Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer has been an icon of film history since the beginning. The first recorded truly moving photo was made in 1878 and the first “motion picture film” was created in 1888. MGM itself was first brought into the film industry by Marcus Loew who bought into the company in 1920. It truly began it’s rise though in 1924 when the company merged with Goldwyn Production Company. “The studio reached its peak in the 1930s and ’40s” (britannica)- when MGM would make it’s true impact. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer would go on to make many films that we consider to be classics today.
One of their first masterpieces to arise in the ‘30s was Grand Hotel, directed by Edmund Goulding. Many huge stars would appear in this film, thus dubbing Goulding “‘Lion Tamer’ for his ability to deal with many temperamental Hollywood stars, as he did in this film” (filmsite).
It truly changed how films were made and how stories in films were made. The storyline itself was made of multiple character threads, and this completely manipulated the way a screenplay was developed for the rest of film history.
The sets themselves were stunning, and the film was renowned for its ‘grand’ art directing and cinematography.
For the actors and actresses in this film, it would go on to be an icon in their film background. Greta Garbo herself will forever have the famous phrase, ‘I want to be alone’ follow her legacy.
This is just to say that this film was impactful in more ways than one. It was one of MGM’s first incredible feats and made leaps and bounds for the movie making industry itself. Many people were considered for the roles of Baron, Kringelein and Preysing, including silent film stars Buster Keaton, John Gilbert and the iconic Clark Gable who’s most famous film to date is the classic, Gone With the Wind.
Ultimately these roles would end up going to John Barrymore, Lionel Barrymore and Wallace Beery. This film would change their careers, especially that of Joan Crawford, who would from that point be considered for much more serious, leading roles.
Overall this film was huge in more ways than one, and was the host of several huge film stars of that time.
History of the Motion Picture 