Otto Kringelein (Lionel Barrymore), a meek little dormouse of a man, is dying, and in blowing his life savings he loses his fears and starts to like life on the edge. Mr. Preysing (Wallace Beery) is desperately trying to forge a merger between his textile company and another before his goes under. His stenographer, Flaemmchen (Joan Crawford) -- a tough but vulnerable broad who wants to be in the movies -- takes up some witty flirting with the Baron (John Barrymore) before he falls madly in love with Grusingkaya (Greta Garbo), a Russia ballet dancer who longs for her homeland and Grand Duke Sergei. (The Baron, by the way, meets Grusingkaya when he's trying steal a string of pearls from her hotel room -- he's a gentleman thief, of course.)

It's all very silly, the ultimate in Depression-era escapism: a piece of Hollywood magic that's impossibly romantic filled with people who are impossibly elegant, bantering and wisecracking constantly. Its fascinating and diverse characters and a rather dark ending, however, give Grand Hotel more heft than any of its hellish spawn such as The Love Boat or Fantasy Island.

Outstanding Production 1931/32
unforgettable movie moment:
Grusingkaya's sighs of "I vant to be alone."

previous Best Picture:
1930/31: Cimarron
next Best Picture:
1932/33: Cavalcade