( there be spoiler ) be tell by his doctor that he hasn not get long to live meek and kindly bookkeeper otto kringelein and lionel barrymore and decides to go out in grand fashion . take his life saving with him and some 11 and 000 mark and otto be to spend his last day on earth in the most expensive hotel in berlin the aptly name grand hotel . it at the grand hotel otto get to meet his abusive bos and at the textile factory and preysing and wallace beery and who treat him with total destine . preysing be certain that the only way otto can afford to stay at that swanky and expensive joint be that he embezzle his business . otto get his by now hot in the collar bos even madder at him by steal his pretty stenographer flaemmchen or flaem for short and joan crawford and who see what a creep her and like otto and boss the iron prussian like preysing really be . the movie grand hotel also have a one of it guest the flat broke and compulsive gambler baron felix von geigern and john barrymore . baron felix lose his entire fortune playing baccarat and be now in danger of get his leg break if he doesn not come up with the cash and 5 and 000 mark and that he owe the boy who have be back up his lose bet . baron felix now on his last leg which he will need crutch for if the boy do not get their money be plan to rob the great grusinskaya and greta garbo and the world great ballerina who also a guest at the hotel . the baron concoct a plan to rob the great grusinskaya of her pearl necklace while she at the berlin theater do her thing represent dance her heart out for the audience there . baron felix who only friend on earth up to that time be his cute and faithful dachshund adolphus and or adolph for short and will later make it with that cold fish of a woman grusinskaya while in the process of burglarize her hotel suite . catch baron felix off guard and by come back to her suite early and grusinskya be charm by the handsome rogue who sweet talk her right out of her dance costume and into her bed while with him join it . it later that the baron after confess his love for grusinskaya and and return her steal pearl necklace and decides to use the naive otto in a card game of baccarat he set up . this be do by baron felix in order to get back the money he owe the boy before the boy who have just about have it with him and in his stall to pay them back their money and end up make him a cripple . the card game go good for first time gambler and beginner luck . and otto who break the bank walk away with another and to his already 11 and 0000 and 3 and 500 mark . with time run out on him in pay the boy back their money a desperate baron felix grab otto and who dead drunk for drink champaign and wallet with some 15 and 000 mark for him to finally pay back the boy before they pay him and in work the baron over and back with compound interest and fracture . spoilersit then that baron felix finally see the light and give up his life of a cat burglar and con artist but only after one last fling and in rob preysing room and which turn out to be fatal for him . despite the major and establish star in the film and greta garbo the barrymore and wallace beery and it be joan crawford and compare to the quality of act talent she be up against and in a more or less supporting role who steal the film act honor . be both wholesome and sensuous miss . crawford be able to put the grubby and aggressive preysing in his place . this be by show him that the person whom he hold in contempt and and be a rival for her affection and the sweet and soft speaking otto be a big success and a a human be and that he will ever be . in the end the so sure of himself preysing end up be lead out of the grand hotel in handcuff and go to jail for crime commit by him on and off the premise . a for the meek and sensitive otto and whom preysing step on for some 30 year and he also leave with flaem for paris to spend his last and and extremely happy and day with her at that city grand hotel .