.
GRAND
HOTEL ($20) is grand entertainment from the golden age of Hollywood.
Taking home the Academy Award for Best Picture of 1932, GRAND HOTEL
was truly an innovative motion picture for its period. A marvel of
production design and style, GRAND HOTEL featured an early version
of what would be later called the "all star cast" in a wonderful
ensemble piece that allowed some of MGM’s brightest stars to shine in
vivid performances. Based upon the play by Vicki Baum, GRAND HOTEL
tells the intertwining stories of a group of guests staying at Berlin’s
Grand Hotel in the late 1920s. Certainly, the plot of GRAND HOTEL
would seem to be pure soap opera, but the accomplished cast keeps the
melodrama from overwhelming the film.
GRAND
HOTEL featured Greta Garbo, the most luminous star of her day, as the
aging Russian ballerina, whose insecurities may wreck the rest of her
career. John Barrymore portrays the Baron, whose financial downturn forces
him into less than dignified business activities. Wallace Beery is the
industrialist who will face financial ruin, if an important merger doesn’t
go through. Joan Crawford is the beautiful stenographer, willing to do
whatever is required by her new employer, for some extra money and a
chance at travel. Finally, Lionel Barrymore is the dying man, who plans to
see life out in a blaze of glory, while staying at Berlin’s Grand Hotel.
The cast of GRAND HOTEL also includes Lewis Stone, Jean Hersholt,
Robert McWade, Purnell Pratt, Ferdinand Gottschalk, Rafaela Ottiano,
Morgan Wallace, Tully Marshall, Frank Conroy, Murray Kinnell and Edwin
Maxwell.
Warner
Home Video has made GRAND HOTEL available on DVD in a very nice
looking black and white transfer that frames the film in its proper 1.37:1
full screen aspect ratio. There is a noticeable grain structure throughout
the presentation, but it is never excessive and completely in keeping with
the look of many films from the very same era. Some of the photography has
a diffuse look, especially the close-ups of the film’s leading ladies,
which renders some shots a tad soft. However, most of the film is
reasonably crisp, and displays a good level of detail. Blacks appear deep,
the whites are solid and contrast is generally good, except for a couple
of very brief shots that seem a bit unstable. The film elements used for
the transfer are very clean for their age, with bits of dust and an
occasional blemish being the worst of it. Digital compression artifacts
are usually very well concealed.
.
. The
Dolby Digital monaural soundtrack is more than respectable. A bit of
background hiss is always present, but it is not distracting. There were
other minor hiccups in the sound, but nothing that can’t be forgiven on
a film that has passed the seven-decade mark. Dialogue is always
understandable, and the voices have a respectable sense of character.
Music is severely limited in fidelity, but this has to be expected from a
film less than a decade into the sound era. A French language tracks is
also provided on the DVD, in addition to English, French and Spanish
subtitles.
. Music
underscores the interactive menus, which allow one access to the standard
scene selection and set up features, as well as a few extras. Checking
Out: Grand Hotel is a truly fine twelve-minute program that looks
back on the production of the film, as well as the legendary stars of the
movie. Newsreel footage of the film’s premiere is also provided on the
DVD, as are theatrical trailers for GRAND HOTEL and WEEKEND AT
THE WALDORF. Just A Word Of Warning is a trailer of a
sort that announces that the feature will only playing at Grauman’s for
a few more weeks. Finally, we have Nothing Ever Happens, an
amusing musical Vitaphone two-reeler that spoofs GRAND HOTEL.
GRAND
HOTEL is indeed a treat for movie buffs who want to experience this
early Academy Award winning Best Picture in the digital format. Warner has
done a truly fine job with the presentation of this vintage motion
picture, which is certain to please anyone interested in an evening at the
GRAND HOTEL. Recommended.
.
GRAND
HOTEL featured Greta Garbo, the most luminous star of her day, as the
aging Russian ballerina, whose insecurities may wreck the rest of her
career. John Barrymore portrays the Baron, whose financial downturn forces
him into less than dignified business activities. Wallace Beery is the
industrialist who will face financial ruin, if an important merger doesn’t
go through. Joan Crawford is the beautiful stenographer, willing to do
whatever is required by her new employer, for some extra money and a
chance at travel. Finally, Lionel Barrymore is the dying man, who plans to
see life out in a blaze of glory, while staying at Berlin’s Grand Hotel.
The cast of GRAND HOTEL also includes Lewis Stone, Jean Hersholt,
Robert McWade, Purnell Pratt, Ferdinand Gottschalk, Rafaela Ottiano,
Morgan Wallace, Tully Marshall, Frank Conroy, Murray Kinnell and Edwin
Maxwell.
Warner
Home Video has made GRAND HOTEL available on DVD in a very nice
looking black and white transfer that frames the film in its proper 1.37:1
full screen aspect ratio. There is a noticeable grain structure throughout
the presentation, but it is never excessive and completely in keeping with
the look of many films from the very same era. Some of the photography has
a diffuse look, especially the close-ups of the film’s leading ladies,
which renders some shots a tad soft. However, most of the film is
reasonably crisp, and displays a good level of detail. Blacks appear deep,
the whites are solid and contrast is generally good, except for a couple
of very brief shots that seem a bit unstable. The film elements used for
the transfer are very clean for their age, with bits of dust and an
occasional blemish being the worst of it. Digital compression artifacts
are usually very well concealed.
.
.
GRAND
HOTEL is indeed a treat for movie buffs who want to experience this
early Academy Award winning Best Picture in the digital format. Warner has
done a truly fine job with the presentation of this vintage motion
picture, which is certain to please anyone interested in an evening at the
GRAND HOTEL. Recommended.