Life is in a hurry, who is not a passerby

Joaquin 2022-01-12 08:01:03

Grand Hotel (1932)—The 5th Oscar for Best Picture

Grand Hotel is like a microcosm of a society. Different characters and different destinies are cleverly intertwined, but separated quietly. I have watched a few TV series on the theme of hotel, but most of the themes are family business disputes and battles in shopping malls, so when I watch this movie, I feel familiar and fresh.
At the beginning, the tone of the film was a bit sad, from music to setting. During the continuous conversation, the characters appeared one after another. I like this way of appearance very much. Instead of arranging a specific appearance for each character, it transitions naturally, making people dizzy and unable to fight for a while, just like life itself, sometimes surprisingly fast.
Pressinger had the impression of him as a senseless businessman. Although he was rich, his various behaviors in the face of crisis were not enough for a respected entrepreneur. In the business arena, I can't hold on to the beautiful women and have no empathy in the face of the weak. Of the five protagonists in the film, he is probably the most annoying. This character creation is successful. Although it is not three-dimensional enough, it is flesh and blood and very close to life.
Grusinskaya, a ballerina who does whatever he wants. Performance modeling is a bit exaggerated, but isn't it true of some artists? If you are not at all neurotic, uninspiring, and emotional, does that still fit the classic image of an artist in people's minds? The love of fans is lonely and lonely, suffering from gains and losses, until she meets the baron and falls in love at first sight, which ignites her passion for life and work. Casual artist, I like it.
Baron von Gegen, one of the most contradictory figures. He is very, very short of money. He steals, but in the face of the big troubles, he shows a humane side. Obviously he could steal the pearl, but he didn't care about it because he fell in love for a while. Obviously he could take Klingland's wallet, but he returned it to him because of a momentary empathy. In the face of life's dilemma, still maintaining one's own good qualities, this is a kind of commendable cultivation. Does family education and growth environment really have such a big influence on the shaping of personality? In the end, the sudden death made the audience unbelievable. For a while, they couldn't react to why the director arranged this way. Perhaps this is life. You never know what will happen next moment.
Klingland, seeing him reminds me of many people in life. There is a saying: People are in heaven, and money is in the bank. In the last stage of his life, he decided to enjoy it, squandering the wealth he had spent his entire life saving. In fact, he is lucky. At least he knows his return date and has time to consume his own labor. There are still a large number of people who do not have this opportunity at all. They work hard to earn money and save money, and they plan carefully, but they never have time to enjoy life or live for themselves once.
Flan Ling, a stenographer’s job can meet her basic life needs, but she is not content with the status quo. She may have a good impression of the Baron. She obviously has no affection for Pressinger and Klingland. The pursuit of life. The first second was still sad for the death of the Baron, and the next second he urged Clingland to go to Paris. The change is a bit too fast, not as fast as a normal person. After all, before this, the film portrayed this character as a kind and humane female image. Suddenly the ugly face of human nature is naked in front of you, making it a little unbearable for the audience.
The film reflects the current social situation in Germany under the economic crisis.

Grand Hotel, always the same, people come, people go.
Grand Hotel, always the same. People come and go, nothing happened.


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Extended Reading
  • Dolores 2022-03-25 09:01:15

    At the end of the film, "The Blue Danube" was played. This dark and cold atmosphere suddenly had a hint of sneering teasing: the baron was dead, the dancer was gone, and the typist and the little man went to another "Grand Hotel". However, the pilot came, and the waiter's wife gave birth... As Dr. Scarface said, "The big hotel is always the same. People come and go, everything is business as usual", we are guarding different eras, but we always walk the same pace

  • Crawford 2022-03-27 09:01:14

    The same theme has been repeated since then

Grand Hotel quotes

  • Dr. Otternschlag: And what do you do in the Grand Hotel? Eat. Sleep. Loaf around. Flirt a little, dance a little. A hundred doors leading to one hall. No one knows anything about the person next to them. And when you leave, someone occupies your room, lies in your bed... that's the end.

  • [first lines]

    Senf: [talking on the phone in a phonebooth at the Grand Hotel after a brief scene of operators at the switchboard] Hello? Hello? Hello, is that the clinic? Uh this is Senf; the head porter, Grand Hotel. How's my wife? Is she in pain? Isn't the child coming soon?... Patience? Would you have patience?

    Otto Kringelein: [in the next phonebooth] Uh this is Otto Kringelein. I-i-is that you Heinrich? Oh Heinrich listen, I've got to talk very quickly - with every minute costs two Marks ninety. Y-ya know that will I made before I had my operation? Well I want you to tear it up... Huh? W-e-I came to Berlin to see a great specialist about that old trouble of mine; y-you know Heinrich, i-it's pretty bad. Uh he says I haven't long to live... I say he says I won't live much longer!... No, it isn't nice to be told things like that. You plague and bother and save and all of the sudden you're dead. I want to get something out of life! Listen Heinrich, I'm *never* going back to Frieveshof, *never*. I-I'm staying here at the Grand Hotel; it's the most expensive hotel in Berlin. Y-eh all the best people stay here, even our big boss Preysing is staying here. I'm going to tell him someday just exactly what I think of him.

    Preysing: [in the next phonebooth] Hello? Hello, miss? This is General Director Preysing. I want my home in Frieveshof, please. Hurry, yeah... Hello! Hello. Is that you mama? How are da children? What news have you found at da factory dear?... Ya. Is your papa there?... Good. Hello papa, is that you?... Ya. The conference with the Saxonia company's set for tomorrow morning papa... Ya, ya. If the merger does not go through, ve are in very bad shape papa... Ya, ya. Everything depends upon news from Manchester! If the deal with the Manchester Cotton Company does not go through, we are facing a very bad situation papa.

    Suzette: [in the next phonebooth] I'm Suzette - Suzette: Madam Grusinskaya's maid. Madam will not dance today. No she will not go to the rehearsal; she did not sleep all night. There is something preying on her mind... No, I give her a tablet of degranol. She is sleeping now.

    Baron Felix von Geigern: [in the next phonebooth] This is Baron von Geigern. Look here, I need money or I can't stay at this hotel much longer. Well I've layed the groundwork, know the exact position of her room, and I've made friends with her ballet master Pimenov.

    Otto Kringelein: [back in his phonebooth, sincerely] Listen Heinrich, I've taken all my savings - everything; and I'm going to enjoy spending it, *all* of it. I-it's terribly expensive here Heinrich, oooohh but it's wonderful!

    Senf: [back in his phonebooth, nervously] I can't, I'll lose my job! It's like being in jail.

    Preysing: [back in his phonebooth, adamantly] Rely on me papa. I will make this merger go through, I never fail.

    Suzette: [back in her phonebooth, frantically] Oh poor Madam, her mind is tortured. I'm afraid she will...

    Baron Felix von Geigern: [back in his phonebooth, slyly] I don't need advice, thanks very much; I need money.

    Otto Kringelein: [back in his phonebooth, excitedly] ... music all the time - oh it's wonderful.

    Dr. Otternschlag: [sitting in a chair in the lobby smoking a cigar] Grand Hotel: people coming, going... nothing ever happens.

    [the scene fades out]