So, badenwurtca, did you just "want to be alone" while watching Grand Hotel?
Though the film had some low key comedic moments, I found it a rather lugubrious story of desperate, unfulfilled lives. I feel it retained more than a little of the German Weimar original when it was adapted from the 1929 novel Menschen im Hotel by Vicki Baum and the 1930 play of the same name by William A. Drake. So too the musical soundtrack, which succeeded in creating a melancholy mood beneath the apparent gaiety.
Perhaps others have a different impression of the film.
--- In my case I feel that a lot of what was captured on film prior to World War II was from the " School Of Over-acting ". Mind you this was understandable as all early films up to the late 1920's were silent-films of course. Film stars had to really show a lot of emotion in the silent-films to carry off a scene. To me the comedies worked the best in the days before sound ( ie among the pre-sound movies that were made ).
Due to some goofy activities on the site ( Trolls and/or sock-puppets etc ) I've had to restart this thread as Part Two to have more direct control. Please continue in Part Two, Thanks.
So, badenwurtca, did you just "want to be alone" while watching Grand Hotel?
Though the film had some low key comedic moments, I found it a rather lugubrious story of desperate, unfulfilled lives. I feel it retained more than a little of the German Weimar original when it was adapted from the 1929 novel Menschen im Hotel by Vicki Baum and the 1930 play of the same name by William A. Drake. So too the musical soundtrack, which succeeded in creating a melancholy mood beneath the apparent gaiety.
Perhaps others have a different impression of the film.
--- In my case I feel that a lot of what was captured on film prior to World War II was from the " School Of Over-acting ". Mind you this was understandable as all early films up to the late 1920's were silent-films of course. Film stars had to really show a lot of emotion in the silent-films to carry off a scene. To me the comedies worked the best in the days before sound ( ie among the pre-sound movies that were made ).
------------------------- The End !!! ( Of Part One ) ------------------
Due to some goofy activities on the site ( Trolls and/or sock-puppets etc ) I've had to restart this thread as Part Two to have more direct control. Please continue in Part Two, Thanks.
https://www.chess.com/forum/view/off-topic/chess-for-oldtimers-part-ii
Thanks a lot for the info AlCzervik.