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 have a biased towards Garbo (whom I adore). Don't get me wrong, I think Crawford is great, but I think she also got more consistent screen time here.
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For me, this is definitely Garbo's movie, because she acts in her signature dramatic style here, and she is so Garbo! But, as for Crawford, while she may have exhibited better range than Garbo, and while she was very touching near the end, she dis not stand out in this film the way Garbo did. I don't think of this film and then think of her, I think of this film and then think of Garbo.
Please excuse typos/funny wording; I use speech-recognition that doesn't always recognize!
I don't think it's meant to be her film but Crawford steals it. :)
shareAgreed. While Crawford was fine in this, Garbo had a stronger screen presence as she did in so many of her roles.
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With this movie being a very good movie with an ensemble cast, no one actor from this movie comes to mind right off the bat. I thought all the performances were very good. However, the scenes between Barrymore and Garbo I think are the best in the movie.
shareClearly is Crawford's Movie!!! For all the reasons explained here..... She feels real, touching and beautiful..... I dont believe that the female oscar of 1932 were this great.
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This was the first time I had seen this, so, I didn't know what the outcome was going to be. But, My shipper Heart, was wanting John Barrymore to get together with Crawford, instead of Garbo. But, to answer Your question, I guess it was Garbo's Film, since She was first billed.
shareSaw this on TCM again last night. Great great film.
Crin,
I think the OP's question had to do with performance and not who was first billed. And in that respect your own post suggests the answer to the OP's question was Joan Crawford, not Greta Garbo. Otherwise put Joan stole the movie. It was a truly remarkable performance that had that effect.
Personally I am far more familiar with Crawford's work than Garbo's. But as a man while I recognize Garbo's great beauty, her manners and behavior are somewhat off putting compared to Joan's great sexual appeal, and frankly the sense that her character is fun to be with. Not that Garbo's character is uninteresting or something like that. Barrymore's baron presumably sees something both of himself in her downward spiral, as well as a potential that they can help each other.
But compared to what Crawford's character offers, Garbo's sounds more like a social work project.
Garbo's cold, aloof. I always thought Garbo and Dietrich were similar for the fact they both were from Western Europe. But, I've always liked Dietrich, She seemed more accessible.
shareYes, Dietrich and Garbo had some similarities, but they did not go all that far. Marlene seemed like she must have been much more fun to be around.
But in any event, Crawford from this period was awesome. Something seems to have happened to her, as from my perspective she seemed to become somewhat bitter as her career went on. Perhaps she did not find satisfaction in her personal life.
But at the time this film was made, Joan Crawford had one of hte most appealing personas I can think of. Up there with early forties Joan Fontaine, or mid sixties Diana Rigg as far as I am concerned.
Before watching it, all I knew about Grand Hotel was that it was a Best Picture winner (so I needed to see it), and that it was famous for Garbo's line. I saw A Night at the Opera before this, and Groucho imitates her, saying "I want to be alone." So I knew it was a big deal...
But having finally watched the movie, I can now say I've seen my first Joan Crawford film. And I think I'm in love with young Joan. She was mesmerizing the entire time she was on screen. I didn't care much for Garbo's ballerina role. This movie is ALL about Joan Crawford.
Excuse me while I go dig up more "young Joan" films...
Mirror inspector is a job I could really see myself doing.