In light of my earlier post about film-restoration, brought on by my recent viewing of Grand Hotel (1939), I feel compelled to elaborate on the film itself.
Some films made in the 30s are timeless — such as the Wizard of Oz, Gone with the Wind, and others. But this film preceded them all. And, glory, hallelujah! This is one of those rare surviving gems from Hollywood’s pre-code days (aprox. 1920s-1934), which, by certain measures, makes it even more special!
But, as mentioned in my previous post, one thing that struck me, unfortunately, was the annoying background sounds — the fizzing, the muffled sentences, the loud and soft speaking voices of certain characters, all these things that could only be attributed to one problem — decay. I’m referring to film decay — the process by which an old film deteriorates. And, while this film certainly isn’t the only one to suffer from such a condition, the brilliant cast and modern design of the film make its considerably warn condition all the more noticeable. Yes, I’d say Grand Hotelis in need of a grand renovation!
Make no mistake about it though, this was (and is) a high-quality film, with a great intricate story, and fine pacing. There was scarcely a chance to get bored, if one pays attention to the characters. That said, it is impossible not to realize that the noise interference does impose upon the enjoyment of the movie quite significantly — this is especially true if you have a keen ear for music, voices, and the above average appreciation for beautiful sound. But, luckily, this is the type of movie from which almost every one of us can find something to appreciate.
Grand Hotel (1932) has everything, including romance, drama, comedy, and crime! All depicted in a rather light-hearted, feel-good way. Highly recommended!
**** out of *****
No comments:
Post a Comment