Grand Hotel

Grand Hotel, motion picture about the glamorous inhabitants of a large German hotel, based on the novel Menschen im Hotel by Vicki Baum and an earlier stage adaptation by William A. Drake. Released in 1932, this Academy Award-winning film stars Greta Garbo as Grusinskaya, a world-weary former ballerina. Baron Felix von Gaigern (played by John Barrymore) woos the dancer in hopes of obtaining her valuable pearls, but he falls in love with her in the process. Meanwhile, a blustery businessman abuses his clerk, only to find himself eventually at the man’s mercy. Grand Hotel features Garbo uttering her oft-repeated, dolorous line, “I want to be alone,” which became her trademark after she shunned public life as a movie star.

Director

• Edmund Goulding

Cast

• Greta Garbo (Grusinskaya)
• John Barrymore (Baron Felix von Gaigern)
• Joan Crawford (Flaemmchen)
• Wallace Beery (General Director Preysing)
• Lionel Barrymore (Otto Kringelein)
• Jean Hersholt (Senf)
• Robert McWade (Meierheim)
• Purnell Pratt (Zinnowitz)
• Ferdinand Gottschalk (Pimenov)
• Rafaela Ottiano (Suzette)
• Morgan Wallace (Chauffeur)
• Tully Marshall (Gerstenkorn)
• Murray Kinnell (Schweimann)
• Edwin Maxwell (Dr. Waitz)
• Mary Carlisle (Honeymooner)
• John Davidson (Hotel manager)
• Sam McDaniel (Bartender)
• Rolfe SedanHerbert Evans (Clerks)
• Lee Phelps (Extra in lobby)
• Lewis Stone (Dr. Otternschlag)
• Frank Conroy (Rohna)

Awards

• Academy Award for Best Picture (1931 – 1932): Irving Thalberg

Quotes

• Grusinskaya (regarding her sadness): “I want to be alone.”