Another week and we are getting closer to Christmas. Sorry that I have not posted my creations in a while but I am busy as all heck with Christmas as all of you are as well. I am finding it difficult to keep up so, if I have not visited you in a while, my apologies. I will try to get back to everything soon. In the meantime, here are my picks for 3 movies set in a hotel. You can check out what the others have chosen...or participate yourself over at Wandering Through The Shelves. Every week there is a new topic and you get to choose 3 films you feel go with that topic.
1. GRAND HOTEL-1932
This is one of the first big-budgeted all star cast style movies which takes place in Berlin. I find it a hoot because, nowadays, it is a bit stilted but you get to see some stars at their peek in popularity like John Barrymore (who will fall from grace, literally and figuratively in the years to come) and Greta Garbo to up and comers like Joan Crawford. Everyone comes to this famous hotel and you get to see their trials and tribulations. This is the film where Garbo utters that she wishes to be alone or left alone ("there is all the difference"). I can't help but giggle that she is portraying a famous ballerina knowing that Garbo loved to wear slippers while she worked (if her feet were not in a shot of course).
2. THE PINK PANTHER-1963
OK this takes place at an exclusive chalet but it still fits the theme I think. I love this movie because I find it one of the best comedies I have seen even with Capucine (Like that Patt:)) Actually she does quite a good job in this film playing the beautiful wife of Peter Sellers Inspector Clouseau. The luscious Claudia Cardinale is an Indian princess staying at this Swiss resort with her big fat diamond-the pink panther. David Niven is the cat burglar and Robert Wagner his young nephew. With great Henry Mancini music, the comedic timing of Sellers and a masquerade party that I wish I could have been at, it is golden.
3. THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL-2014
Another recent film for me to choose and one, I am expecting, to be at other blogs, but I can't resist. This is a film by Wes Anderson who directed The Royal Tenenbaums and Moonrise Kingdom. He has his very own auteur style if I can say this. This is such a unique film starring Ralph Fiennes as the man who runs this exclusive hotel. Fiennes should make more comedies like this because he is great in the way he delivers his lines. It also has Edward Norton, Tilda Swinton, Bill Murray, F. Murray Abraham, Willem Dafoe, Adrien Brody and so on. I find the writing and acting brilliant as well as the artistic direction. Some people hated this film because it is different in its style. It is a film you will either love or hate so it is up to the individual.....which is usually the case:)
Which 3 films would you have picked?
I am yet to see the last one on the list, thanks for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteI like the last one but it is different.
DeleteI saw the two "Marigold Hotel" films earlier this year. My Mum had liked the first one, when she could go under her own steam, and asked me to take her to the second.The first film was on TV not long afterwards,so I saw them in the wrong order. It didn't seem to matter! I didn't expect to enjoy them, but I did - very colourful, and lots of great acting from the likes of Judi Dench.
ReplyDeleteAnabel's Travel Blog
My hubby and I both enjoyed them. We both liked the first one a bit better but both are just so much fun to watch and a film with mainly older actors which is nice
DeleteThe only hotel movie that comes to mind is 'Somewhere in Time'. Makes me want to go back to Mackinaw. Last stayed at the Grand Hotel there about ten years ago.
ReplyDeleteI love that movie and saw that in the theatre when it came out since I had a huge crush for Christopher Reeve. It is a timeless (nyuck, nyuck) piece
DeleteThe only one I remember is TGBH. It's a wonderful film. I have seen The Pink Panther, but that was 30-something years ago. Can't recall hardly any of it. Unfortunately, I do remember the horrible Steve Martin remake. Haven't seen the other one, but the cast sounds fantastic. Might give it a go.
ReplyDeleteOh don't go by the Steve Martin flick. The only one who is Inspector Clouseau to me is Peter Sellers-He is the best!
Delete"I vunt to be A-lone." :)
ReplyDeleteHi, dear Birgit!
I remember at least one cartoon character, possibly Bugs Bunny, uttering those words in a parody of Greta Garbo although, as you indicated, the actual quote was "I want to be left alone." I first saw The Pink Panther when it was released to theaters and I love Peter Sellers, David Niven and Robert Wagner. It's hard to shift gears and imagine Ralph Fiennes in a comedic role because his chilling portrayal of the cruel and brutal Commandant Amon Goeth in Schindler's List is burned into my brain. However, I am eager to watch The Grand Budapest Hotel, hopefully with Mrs. Shady.
Thank you, dear friend BB!
There are many parodies and I am not sure about Bugs and I love Bugs Bunny! Ralph Fiennes can do evil so well not only in Schindler's List but he portrayed a killer in another film which I think was about Hannibal Lector. He was also really good in The English Patient. Peter Selleres is the only one who can be Clouseau in my eyes
DeleteI forgot about the first Pink Panther. There were so many after that!
ReplyDeleteThere were! I loved all of them but only with Peter Sellers
DeleteI haven't seen any of these movies! The only one I could think of for the topic was The Shining.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you, Birgit! I'm sure you are making tons of wonderful cards for the season. :)
The Shining is a perfect hotel film but it is Christmas so I didn't want to pick that one:) Marry Christmas!
DeleteOf the three, saw The Grand Budapest Hotel only. Son brought it home one time after he rented it. I was surprised I liked it as well as I did :) I bet all of your Christmas cards are coming out gorgeous!
ReplyDeletebetty
I wish I could make more! I have been busy decorating. Glad you like Budapest Hotel
DeleteI saw the Pink Panther one a while back. Never even heard of the first and the last, heard of it but avoided it as Wes Anderson and I found Moonrise Kingdom boring as hell.
ReplyDeleteMy hubby didn't care for Moonrise Kingdom at all but really enjoyed Budapest Hotel but it does have the same style of humour even though it is different.
DeleteYes! I just knew you would pick Grand Hotel! I deliberately didn't because I was sure it would show up somewhere and I suspected here. It's a film of so many parts, some hokey now but mostly wonderful. I love Garbo but not here. Aside from her famous line she seems either bored or too affected...and she's not believable for an instant as a ballerina, she's too stocky. The three standouts to me are the Barrymore brothers both separately and together and Crawford. She actually is best in show, I think without question this is the best performance of her early work. Seems incredible now that she was nominated for a Best Supporting nod.
ReplyDeleteI'd forgotten Pink Panther was set in a chalet, it's been quite some time since I've seen it. The tragic Capucine and Claudia Cardinale both are at their stunning peaks in the film but of course Peter Sellers blows everyone else off the screen whenever he bumbles onto it.
Grand Budapest is simply everywhere today. I wish I could say I love it as much as everyone else seems to but while I liked it once was enough for me. It is a beautiful looking film without question.
One of mine relates to one of yours, I'm curious to hear if you've seen it. Here's mine for the week:
Bobby (2006)-Intermingling stories set in the Ambassador Hotel on June 4th and 5th 1968 as several groups prepare to attend the Democratic presidential primary rally at which Robert F. Kennedy will speak and will ultimately have a tragic outcome, his assassination. Filmed at the actual locations that events occurred just before the hotel was demolished.
Evil Under the Sun (1982)-In an absolutely gorgeous island hotel in the Adriatic a group of wealthy people sun themselves and bitch at each other until one of them turns up murdered. Thank goodness Hercule Poirot is among the guests and can put the "little gray cells" to use solving the crime. Hugely enjoyable version of Agatha Christie's mystery with Peter Ustinov a perfect Poirot-clever, urbane, canny and sly. The entire cast seems to be having fun with a brilliant Diana Rigg and Maggie Smith making great sparring partners with dialog dipped in venom. Amazing costume design.
Dear Heart (1964)-In New York for a postmaster's convention Geraldine Page, a single kind hearted postmistress meets traveling salesman Glenn Ford who is staying in the same hotel. Tired of the road he’s become engaged to a pushy woman more out of a longing to put down roots than passion. Now an unexpected spark ignites between the two strangers, what to do? Sweet, gentle comedy/drama of two lonely souls slowly realizing they are meant for each other. Great supporting cast includes Angela Lansbury and both the actresses, Alice Pearce and Sandra Gould that eventually played Gladys Kravitz on Bewitched.
Honorable Mention-Week-End at the Waldorf (1945)-Glossy remake and relocation of Grand Hotel to New York's Waldorf-Astoria. Slick and well-acted by a star studded cast, Ginger Rogers, Lana Turner, Walter Pidgeon, Edward Arnold and Van Johnson among them, but missing both the grit and pathos of the original. You can really tell that the production code came about between the two versions, especially in relation to what has happened to Crawford's character now squeaky clean stenographer Lana Turner.
One more thing, your link is missing over at Wandering Through the Shelves. :-)
I was late linking myself up but got on:) I thought you would appreciate Grand Hotel and Garbo walks around about as graceful as an elephant in a crystal shop! I love how she and Barrymore meet and fall in love in about 1 hour. I have not seen Weekend at the Waldorf! I always wanted to to compare to the original version especially with the censorship in full steam. I would love to see Dear Heart-sounds like a great movie that doesn't get much air time. I love Evil Under The Sun-How I wish they would make another Agatha Christie film like they did in the '70's and '80's. It is so classy, like Downton Abbey. I knew Budapest Hotel would be everywhere today but I really enjoyed this film a lot. I almost picked Top Hat because of the nutty sets of Venice and the over the top Art Deco hotel. LOVE the dancing of Astair and Rogers
DeleteI did not like The grand Budapest Hotel but The Pink Panther never fails to make me laugh.
ReplyDeleteI think Budapest is a film one either likes or hates-there is no indifference with that film but Pink Panther is a film I can't see anyone disliking
DeleteAh, Grand Hotel! I don't love it, but that cast is SO to die for. The Pink Panther I adore - so funny! And Grand Budapest is so thoroughly entertaining with a tremendous performance from Fiennes (never suaver) holding it together. Lovely picks this week!
ReplyDeleteI had to pick Grand Hotel because it is just so...grand:) It is not the best older film by far but I get a kick out of it especially Garbo playing a ballerina-hahahaaa. Fiennes makes the film for sure
DeleteI've only seen the Pink Panther. I think. I sort of recall it. But I really should get around to Grand Hotel one of these days.
ReplyDeletePink Panther is so funny and sophisticated even with the bumbling Clouseau
DeleteAh The Grand Budapest :) I'm dying to see The Grand Hotel as this was on a list of films that inspired Budapest Hotel. And I love Pink Panther. Great picks!
ReplyDeleteGrand Budapest was everywhere today but I just love that film. Grand Hotel is so over the top but it is fun to watch.
DeleteHa! This one is easy for me. The Shining, Room 1408, and Four Rooms.
ReplyDeleteShows you where my head's at. (In case you didn't already know.)
Hahahaaa_ I was hoping you would reply and if you didn't pick these films I would have been surprised. I don't know Four Rooms though. Room 1408 scared the bejeesies out of me
DeleteI like the Grand Budapest Hotel, too. Great everything about it -- the story, the writing, the actors, the direction, the setting. To be able to come up with something like that.
ReplyDeleteIt is so much fun and the look of the film is great. Ralph Fiennes shows he can do anything
DeleteInteresting little tip about Garbo. When you say slippers, do you mean house slippers?
ReplyDeleteYup..house slippers! She liked the ones you could slip on and off. There is a great Bio done by Barry Paris and he speaks, later on, of her young friend who would visit her when she lived in New York. When he was in her Apartment, he dropped something on the rug, when he went to retrieve it, he saw all these little gnomes under the couch. He never said anything but everytime he went back, he noticed she would move them around but still be kept under the sofa.
DeleteOne of my biggest regrets is not seeing The Pink Panther movies. I so need to. Grand Hotel is surely a familiar title as well. Grand Budapest had to happen here. Great picks!
ReplyDeleteThanks! Yes you have to see the Pink Panther films
DeleteWes Anderson is brilliant, in his quirky way. Have enjoyed his movies so much.
ReplyDeleteHe is a really good director with his own unique style
DeleteI'll probably watch Grand Budapest Hotel by myself as I kind of don't think my wife would like it.
ReplyDeleteArlee Bird
Wrote By Rote
It is an eclectic film and not for everyone but I loved it
DeleteFabulous selection of movies... and Im proud to say I've also watched the 2014 movie ... shocking, isn't it?!
ReplyDeletex Asha
Hahahaaa-You and I (or is it me?) are alike. If we ever get together we would be stamping up a storm and watching old movies while playing with the animals
DeleteI saw the Pink Panther years ago. I only can vaguely remember it- so I should probably re-watch it. The rest are new to me, of course. :)
ReplyDelete~Jess
The Pink Panther is so much fun. If one needs a break from life, it is a fun film to sit back and enjoy
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