Which one of these remarkable actresses do you think of first, when you think about this picture?
For me, it's Crawford's movie. She has much more to do in this movie, and gets to interact with more interesting characters (Beery, both Barrymores, etc...)than Garbo does.
What do you think...?
I guess I would have to call it Crawford's movie, but, I must confess to a bit of preconceived "star bias" regarding this movie: I hunted it down thanks to a Crawford documentary I saw recently that spoke glowingly of her standout performance in 1932's "Grand Hotel."
I'm not dissing Garbo's role or performance in the movie, though - her character was certainly a troubled and conflicted one, and you couldn't help but grieve for her as the plot unfolded. I mean, I just didn't "feel" for Flaemmchen the way I did for Grusinskaya. But Crawford had more screen time, and seemed to be more in the thick of things, plot-wise. Just an aside, but, Joan certainly was a sexy kitten back in the day. She hadn't developed that tough, almost brittle edge that seemed to be her hallmark in later films.
Anyway, I guess I'd call it Crawford's movie, even though between the two, Garbo had the "heavy" role.
"It's going to get worse before it gets better." - The White House
I agree with most of your comment... but I **did** feel for Flaemmchen, much more than Gruinskaya! I felt like Flaemmchen was stereotypical of the times--a woman who trades beauty/sex for the finer things life offers. I guess I felt sorry that she had was forced into relationships like with Beery's character to survive. Yes, yes, I know she could have taken the more honorable way out, but she, like many during the depression didn't--and I felt sorrier for her than Gruinskaya.
shareAgree that you can't feel for Crawford the way you can for Garbo's character but I think that's because Crawford is so hard and resigned while Garbo has that extreme romantic quality of living in a fairy-tale land- where you know that disappointment in love will push her over the edge (sort of Blanche Dubois-ish!)
I think it's Lionel Barrymore's movie, but in terms of the actresses, Garbo gets the line that defines her career - I want to be alone. She steals this movie with her deliberately overplayed diva.
But Crawford sure looks great in it! :)
Well I came in to the film with little knowledge of it. It was my first Garbo film, too. All I knew was that it had Garbo's famous line and that she was first billed, so I kind of assumed it was her star vehicle. I was rather surprised to find that she had very little screen time, and came away from the film thinking of it more as Crawford's movie.
shareCrawford
shareCrawford, by a long chalk. She is the best thing in the film by far, including set design and costumes, and delivers a very '30s glamorous yet modern performance.
Funny she came across as rather mannered in some of her famous later roles, when she had more acting experience and camera savvy to draw upon.
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IMO Joan Crawford was a more natural and better actress. Garbo was the "Diva" but she had a very affected, mannered acting style, sometimes feels like she were still acting in silent movies.
shareGarbo. Because her role is more unique, and central to the story. If you had to cut one of the roles, the story could move forward easier without the stenographer than it could without the ballerina.
shareI am a fan of Garbo's. I was initially drawn to her by pictures in magazines, later on when I finally got to watch some of her films, I realized I do not quite connect to her acting and I do not see the magic many see in it, and Grand Hotel is no exception; but I can definitely see a lot of energy and talent I can connect with in Crawford's performance. I recently watched this movie again and I can confirm what many others have seen: Joan Crawford steals the show here... too bad such a talented woman could have been such a 'witch'. Whatever the case, this is no doubt for me Crawford's movie.
shareI know that modern opinion (which in this modern viewer's opinion is too preoccupied with naturalistic acting) Garbo gives one of her more over-the top, and thus sub-par performances in this role. Still, I think it may be my favorite of hers. I'm a 23 year old male, but I identify with her character. You don't have to be a glamourous diva to understand what it means to "want to be alone," in exactly the way she says it, which is a very specific emotion captured in those few words. I find myself watching her scenes again and again, and brimming with emotional response each time. Crawford's, not so much.
P.S. I think people often overlook some of the subtlety in Garbo's performances, because it is so easy to be seduced, or overwhelmed by the grand gestures and theatricality. But there are many moments of minute sensitivity that people don't seem to notice as often in her acting.
Joan Crawford all the way, her preformance was intoxicating, to me the three key characters are her, the Baron and the dying old man, those are the ones you care for, the ones that you fallow. Crawfords peformance is subtle and heartbreaking at moments.
Garbo to me was just there as a plot device.
For all the reasons mentioned... Joan Crawford!! I originally watched it for Garbo, back in the day when I had only vaguely heard of Crawford (as Bette Davis' rival no doubt...) and when I watched this I was blown away by her performance- if the supporting categories had been introduced to the Oscar ceremonies, she would have won it no doubt (that is, if the academy didn't screw up as per usual...).
shareDon't you think Garbo's "over the top" performance was partially the character? Someone who virtually has no identity or life off the stage? Her life is a production. I felt like she had more or less become, even in private, how her fans conditioned her to be in public.
shareThe amazing thing to me is that BOTH divas got to shine and both did so. I would be hard-pressed to pick.
I myself missesd the opening credits when I first watched it 7 hadn't realized Crawford was in it. I remember thinking, 'Dang, that Flemschen is HOT!'
I'm a Garbo man overall, but this film is a dead tie in my mind...a tribute to great script writing & directing, as well as thier talent!