I was recounting it to my coworker today and by the end two other coworkers had popped up like meerkats over their cubicles to hear the thrilling conclusion.
That seems only sensible of them!
I've still never seen the Grand Hotel film, but we did the musical my junior year of high school; unfortunately I've only retained the bits of it where lyrics overlap with the names of popular restaurants, and the part where the school heartthrob got his tragic stage death.
That's perfect casting for the Baron, though.
I have the original Broadway cast recording; it has some nice songs and at least one bona-fide hit ("Love Can't Happen," arguably "Maybe My Baby Loves Me") and I would not otherwise call it a major musical, although I would certainly see a production if it ever played locally. Michael Jeter won his Tony for it.
I remember enjoying the film when I saw it in high school, but since reading the novel I have opinions about the character of Otto Kringelein and one of them is, Lionel Barrymore, really? [edit] Otto Kringelein, as you may or may not recall from high school, is a forty-six-year-old, highly nervous, probably Jewish and terminally ill bookkeeper who comes to Berlin from Fredersdorf to live out his final months in something resembling the style to which he always wanted to be able to afford to get accustomed; as the characters variously rise and fall, he's one of the ones who rise, because he has nothing left to lose and in addition to all of the above he is very kind. Of course I like him. The director of the 1932 film wanted Buster Keaton for the part and couldn't get Mayer to agree. Based on those pictures of Sam Jaffe and the reviews he received, I'm not sure why he wasn't even considered. I get the novelty of two Barrymores in the same show (what, was Ethel busy that week?), but Lionel really wouldn't have been my first choice after that.
no subject
That seems only sensible of them!
I've still never seen the Grand Hotel film, but we did the musical my junior year of high school; unfortunately I've only retained the bits of it where lyrics overlap with the names of popular restaurants, and the part where the school heartthrob got his tragic stage death.
That's perfect casting for the Baron, though.
I have the original Broadway cast recording; it has some nice songs and at least one bona-fide hit ("Love Can't Happen," arguably "Maybe My Baby Loves Me") and I would not otherwise call it a major musical, although I would certainly see a production if it ever played locally. Michael Jeter won his Tony for it.
I remember enjoying the film when I saw it in high school, but since reading the novel I have opinions about the character of Otto Kringelein and one of them is, Lionel Barrymore, really? [edit] Otto Kringelein, as you may or may not recall from high school, is a forty-six-year-old, highly nervous, probably Jewish and terminally ill bookkeeper who comes to Berlin from Fredersdorf to live out his final months in something resembling the style to which he always wanted to be able to afford to get accustomed; as the characters variously rise and fall, he's one of the ones who rise, because he has nothing left to lose and in addition to all of the above he is very kind. Of course I like him. The director of the 1932 film wanted Buster Keaton for the part and couldn't get Mayer to agree. Based on those pictures of Sam Jaffe and the reviews he received, I'm not sure why he wasn't even considered. I get the novelty of two Barrymores in the same show (what, was Ethel busy that week?), but Lionel really wouldn't have been my first choice after that.