OUTSTANDING TALKIE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 694, 22 February 1933, Page 3

OUTSTANDING TALKIE.

“ Grand Hotel 99 is in a Class by Itself. “Grand Hotel,” the talking picture version of Vicki Baum’s great novel heads this week's programme at Everybody s Theatre. “Grand Hotel” is in a class by itself and is easily the finest film of its type yet screened here. The scene is the Grand Hotel, a fashionable hotel in Berlin. Everyone of consequence stays there, and therefore, everyone who wishes to appear, important takes rooms there too. Jt has the reputation of being the centre of life—a place where all are able to enjoy themselves. This is what draws Kringelein (Lionel Barrvmore), a factory clerk with but a little time to live, to the hotel. Greta Garbo, who heads the cast, takes the part of an exotic Russian dancer. She has not had a successful night at the theatre and prepares to poison herself. She is stopped by Baron von Gaigern (John Barrymore), who has been stealing her pearls, when she returns to her room He falls in love with her, and finally, she falls in love with him, and she begins a newlife, a life full of happiness. In another room of the hotel is the industrial magnate, Preysing, ably portrayed by Wallace Beery. He is an overbearing employer, who has Ink one idea, and that engages a stenographer, Flaenunchen (Joan Crawford), and engages a room lor her. Flaenunchen falls in love with the Baron, and thus the Baron and Preysing meet. There are five characters, all more or less connected, and the author tells of the lives of these five, all portrayed by stars, until a day is past. By that time Preysing had murdered the dancer’s lover, the Baron. Preysing is led away to prison. Kringelein and the stenographer leave on a trip to enjoy themselves, and the Russian dancer leaves alone, wondering what has happened to her lover. There is a good supporting programme.