MovieChat Forums > Grand Hotel (1932) Discussion > Two Observations

Two Observations

posted 12 years ago by bossf51
5 replies | jump to latest

1) For a serious drama there were a lot of comedic elements in this film.

2)No sign of the Nazis anywhere in this film. Kind of odd, no?

[–] mfitzgerald03 12 years ago

Hitler I believe didn't come to full power at the time of this movie. With Europe being a huge souce of movie rentals at this time - more so on a Garbo film - MGM didn't want to film any scenes that might offend the German goverment.

[–] shaguniitb 11 years ago

They had rentals in 1932?

[–] joystar5879 11 years ago

Studios rented their films to the theatre chains, and many studios actually had chains of their own. if you lived in an area that had WARNER BROS. Theatres, and wanted to see MARIE ANTOINETTE or SWEETHEARTS, you were out of luck.

The studio/theatre monopoly was eventually dissolved in the late 1940s.

"I do hope he won't upset Henry.."

[–] Godfrey2 10 years ago

Good note. They made a point of noting in the TCM Doc about 1939, that the studios were about to lose their monopoly of owning the theater chains as well as the contract system.

Things would never be the same.

[–] pepperdog61 10 years ago

Germany was still under the authority of the Weimar Republic at the time of the film's release in September 1932. Hitler took office as chancellor in late January 1933 and assumed dictatorial powers after the burning of the Reichstag building about a month later.