vincentlynch-moonoi While I have some criticisms of this film, overall it's a pretty pleasant way in which to spend a couple of hours. But first, the criticisms. First and foremost, I think the story has too many plot lines, and as a result what could have been decent stand-alone films get short-changed. Plot line #1 -- Ginger Rogers, a glamorous actress, gets trapped in a sort-of common law marriage with war correspondent Walter Pidgeon; could have been a good film on its own. Plot line # 2 -- Correspondent Pidgeon gets hooked into a newspaper story with a cub reporter (Keenan Wynn) about fraud in a Middle Eastern oil deal with the crooked Edward Arnold; could have been a good film on its own. Plot line # 3 -- There's a mix-up with just who Ginger Rogers is in love with, and will it affect Phyllis Thaxter's marriage to a doctor; this is one of the subplots which could have most easily been dispensed with. Plot line # 4 -- Van Johnson, an alone soldier who is facing lief-threatening surgery, falls in love with stenographer Lana Turner, who wants to climb to the top by being a "special" aide to Edward Arnold; this could have really been a good romantic film on its own. And then there's Robert Benchley's participation...which was a total waste of time, other than as narrator.My other major criticism is that -- probably because of too many story lines and a rather long run time (over 2 hours) -- the wrap up to all those story lines is way too quick. Very disappointing.On the positive side, as indicated, most of those subplots were good story lines, and the acting is fine. I'd actually give the highest grade here to Van Johnson. Interestingly, some of the film was actually shot at the Waldorf Astoria, though most of it was shot in Hollywood.It's entertaining. Give it a view.

mark.waltz It's really all about the cast, 'cause there's not much else in this lampoon of MGM's 1932 Oscar Winning Best Picture. All of the archetypes of the Vicki Baum characters are there, but it ends up being closer to an overlong episode of Aaron Spelling's 1980's TV series "Hotel". Once Ginger Rogers, as a lonely and exhausted movie star, mentions to war correspondent Walter Pidgeon (whom she mistakenly believes is a thief) that their situation is like "Grand Hotel's" Garbo and John Barrymore, the parody falls right out of the parlor,. and it becomes very difficult to take any of it seriously anymore, even with the lavish production, all-star cast and MGM gloss.The story lines seem far too preposterous to be believable in World War II era New York, especially that of Rogers agreeing to interview her maid's jewel thief boyfriend, Van Johnson disturbing Xavier Cugat (as himself) to search for sheet music, and Edward Arnold as a business promoter trying to finalize a big deal with Arab sheiks. Lana Turner is really wasted as a stenographer who bounces around from assignment to assignment, her sudden involvement with Johnson and being used by boss Arnold rather forced. The real problem is the transition from each sequence to another, unsuccessful in its flow. It's all professional to be sure, but ultimately, this hotel may be full on guests, but it is lacking in atmosphere.Another problem is the film's overlength: 90 minutes of situations disguised as a plot, 10 minutes of Xavier Cugat music, and 30 minutes of the situations exploding into a supposed plot resolution. This is really a missed opportunity with all that talent in front of and behind the cameras going to waste.

edwagreen In my opinion, one of the best romantic comedies that ever was made is "Weekend at the Waldorf." This 1945 film has dramatic overtones and a cast worth pots of gold.The movie is so good because the plots don't stop getting twisted. It's basically the story of 2 women finding romance and love at the famous hotel.When stenographer, a sweet and pert Lana Turner, finds love with GI Van Johnson, who is facing an operation, she has the opportunity to break out of her 10th Avenue existence, by working for Edward Arnold, in his usual craft role; this time as the phony executive trying to pull a deal with Arabs.Secondly, we have Hollywood star, Malvern, played to the hilt by Ginger Rogers, who is lonely. She finds romance with war correspondent, Walter Pidgeon, a great guy with some designs of his own.Notice Rosemary De Camp's authentic European accent in the film. An absolute gem of a film which shouldn't be missed. The film trumpets a bygone era.

bkoganbing In many ways Weekend At The Waldorf as a remake for Grand Hotel simply doesn't work. It certainly couldn't have worked at all as a melodrama the way the original was. Remember Grand Hotel was set in Weimar Republic Germany, a time that was most negative, the film came out just before Hitler took power in Germany. Many of the elements of Nazism are to be found in the original, a very pessimistic work.1945 however was one of the most optimistic times that America ever saw. When the film was released World War II was won in both theaters, the troops were coming home, the Cold War hadn't yet started. You couldn't make a film like Grand Hotel remade to that time in America without changing the plot to have the audience accept it.So a more optimistic Grand Hotel was done with Weekend At The Waldorf and the parts played by John Barrymore, Lionel Barrymore, Greta Garbo, Wallace Beery, and Joan Crawford were done in this version by Walter Pidgeon, Van Johnson, Ginger Rogers, Edward Arnold, and Lana Turner. Some of those cast names should tell you right away this will be a much lighter film.The bittersweet interlude between John Barrymore and Greta Garbo becomes a romantic comedy between war correspondent Walter Pidgeon and movie star Ginger Rogers. She's stopping at the Waldorf on a tour and ready to start a new film, Pidgeon just back from covering the war is looking for some peace and quiet. But his reporter's instincts are aroused with the presence of crooked industrialist Edward Arnold at the hotel and trying to sneak into Arnold's room, he mistakenly is smuggled into Rogers's room in a serving cart. Arnold is up to no good, he's about to put over a sweet deal with visiting oil sheik George Zucco. He needs a stenographer so the hotel sends up Lana Turner, but she impresses Arnold with more than her ability with shorthand. Turner's a girl whose been done wrong in her life and she's determined to get ahead, no matter what. Even the presence of flier Van Johnson in the hotel who's about to have a delicate operation to remove some shrapnel near his heart, an operation which could kill him and whom she falls for doesn't deter her from making the play for Arnold.That's not as gimmicky as it sounds. President Andrew Jackson carried around a bullet in his cheat because doctors would not risk an operation at first. He did it for about 20 years. So the writers were on solid ground with Johnson's plight. Zucco's casting as an oil rich Arab sheik, borrowed quite liberally from King Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabis whom FDR visited on the way back from Yalta was also certainly a harbinger of things to come.Things turn out a whole lot better for the cast members here than in Grand Hotel for the most part. Some other roles of interest are Robert Benchley as gossip columnist and Keenan Wynn as a cub reporter who is from the Lois Lane snoop and scoop journalism school. So is Pidgeon who tells Wynn to get creative in his search for a story. His methods though, not his writing. Weekend At The Waldorf is done with typical MGM gloss and made Louis B. Mayer quite a bundle. It's not a classic like the film it was based on, but it's still a good piece of entertainment. And of course it's quite the commercial for the Waldorf Astoria hotel. It's still there in New York, not having been taken over by any of the hotel chains. At one time, Herbert Hoover, Douglas MacArthur, and Cole Porter maintained permanent residences on its premises. Two out of those three were there when the film was made.They probably would recognize the place now. It's still an elegant place, but old fashioned, reflective of their era. But for us we have Weekend At The Waldorf to remind us.