Grand Hotel (released in 1932) - Starring Greta Garbo, John Barrymore and Joan Crawford

This American drama film is directed by Edmund Goudling and is adapted from a the novel Menschen im Hotel by Vicki Baum. This movie stars Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford, Lionel Barrymore and John Barrymore.
This movie opens with Doctor Otternschlag, a disfigured veteran who stays permanently at the Grand Hotel remarking “Grand Hotel....People come and go. Nothing ever happens”. After this seemingly innocuous remark, acts as a catalyst for a chain of events at the hotel. Baron Felix Von Geigern, a jewel thief and a master card player stays at the hotel undertaking small time theft and forgery. He is a noble man who has lost his fortune. The Baron befriend Otto Kringelein, a small time accountant who is fatally ill. He stays at The Grand to spend his last days in the lap of luxury. Kringelein's ex-boss is Director Preysing who is an wealthy industrialist staying at the Grand to ink a large deal. He hires a stenographer Flaemmchen who wants to be an actress. She shows Preysing her audacious photographs and hints that she is willing to do anything to be a star. Preysing soon starts an affair with her.



Another guest, Grusinskaya is a famous ballet dancer who is tired of the world. She unexpectedly returns home and finds the Baron rummaging through her jewels. She says ”I want to be alone”, mistaking him to be a part of the staff. But the Baron stays and engages in a conversation which brings them both closer. After the conversation the guilty Baron returns her jewels and Grusinskaya invites him to accompany her to Vienna. The Baron agrees and engages to meet her at the train station.
The Baron joins Flaemmchen and Kringelien for afternoon tea, where a coquettish Flaemmchen cajoles Kringelien to dance. Preysing who arrives is consumed with jealousy and imperiously tells Flaemmchen to stop. All are disgusted by his uncouth behavior and Kringelien gives him a piece of his mind. Preysing gets angry and the situation is diffused by the baron's intervention. The Baron tries to steal from the intoxicated Kringelien, but seeing his pathetic condition returns his wallet back. He turns his attention to Preysing instead.
But as fate would have it the baron is caught by Preysing stealing his papers and in the scuffle bludgeons him to death. Flaemmchen arrives at the scene and runs to Kringelien who confronts Preysing. They summon the police and Preysing is summarily arrested. Oblivious of the Baron's fate, Grunskaya waits at the train station for him and grieves when the Baron does not arrive. Flaemmchen and Kringelien leave for Paris to try a new cure and vow to be be with each other. As they leave the hotel, Doctor Otternschlag once again observes, "Grand Hotel. People come and go. Nothing ever happens.".
This movie may be a tedious watch for many as there are lot of a interconnecting events with no story to hold your attention. Btu it is critically acclaimed movie. The film is the only motion picture to have won the Academy Award for Best Picture, with that category being the sole category in which it was nominated. In 2007, Grand Hotel was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."
Another cause for its fame is Garbo's famous opening line “I want to be Alone” which is often alluded to her in real life. Garbo's reclusive nature fueled speculations that these lines were actually spoken by her in real life.

Daisy Kenyon, (released in 1947) featuring Joan Crawford, Henry Fonda and Dana Andrews

If you are looking for an adult well grounded romance, then Daisy Kenyon is the best film for you. It is a love triangle between well grounded adults who have to make tough choices in life. Daisy Kenyon is a magazine illustrator, who has an affair with Dan O' Mara, a well to do lawyer. Dan is married to lovely but sadistic Lucille whose father owns the law firm Dan works in. Lucille treats her children badly, especially the younger one. All her rage is so channelized on the little one, that it borders on child abuse. Dan being a dandy takes Daisy also for granted and keeps breaking up dates with her for work trips.
Daisy meets Peter Lapham, a discharged soldier who is disillusioned with love after the death of his wife Susy. Soon in Dan's absence Daisy goes on dates with Peter who falls hopelessly in love with her. In a drunken stage Peter reveals that he loves her and she is the only thing which sustains him after Susy. Daisy, still upset with Dan accepts his proposal for marriage. Dan on his return from a a business trip finds Daisy married with Peter and is angry. He reveals to Daisy that he had gone to defend a Japanese American war hero whose land has been confiscated by the authorities. With such heroics, Daisy is unsure whether she is still in love with Dan and is unable to declare her love for Peter.



Peter on the other hand is unsure about Daisy's feelings and feels that she does not care for him. Dan on the other hand accidentally meets Daisy and understands that he loves her. When Daisy refuses, he tries to force himself on her and is dissuaded by the entry of her room-mate. On reaching home, Dan realizing his feelings for Daisy, and telephones her to apologize. This is overheard by Lucille who in her anger presses for divorce. She asks for custody of the children which Dan refuses, upon which Lucille signs up Daisy as a co-respondent in the divorce case. Lucille unleashes all her rage on Daisy and her lawyer dissects all the aspect of her relationship with Dan. Dan is not able to face this humiliation of Daisy. He calls Peter for a one to one meeting and asks him to sign the divorce paper. Peter is ready to sign it if Daisy would give her consent because he just wants her to be happy.
Daisy drives to the Cape to sort out her feelings and his followed by Peter and Dan. In her panic she skids and has a minor accident. This forces her to understand her feelings for Peter and his goodness. She goes to Dan and ask him to fulfill his duty towards his children and embraces Peter. A very feel good movie which tells you that true love is there at all corners in your life.