Grand Hotel (1932) starred a string of popular actors from the period including both Lionel and John Barrymore, Joan Crawford, and Greta Garbo.
The film is set in the Grand Hotel, of course, and follows the stays of several different unrelated characters. One is Baron Felix van Geigern (John B.), a charming gambler/ jewel thief who is in debt and must find a way to raise the money he needs. He runs into Otto Kringelein (Lionel B.), a modest accountant who has learned that he is dying and wants to live his last days in luxury. They become friends but the Baron is too proud to accept the man's money even when it has been offered to him.
The Baron attempts to steal a string of pearls from the room of the Russian ballerina (Garbo) but falls in love with her on their first meeting and feels compelled to return them. She forgives him and they plan to go away together but first, he must fulfill his debts.
Joan Crawford is a stenographer (I forget her character's name) hired by Gen. Preysing (Wallace Beery), who is trying to make an important business deal that will make or break his company. He makes advances to her and they agree to go to London together with him paying her handsomely..
This movie was a little dull at first but it came together in an interesting way at the end. It seemed to have a message about the high value we place on money and what an impact too much or too little can have on our decisions. I also found it interesting that although Kringelein was dying, he was so much more happy and free than all these other characters who seemed to be on the way down in life.
Joan Crawford was beautiful, Garbo's accent was adorable, and there were two Barrymore's in one film! It is worth watching for the star power but the movie itself was not especially engaging. Thumbs hovering in the middle.
Showing posts with label Joan Crawford. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Joan Crawford. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Monday, July 25, 2011
Movie Monday!! Mildred Pierce
I've had such an active social life this past week that I almost didn't watch any movies! But fortunately, I did get one in, Mildred Pierce. Yet another in my Joan Crawford phase (can you tell I've been reading her bio?) this one won her an academy award! This was the first movie she made for her new studio (Warner) after MGM let her go (ironic?). Take that MGM! Ha!
It begins with a murder in classic film noir style and then the process of figuring out who dunnit. At the police station, Mildred must tell the story of her life.
She begins married with two young girls. Her husband loses his job and begins a love affair with another woman so Mildred throws him out and gets a divorce. With two children and bills to pay, she takes a job waiting tables but tries to keep it secret because her oldest daughter, Veda, is a spoiled snob who looks down on that profession (among many others).
Eventually, Mildred decides to open her own restaurant because she wants thankless Veda to have everything she didn't have and Veda has expensive taste..
She buys the building from a formerly wealthy man, Monte, who she falls in love with. Now, she must pay for both Veda's and Monte's expensive whims. Luckily for her, the restaurant is a success and she opens several more but eventually, their spend thrift ways wear down her wealth and she is likely to lose the business.
She goes looking for Monte when she discovers that he has double crossed her and is trying to sell part of the restaurant. When she finds him, well, you'll have to watch it to find out the real twist at the end!
Great film! It is definitely worth watching even if stuck up Veda gets on your last nerve (she needed some good old fashioned discipline in the form of a sturdy belt). Thumbs up!
It begins with a murder in classic film noir style and then the process of figuring out who dunnit. At the police station, Mildred must tell the story of her life.
She begins married with two young girls. Her husband loses his job and begins a love affair with another woman so Mildred throws him out and gets a divorce. With two children and bills to pay, she takes a job waiting tables but tries to keep it secret because her oldest daughter, Veda, is a spoiled snob who looks down on that profession (among many others).
Eventually, Mildred decides to open her own restaurant because she wants thankless Veda to have everything she didn't have and Veda has expensive taste..
She buys the building from a formerly wealthy man, Monte, who she falls in love with. Now, she must pay for both Veda's and Monte's expensive whims. Luckily for her, the restaurant is a success and she opens several more but eventually, their spend thrift ways wear down her wealth and she is likely to lose the business.
She goes looking for Monte when she discovers that he has double crossed her and is trying to sell part of the restaurant. When she finds him, well, you'll have to watch it to find out the real twist at the end!
Great film! It is definitely worth watching even if stuck up Veda gets on your last nerve (she needed some good old fashioned discipline in the form of a sturdy belt). Thumbs up!
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Movie Monday!! The Dancing Lady
Sorry Movie Monday!! is a day late this week but better late than not at all, right?
The Dancing Lady stars Joan Crawford and Clark Gable in a much better pairing than the last one I reviewed. This movie has an interesting cast including Fred Astaire in his debut movie appearance as her dance partner in the end of the movie {squeal!}. Also in this, is Franchot Tone, Joan's future husband, alongside her lover (Clark Gable ). Those Hollywood people are so interesting who needs soap operas?
This is the story of a burlesque dancer, Janie Barlow (Crawford), determined to be a Broadway star. She meets a handsome, rich, well connected playboy, Tod (Tone), who wants to "further her career" and be her leading man. When she fails to get in on her own, she allows him to pull some strings and is put in the star role of the next show directed by Patch Gallagher(Gable).
In the meantime, Tod decides he wants to marry Janie but she is focused on her career and turns him down. He suggests a compromise such that if the show fails, she will marry him and if not, then she can continue her dancing career. Of course, she doesn't realize that he is the main financier behind the show and naturally, he pulls out so the show must be cancelled and he can have his girl.
Patch refuses to go down so easy and decides to put in his own money and that of some friends to put the show on anyway with another girl in the main role. He bumps into them in a bar and gives away Tod's dirty secret causing Janie to rethink her engagement and begs to be reinstated in the show.
Patch's risk pays off and the show is a big hit! Now Janie is the star she had worked so hard to become.
I thought this movie was very entertaining (there was even some comic relief from the 3 stooges) and well done. This was Crawford and Gable's fourth of eight movie pairings.
Go find it. Thumbs up!
The Dancing Lady stars Joan Crawford and Clark Gable in a much better pairing than the last one I reviewed. This movie has an interesting cast including Fred Astaire in his debut movie appearance as her dance partner in the end of the movie {squeal!}. Also in this, is Franchot Tone, Joan's future husband, alongside her lover (Clark Gable ). Those Hollywood people are so interesting who needs soap operas?
This is the story of a burlesque dancer, Janie Barlow (Crawford), determined to be a Broadway star. She meets a handsome, rich, well connected playboy, Tod (Tone), who wants to "further her career" and be her leading man. When she fails to get in on her own, she allows him to pull some strings and is put in the star role of the next show directed by Patch Gallagher(Gable).
In the meantime, Tod decides he wants to marry Janie but she is focused on her career and turns him down. He suggests a compromise such that if the show fails, she will marry him and if not, then she can continue her dancing career. Of course, she doesn't realize that he is the main financier behind the show and naturally, he pulls out so the show must be cancelled and he can have his girl.
Patch refuses to go down so easy and decides to put in his own money and that of some friends to put the show on anyway with another girl in the main role. He bumps into them in a bar and gives away Tod's dirty secret causing Janie to rethink her engagement and begs to be reinstated in the show.
Patch's risk pays off and the show is a big hit! Now Janie is the star she had worked so hard to become.
I thought this movie was very entertaining (there was even some comic relief from the 3 stooges) and well done. This was Crawford and Gable's fourth of eight movie pairings.
Go find it. Thumbs up!
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