Cinematic World Tour: Next stop...Berlin (GRAND HOTEL)

Frequent contributor Rich over at Wide Screen World has wrote another contribution piece for our Cinematic World Tour Blogathon. He has chosen the hot spot of Berlin and the wonderful film Grand Hotel. Please check out the amazing post he did. I've read it twice so far. Here's the link:  widescreenworld.blogspot.com

Greta about to let everyone know that Rich has

done another wonderful post

The Essential Garbo

Now is the time when I write about the classic movie goddess of the month and her essential films. The films that show here at her very best and have to be seen. This month is Greta Garbo. Now I have not seen a lot of her silent era films, so this list is mainly about her latter day films. I do want to see her older films though. Maybe one day. Anyway let's get to her essentials, shall we? In no particular order...

CAMILLE (1936)
This was my very first Garbo film that I saw and I immediately fell in love with her. As the doomed courtesan, she excelled like no other. Great chemistry between her and Robert Taylor makes this one of the all time top romantic films of all time.

NINOTCHKA (1939)
My fave Garbo film has she ventured forth into my favorite film genre: screwball comedy. And after years of playing dramas and period films where she got to deliver some very dramatic and heavy dialogue, it was quite refreshing to see her do this wonderful and very funny film. 

ANNA KARENINA (1935)
Top notch drama with Garbo caught in the middle of a love triangle. Wearing some of the most gorgeous costumes, Greta was in her prime element. Great film!

GRAND HOTEL (1932)
Garbo. Barrymore. Crawford. Beery. Hersholt. Star packed melodrama that is a treat to watch. And while I think Garbo does not give the best female performance of the film, that honors goes to Joan Crawford, she is still quite engaging as Grusinskaya, the dancer.

QUEEN CHRISTINA (1933)
Another period film and another triumph for Garbo.  As queen of Sweden, she must choose between her country and the man she falls in love with. One of my personal favorites of Garbo.

MATA HARI (1931)
Who better than Garbo to play the world famous exotic dancer Mata Hari who was accused of spying for Germany during World War One. An early talkie for Garbo shows that she had not yet mastered dialogue yet. But she still created one of the most iconic images ever on film as the sexy Mata Hari.


Of special interest to me are Garbo's silent films that I have yet to see. Like The Temptress and Flesh and The Devil. Can't wait to see them! And also Anna Christie...need to watch that one as well.

My love of classic films is beyond measure

Monty

THE MONTIES: 1932 - It's a grand time for Greta Garbo and Joan Crawford too......

This is the last year for me going backward. After this year I will be up to date and pick up with the year 1942. But for 1932, it was a grand time for Greta Garbo, as she was represented in the film Grand Hotel. Let's get to the nominees and winners shall we...

BEST FILM:

GRAND HOTEL
LOVE ME TONIGHT
I AM A FUGITIVE FROM A CHAIN GANG
RED DUST - WINNER
SCARFACE
FREAKS
TARZAN, THE APE MAN
SHANGHAI EXPRESS

The scintillating film Red Dust is my favorite film from this year. Boasting the powerhouse trio of Clark Gable, Jean Harlow and Mary Astor in a steamy love triangle is pure melodrama at it's best.

BEST DIRECTOR:

VICTOR FLEMING - RED DUST
W.S. VAN DYKE - TARZAN
HOWARD HAWKS - SCARFACE
EDMUND GOULDING - GRAND HOTEL
TOD BROWNING - FREAKS (WINNER)

Director Tod Browning just did an amazing job with this creative and wildly different film. I imagine audiences back then probably were in total shock when watching this movie, as they had never seen anything like it before.

BEST ACTOR:

PAUL MUNI - I AM A FUGITIVE FROM A CHAIN GANG (WINNER)
CLARK GABLE - RED DUST
JOHN BARRYMORE - GRAND HOTEL
MAURICE CHEVALIER - LOVE ME TONIGHT
PAUL MUNI - SCARFACE

Since Paul was in the running for Best Actor with two performances, he seemed like a sure bet to pick up a Montie. And he did. I thought he was just astounding as James Allen, a man who endures not once but twice on a chain gang. His brilliant performance is both impressive and heart-breaking.

BEST ACTRESS:

GRETA GARBO - GRAND HOTEL (WINNER)
JEAN HARLOW - RED DUST
MARLENE DIETRICH - SHANGHAI EXPRESS
JEANETTE MACDONALD - LOVE ME TONIGHT
MAUREEN O'SULLIVAN - TARZAN

Please make way for Ms. Garbo ladies and gentlemen to receive her Montie for her performance in Grand Hotel. I will be the first to admit that this performance of hers may go over the top sometimes but this is Garbo we're talking about here folks. One of the biggest film stars ever. She is every bit as good as advertised.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:

JOAN CRAWFORD - GRAND HOTEL (WINNER)
MARY ASTOR - RED DUST
GLENDA FARRELL - I AM A FUGITIVE FROM A CHAIN GANG
ANNA MAY WONG - SHANGHAI EXPRESS

There were enough great supporting performances by actress that I included this category for this year. And no one was better than Joan Crawford as the secretary who becomes a mistress to a married man. And being a companion to a nice elderly former bookkeeper. Joan is terrific and some would argue she is even better than Garbo. Well here at the Monties, there is no argument as both actresses receives awards from me. Congrats to both.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:

WALLACE BEERY - GRAND HOTEL
LIONEL BARRYMORE - GRAND HOTEL
CHARLES RUGGLES - LOVE ME TONIGHT'
ALLEN JENKINS - I AM A FUGITIVE FROM A CHAIN GANG (WINNER)

Allen Jenkins, a great supporting player gives another good performance here as Barney, a fellow convict. A very underrated actor who I gladly award a Montie.
Ok next year is 1942 and we're back on track now.