Menschen im Hotel (1932)

Menschen im Hotel: Directed by Edmund Goulding. With Greta Garbo, John Barrymore, Joan Crawford, Wallace Beery. A group of very different individuals staying at a luxurious hotel in Berlin deal with each of their respective dramas.

“More than 70 years later and it stood the test of time. Edmund Goulding directs the movie which starts at a slower pace but towards as things proceed, pace picks up. Greta Garbo was definitely the star of the time but here sheu0026#39;s quite a drama queen. Itu0026#39;s Joan Crawford who gives the best performance (and has a more fleshed out role than Garbo). The actress indeed has a stronger presence than Garbo and sheu0026#39;s simply terrific. Lionel Barrymore and John Barrymore are equally impressive. Lionel is particularly good in balancing his characters tragedy and comedy. The supporting cast is adequate.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe cinematography is amazing as it gives us a marvelous glare of the grandness of the Grand Hotel, the overhead shot of the operators whou0026#39;re connecting the incoming calls, and then focussing on the different characters whou0026#39;re all either desperate for money, happiness or nothing (as they are satisfied with what they have e.g. the head hotel clerk). Everyone is shown to be busy with their own individual life and this is further stressed on in the final scene.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIn addition to that, the set designs are spectacular reflecting the indifferent atmosphere and the beauty of the hotel. The reference to the War is also put in a very subtle way (as the film was made in the 30s) through the Baronu0026#39;s story and the scar on the doctoru0026#39;s face. Some might be bored in the beginning (due to the slow pace) but just bear with it, the film does get better and one will indeed understand why it stood the test of time. A grand classic it is indeed!”