Joan Crawford | Hollywood Yesterday

Review: Grand Hotel with Greta Garbo, John Barrymore, Lionel Barrymore… and Joan Crawford!

June 26, 2018 By Joi Leave a Comment

Before I go any further, I want to completely own up to having off-beat and fairly unique tastes when it comes to “Old Hollywood,” “The Golden Age of Hollywood,” “Classic Movies…” or whatever phrase best fits your fancy. The stars I often adore most are often the ones others overlook. By the same token, many legendary favorites not only don’t float my boat, they don’t even get it in the lake!

I hope you never take anything I say personally if you’re a fan of any of these legends – after all, they’re legends, after all, and that means that you are undoubtedly right and I am as wrong as can be. But I can live with it if you can.

I am a huge fan of the movie “Grand Hotel,” but it’s (undoubtedly) not for the reason you’d imagine… In fact it’s IN SPITE of the reason you’d imagine. Okay, you guessed it. I’m not the biggest Greta Garbo fan on the planet.

I apologize!

There are times, on screen, when she is brilliant. She was certainly an incredibly fascinating woman in real life – and, undeniably beautiful. The grace, the confidence, the voice… stunning. I personally simply don’t embrace her acting style. Embrace? Heck I don’t even hold its hand.

I apologize!

If, by now, you aren’t convinced that my tastes march to the beat of an odd drummer, I also put Laurence Olivier in that category. Yes. That Laurence Olivier. Like Garbo, I have not seen all of Olivier’s movies, so I’m basing this on a sample size I personally possess. If I were to see more of their films, it’s possible that my opinion of each would evolve, but as it is… I’d rather watch an rerun of The Brady Bunch (your pick) than either of these stars at work.

Apologies… plural. They’re really racking up now.

So, how does someone who is not a Garbo fan come to love Grand Hotel? Two words… Joan Crawford. As is the case with all of her roles, I think she is simply mesmerizing in this movie. It’s one of her earlier films, yet the star quality is still there. So much so, in fact, that she upstages much (at the time) bigger names. She plays a stenographess, Flaemmchen, and it’s impossible to remove your attention from her grip whenever she’s on the screen.

“I want to be alone.” – Grusinskaya (Garbo)

The Plot: A gorgeous, luxurious hotel in Berlin is the setting for this star-studded, fast-paced film. I’d imagine it was the inspiration for television series such as Love Boat and Hotel, as well as many films since. The movie takes place over the course of 24 hours as life plays out for the colorful characters – each of which will never be the same after the day they’ve had!

John Barrymore plays jewel thief Baron Felix von Geigern. He finds himself attracted to both a prima ballerina Grusinskaya (Greta Garbo) and the beautiful Flaemmchen (Joan Crawford).

Along with Joan Crawford, I’d give the “star of the movie” to Lionel Barrymore who plays terminally ill Otto Kringelein. He’s also simply wonderful in this movie. John Barrymore is also perfect in the movie – I think I just always held his character against him. I mean, come on now… how can you even look at the prima ballerina or anyone else once you’ve had Flaemmchen in your sights?! When his character tells Garbo’s that he’s never seen anything in his life as beautiful as her… I all but yell at the screen, “You darn sure have!!!”

Have I mentioned how mesmerizing Crawford is in Grand Hotel?

“Grand Hotel… always the same. People come, people go. Nothing ever happens.” – Dr. Otternschlag (Lewis Stone)

Grand Hotel Fast Facts:

Grand Hotel won Oscar for Best Picture.
Garbo purrs her now famous line, “I want to be alone.” in this film.
John Barrymore was so excited about appearing in this film with Greta Garbo that he accepted a three picture deal with MGM.
Oscar winner Wallace Beery stormed out of rehearsals at one point, saying he would only come back “when Joan Crawford learns to act”. You’ll notice I’ve all but left him out of my review. So there.
Joan Crawford was actually nervous about accepting the role of Flaemmchen. She was afraid of backlash because of the overtly sexiness of her character. Though director Edmund Goulding and producer Irving Thalberg assured her that everything would be tastefully done and that her misgivings weren’t founded, her instinct was (in the end) warranted. Many conservative censor boards cut the majority of her scenes for indecency.
Greta Garbo was nervous about playing a prima ballerina – she was afraid she wasn’t young enough for the role.
John Barrymore (Felix von Geigern) and Lionel Barrymore (Otto Kringelein) were, of course, brothers. Lionel was the older brother.
Lionel Barrymore would become most famous for his role as Mr. Potter in It’s a Wonderful Life (1946). It was actually Barrymore who convinced James Stewart to take the role of George Bailey. Apparently Stewart felt that he was not up to the role so soon after World War II. Thank goodness Barrymore convinced him – I cannot imagine the movie OR Stewart’s career without him bringing George Bailey to life.
Garbo was also unhappy about appearing in a film with so many additional stars. Producer Irving Thalberg was able to set her diva mind at ease when he told her she would be billed her by her last name only in the credits. This was a huge honor which was reserved for only largest stars.
Though rumors circulated that Joan Crawford was irked by Greta Garbo’s top billing, this is completely false. In 1932 (when the movie was released), Garbo was by far the more established and famous star. Joan Crawford would have certainly been aware of this.

I don’t want to give away anything in regard to the various storylines or the characters, so I will simply say that if you love old movies, you have to see this legendary film. If you’re a huge Greta Garbo fan (my apologies to you for my sentiments, if you are, and I promise to see more of her films!), this is as MUST SEE a movie as you’ll ever encounter. She’s full steam Garbo, here, and you’ll devour every second.

Amazon

Joan Crawford fan? See. The. Movie. Buy. The. Movie. You’ll revel in our girl’s playfulness and sexiness. I may apologize for my lack of love for some stars, but I certainly don’t apologize for this opinion – Joan Crawford and Lionel Barrymore make this movie the masterpiece it is.

Baron Felix von Geigern (John Barrymore): Oh, you’re a little stenographess?

Flaemmchen (Crawford): Yes, I’m a little stenographess.

Baron Felix von Geigern (John Barrymore): Fascinating. I don’t suppose you’d, uh, take some dictation from me sometime, would you?

Side Note: Watching the Barrymore brothers again in Grand Hotel caused me to read more about their fascinating family. When you get a chance, Google John’s beautiful daughter Diana Barrymore. Drew Barrymore’s resemblance to her is striking!

Review: Joan Crawford A Talent for Living

May 24, 2018 By Joi 1 Comment

Joan Crawford A Talent for Living

For more years than I could even begin to count, I have always been in the middle of at least one old Hollywood biography, memoir, or autobiography. They fascinate me beyond words. They’re as entertaining and exciting as the movies the stars starred in… sometimes even more so, if we’re being honest.

The most recent biography I read was about the beautiful, talented, and iconic Joan Crawford. Joan Crawford A Talent for Living, by Jennifer Bitman is a very fast-paced look into the fascinating, albeit often heartbreaking, life of Joan Crawford.

From her earliest days to her final days, Joan Crawford comes to life in this “page turner.” It’s a must read for any Joan Crawford fan and makes a cherished addition to any Old Hollywood collection.

One of the things I appreciate the most about Joan Crawford biographies such as A Talent for Living is this: They give Joan Crawford a voice. There have been a lot of negative things published about Joan Crawford… many of which were published and/or written after her death… robbing her of a chance to give her side of the events. As a Joan Crawford fan, I’m very grateful that authors are writing about her and allowing her voice to join the conversation.

Seems only right.

{Review continued below…..}

One of the things I love most about Old Hollywood biographies is the fact that they allow us to see the “star” as an actual flesh and blood human – like all of us who also fall into the category of human (on most days, anyway), the stars made their share of mistakes. Some of them were whoppers. They also, very often, endured great hardships and even abuse – both of which leave scars that do not easily, if ever, heal completely. The lucky ones had family or friends who “had their back” and held them accountable their choices. They had people who loved them too much to let them live anything but their best life.

When I read about stars, such as Joan Crawford, who pretty much had to have their own back, it squeezes my heart. Joan had a life that was defined by loss and an overwhelming sense of not being loved. Early experiences caused her to fear that if she wasn’t perfect, people who she loved would leave her.

As is the case with many people, powerful personal pain morphed into powerful personal demons for Joan… demons she battled daily.

Whether it’s drinking, drugs, and/or self-destructive decisions with relationships, personal demons beg to be silenced. Unfortunately, each of these means of silencing demons leave a lot of carnage in their wake.

Like so many stars, Joan Crawford arrived in Hollywood with open wounds… an earmark of vulnerability. Joan Crawford A Talent for Living gives us a very intimate look at the lasting and intense effect Hollywood had on Joan and at the lasting and intense effect she had on Hollywood! She hit Hollywood much as a hurricane hits land. Hollywood hadn’t seen anything quite like her – and you could make a strong case for it not having seen anyone quite like her since.

That’s the remarkable thing about Joan Crawford – she was so breathtakingly original and unique. She had such a beautiful and strong aura about her. The way she dressed, did her makeup, spoke, walked… even in her expressions. She was strength personified. And yet…. there was, at the same time, an unmistakable quality of vulnerability and need to be loved. A great, great need to be loved.

Author Jennifer Bitman allows us to meet Joan Crawford even before she became Joan Crawford. Through the early chapters, we get to witness her… well… meet herself.

Before she made landfall.

Parts of the book are painful to read but impossible not to. When you’re a fan, you want to know everything about someone – even the things that leave you with a tear in your eye. After all, each experience went into making them who they were.

There are, of course, plenty of experiences in her life that leave you smiling rather than reaching for a tissue. One of the things about Joan Crawford that always makes me smile is her devotion to and love for her fans. They meant the world to her. With all the people who let her down, I’m especially thankful that she was able to feel the great love of her fans.

I also love that she was apparently a great friend. Her friends knew they could count on her and she had a great reputation for being both gracious and generous.

{Review concludes below….}

In addition to getting to know my favorite stars better, another reason I’m obsessed with Old Hollywood biographies is this: You never know when another favorite will pop up! To read about different stars meeting one another, getting to know one another, and (sometimes) even feuding fascinates me each and every time. While reading A Talent for Living, many names popped up and I hung on each and every word – especially when one Clark Gable arrives on the scene. I don’t want to give anything away, but the relationship between the two is pretty scintillating!

Did Joan Crawford have emotional scars that led to demons? Yes. Did the demons, when she attempted to silence them, cause havoc? Yes. But here’s the thing – to have accomplished all that she accomplished while battling all that she battled is remarkable. It took great strength from a woman who always had a little girl living within who wanted to be loved and desperately needed to know that those she loved weren’t going to betray her or leave her.

While I am as happy as a clam laying on the beach on a Sunday afternoon when I’m lost in the pages of an Old Hollywood biography, I realize there are people who much prefer “fast reads,” books that are neither long or “heavy,” as in difficult to read. If this describes you, you’ll love the fact that this fast-paces book is a very fast read. It would make an excellent companion at the beach, park, lake, or backyard patio.

Not counting the Filmography (which was incredibly to consult while reading when I wanted to establish a time-line), Bibliography, and Notes – the book is just 175 pages in length.

I hope you’ll grab a copy of A Talent for Living and really get to know Joan Crawford. Behind the beauty, clothes, talent, and strong aura was a woman who wanted the same things we all want from life – to love and be loved in return.

~ Joi (“Joy”)

Are you on Twitter?? If you are a Joan Crawford and/or Old Hollywood fan, I have a Twitter account that I cannot recommend enough. Bonnie Edinger is a dream come true for those of us who love this era so much. Last year, one of my daughters had a very complicated pregnancy and, like any mother hen, I spent every day and night worried about her and her baby. When the beautiful baby boy was born prematurely, he had to spend time in the NICU – it hurt to see such a tiny baby hooked up to so many wires. While I always LOVE Bonnie’s beautiful pictures and great information (I’ve learned so much – and here I thought I knew everything… Ha!), I don’t think I’ve ever appreciated them quite as much as I did during these months. When I felt like I was at the end of my emotional rope, I’d find her Twitter page and lose myself in the wonderful pictures and read every wonderful word she had to say.

I have to say, though, I do appreciate the Tweets even when the emotional rope is nowhere in sight! She’s a sweetheart and is even the one who told me about this great book – Joan Crawford is one of her favorite actresses!

Joan Crawford: I Feel Like I’ve Met an Exciting New Friend

March 25, 2018 By Joi Leave a Comment

“Love is fire. But whether it is going to warm your hearth or burn down your house, you can never tell.”

As I said in a recent post about Dorothy Dandridge, I often come across new actors and actresses from the Golden Age of Hollywood (or Old Hollywood) who I fall for head over heels. The reason for this is that I tend to watch every movie my favorites are in (many times over), then I watch the movies of the stars that intrigue me in these movies.

For example, Ginger Rogers is, and always has been, one of my favorite stars. When I saw her in The Major and The Minor, Ray Milland joined her on my list of favorites. THEN, over time, while watching his films, I “met” George Raft…. and so on and so on. Somehow, I managed to miss an introduction to Joan Crawford for years and years and years.

How is that even possible when she is one of Hollywood’s biggest legends?! I have absolutely no idea. I do, however, fear that (somewhere deep inside) I was held back from a particular book I had read when I was a teenager. You know the one.

When I reached the age where I grew to understand that stars (politicians, athletes, doctors, lawyers…. you know, humans) are just like the rest of us – warts and all. I’d never “excuse” or try to “justify” anything anyone may or may not have done but, seriously, how can any of us truly know what happened in another person’s home or life?!

What’s more, even when we have access to facts (other than hateful “tell all” books that are beyond inhumane to do to someone when they aren’t even here to defend themselves) – who are we to judge? That’s God’s department and I want no part of it. Way too much responsibility for a fellow human to bear!

As I’ve often pointed out on Hollywood Yesterday, many of the stars we love (and even the ones we don’t love, as far as that goes!) suffered from emotional and mental illnesses that could be treated today – whereas, then, the individuals was often left with one solution: self medicate. That, as we all know, often meant drugs and/or alcohol. Understandably, when their demons were raging within them, they had one goal – SILENCE them. Alcohol was, it would appear, the most popular self-medication among stars.

To make a hellish situation even more so, alcohol quickly turns someone into something they’d never hope for in their wildest dream.

This appears to be the tragic tale for so many stars from Old Hollywood, including Joan Crawford. While this is, obviously, heart-breaking, we don’t have to let it identify their life. Those of us who love these stars so dearly can (and should) keep doing our part to allow their best side to shine – just as they’d want it to. Why compound their pain when we can comfort them instead?

Joan Crawford was a stunningly beautiful and talented actress. Her eyes were absolutely mesmerizing, weren’t they? Something else that I love about her is her voice. I’m not sure what I was expecting, to tell you the truth, but when I first heard her speak, I was taken aback by how beautiful her voice was. I guess with her reputation as such a strong personality, I expected the roar of a lioness! Her voice is as beautiful as her face…. which is saying something.

As I’m basically mowing through her movies now that I’ve “met” her, I’ve found that she commanded a scene like few are able to do. She brought a certain vulnerability to even her strongest roles…. much as she did to her strongest role of all: Joan Crawford. The vulnerability is, unquestionably, there and (as I do with so many of her characters), I find myself desperately wanting to help her. Often it seems that what her characters needed most was to be saved from themselves – again, very much like the lady, herself.

The vulnerability, like the voice, was something I didn’t expect.

Watch for a lot more Joan Crawford on Hollywood Yesterday because I’ve made a new friend and plan to do right by her.