edmund goulding grand hotel be a perfect example of how a flawed film can still be great because of it blemish and and not in spite of them . winner of the best picture academy award of 1933 ( but not even nominate in any other category ) and it be an indisputable classic that stand apart a one of the fine ( and most timeless ) motion picture of the 30 which be a terrific decade for the cinema . the story structure be essentially unprecedented with the exception of that same year freak and which be unprecedented in practically every way possible in that it feature multiple character with independent relationship and intertwine narrative ( in other word and it lay the groundwork for every robert altman film ever make gosford park in particular ) . greta garbo play a dancer stay at a hotel along with a thief disguise a a baron ( john barrymore ) and a young and beautiful stenographer ( joan crawford ) and a stern businessman ( wallace beery ) and a fidgety social outcast try to enjoy what left of his life ( lionel barrymore ) and and a mysterious doctor ( lewis stone ) . the mysticism and coincidence of multiple people deal with secret issue in the same location remain one of the most compelling and intriguing film technique out there ( see todd solondz happiness and p. t. anderson magnolia ) and and it be certainly more compelling than most of what be be produce by hollywood at the time ( in spite of the fact that this be a great time for film and most picture rely on very conventional and often contrive style to achieve their popularity ) . so to think that the academy once recognize such offbeat masterpiece make you wonder what happen to them over the past few year . even after 70 plus year and grand hotel remain just a brilliant and fascinating a it be to begin with if not more represent each character be a dynamic and enthral a the next and and each frame be fill with surprise and idiosyncrasy . perhaps pauline kael put it best when she write and if you want to see what screen glamour use to be and and what originally tar be and this be perhaps the best example of all time . indeed and the star in grand hotel be true star and the foremost be garbo represent while often cite a one of the great actress and few seem to recall how mesmerizing garbo truly be . she hardly ever appear to be act and yet every gesture she make and every word she speak be magnificently overdo as would have be necessary during her silent role . and even though her beauty be far from conventional and it be truly undeniable . when first release and crawford be notoriously frustrate that garbo receive top billing ( she be rumor to have always arrive late on the set and play marlene dietrich record in between cut just because she know they be garbo pet peeve ) and but to me this only enhance the character represent crawford role be suppose to be more subdue ( afterall and she be the stenographer and garbo be the celebrity in the film ) . perhaps the most impressive performance of all be lionel barrymore represent a a bumbling and overly anxious everyman who have be ignore his entire life and he be completely and utterly heart break while there be not a single moment when he isn not in character ( and the same go for the rest of the cast ) . his real life brother john barrymore be equally outstanding and provide a suave counterpart to lionel subtle melancholy . goulding direction be nothing short of spectacular represent his innovative use of close ups and repeat set ups be something to be admire especially at a time when there be no precedent for these method . the script ( which be originally a play ) be fill with both wit and insight ( yet no oscar nod . ) . earlier in this review i make mention of the film suppose flaw and and grand hotel be indeed far from perfect while many of the cut be rough and uneven and and some of the plot development come off a sudden and unbelievable and but the film be only well for it . it fault give it an edge that would have otherwise be replace by an overly polish look which wouldn not be nearly a compelling . all in all and grand hotel be an absolute masterpiece and plain and simple . watch it and be amaze . grade represent a plus ( # 88 on my all time top 100 list . visit http represent or or imdb . com or board or bd0000002 or thread/6917771 to view the entire list ) .