | |
| Robert Lees | ... | Bellboy (uncredited) | |
| Eric Mayne | ... | Gambler (uncredited) | |
| Sam McDaniel | ... | Bartender (uncredited) | |
| John Miljan | ... | Bit Part (uncredited) | |
| Lee Phelps | ... | Extra in lobby (uncredited) | |
| Bodil Rosing | ... | Bit Part (uncredited) | |
| Rolfe Sedan | ... | Clerk (uncredited) | |
Directed by | |||
| Edmund Goulding | |||
Writing credits | ||
| Vicki Baum | (play "Menschen im Hotel") | |
| William A. Drake | (play "American version") | |
| Béla Balázs | uncredited | |
Produced by | |||
| Paul Bern | .... | producer (uncredited) | |
| 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 | |||
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 | |
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) | |
| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
|---|---|
| 'Don't strike me.' | newdickmorris |
| If remade? | wagb1986 |
| The Beery's | bagtown2002 |
| Flaemmchen | stevenvh |
| very disapointing | downbeat83 |
| Whats In A Louisiana Slip Cocktail? | verbusen |
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| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Drama section | IMDb USA section |
| Add this title to MyMovies |
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.