Why is this masterpiece not in the top 20 when schlock like Shawshank Redemption or Lord of The Rings can make it? Sad.
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LOTR is not bad at all. The second and third are great...The Shawshank Redemption is fantastic...Idiotic point.
shareGrand Hotel is a magnificent film regardless of its position in the IMDb rankings.
shareI agree, this was a great film. But when you stack it up against the current 100... it was great for its time, and it's very engaging, but I don't think it stacks up to the quality of film and production of many of the movies today. It's good, but it's not *that* good.
I like it for its value in inspiring many similar movies throughout the years, but I don't know if I'd say it's one of the top 100 movies of all time.
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I see your point, Stimpil, but I think the writing trumps the crudity of the technology they had available.
If you get the chance, check out "The Cook," with Fatty Arbuckle and Buster Keaton. There aren't any computer generated graphics, stunt actors, or sophisticated editing, just two amazing physical actors juggling everything from dinnerware to butcher knives across a room at each other with amazing precision and fabulous professionalism.
I thoroughly agree that the craft has moved on and that's a good thing, but I have to respect and admire the effort and heart put into movies like these. And like some other contributors, I think a remake would be, simply, a disaster. I don't think we'd be open to admiring characters who don't always make the admirable choice. And the idea that not everyone, even in an expensive hotel, is young, hot, wallowing in money and too cool for the room...scandalous! I hope we find a way to keep making visually stunning films and maybe sneak in a little writing for grownups, as well. Where's the Donnie Darko team when you need them?!
Here's the simple reason: Kids haven't even heard of "Grand Hotel" much less seen and appreciated it. And further, popularity and quality have never been synonymous.
shareI basically agree, but I would say that popularity and quality have 'not always' been synonymous. Think about the place that a movie like LOTR will have in 60 years! If it endures the test of time, then I suppose it must have some universal quality to it; then again, not all of us here in this community are profesional movie critics or movie industry or art scholars.
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I could not agree, more!
The bar for cinemagraphic excellence continues to decline with more and more stupid plots, inane dialogue, needless foul language and pretetious special effects.
The Grand Hotel is indeed a masterpiece.
Unfortunately it is not in color with dolby surround sound.
If you will check out the 250 top ... you'll see there are only 26 movies that were made before 1960.
Now look at how many are made after 1990..
Some movies shouldn't even be there ... I wonder how many people will remember or better yet ... watch LOTR 15 times after let's say ... 25 years...
I know one thing ... I'd watch "The Searchers with John Wayne" or "Some like it hot with Marilyn Monroe at least 15 times after 25 years" ....or any other classic
This top is irellevant... most of the voters don't even watch classics ..
It would be nice to see the age of the voters to get an idea.
I agree. The roster of stars in this picture alone should merit it in the top 20. I am disappointed it didn't make the AFI's top 100 movies. After all its not like u can find any movie with the likes of the Barrymores, Garbo, Crawford and Wallace Beery. The best example of the studio system that dominated hollywood in the golden age.
shareYou & all the others make some very good points. I would have to watch some 20-30 movies I KNOW were great, but have never seen, before I could really pick a halfway legit top 100 or top 250 list ... yet I have a distinct feeling that many of those voting have never seen some of the great classics!
Grand Hotel would be a cool movie, even if it were just an example of the first all-star extravaganza & a collection who's who in Depression Era Hollywood. Yet it's so much more! As others have noted, it's still a joy to watch, after nearly 3/4 of a century.
I just got a used VHS version from amazon.com & am looking forward to sharing it with a friend. I saw it for the first (and second & third, while I had it checked out) time a year or so ago & loved it. I am so delighted to have my own copy of it now!
I pity the viewer who cannot enjoy anything in which Joan Crawford appears. I had friends who are that way about Jane Fonda. I really don't want to know too much off-the-set stuff about actors ... at least not the bad stuff. (Some good points, like Gable really wanting to serve active duty in WWII, do help me appreciate certain stars even more, though.)
I had forgotten Joan was even in it when I saw it for the first time & accidentally fast-forwarded through the opening credits. I was watching it, thinking, "Dang! Who IS that hot babe???" Woweee! She was a hottie ... and yet, like John B., it was Garbo with whom I really fell in love ... in this & every other film!
I agree ... it's at LEAST a top 100 film, probably a top 25 one.
I understand that everyone is entitled to their own opinions, butI have a direct response to In-Like-Flynn. Joan Crawford was a wonderful actress/movie star through and through. You may not agree with her alleged parenting skills but she deserves so much more respect than that. (The book was written by ONE daughter who was left out of Miss Crawford's will. People really should check Christina out before siding with her immediately. The other two daughters claim Joan was a great parent.) Most people judge her entire life and career by one movie which she didn't even star in and that really isn't fair. I apologize for making it sound like she is a god but I look up to her, and respect her greatly. Demon-mother is way out of line. Maybe she was a bad mother, but she's gone now, isn't that enough relief to Christina? No of course not, it's not enough for Christina or the public. It's cruel in MY opinion so stop with it. She definately was not perfect, but she did many great things. Please, just read up on her a little more before passing such harsh judgement and offending people like myself who look up to her.
I'm so sorry for that. But getting back on track, the film Grand Hotel is my personal favorite. A one-of-a-kind gem. And it certainly would not be the same without every last person it had in the cast. Amazing.
If you will check out the 250 top ... you'll see there are only 26 movies that were made before 1960.
It would be hard for it to get enough high votes for the top 20, I find that of all the "Classics" I've seen, it hasn't aged well. I mean it seems to me to be less accessible to a modern audience than other older films. Perhaps because though well-acted, its heavy.
shareNow, I'm 14, and I can just say these films should be in the top 25:
Gone with the Wind
Grand Hotel
All Quiet on the Western Front
Casablanca
The Gold Rush
...and quite a few other great ones that my peers wouldn't even hear about.
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Would you care to explain why you think it should be in the Top 25, Oh mature 15-year old(s)? It certainly doesn't deserve a spot just because it is old and won Best Picture...if that were the case, there would be 30 or 40 movies in the Top 25. So why do you like it so much?
Jace aleas et move mures!!
The only thing wrong with this film is Joan Crawford
Joan, you spoiled this film from being perfect!
Come up and see me sometime...
-Mae West-
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