mark.waltz Like the Broadway theater in the Stephen Sondheim musical "Follies" about to be torn down to make way for a parking lot, the Hotel Continental is about to go way of the Hippedrome. The management of the hotel decides to throw a special party for their last night, which brings back a lot of the old guests who stayed there for special occasions, bringing back memories of royalty, former presidents and entertainers from various walks of the industry which we hear from a radio host narrating the festivities. While there are various small subplots going on, the major storyline involves "the boy embezzler" (Theodore Von Eltz) who just got out of prison and has checked in for the last night to find the stash of cash he hid there years ago. This brings on crooks who hire a former con-artist (Peggy Shannon) to trap him into revealing where the hidden treasure is. While romance blossoms between the two, various party goers go through their own situations, which includes one former guest who has had a share of bad luck, once the toast of the hotel, now a vagrant, and a drunk (Bert Roach) looking for his next snoot. A misunderstanding causes Shannon to believe that Von Eltz betrayed her with another woman, leading to her betrayal of him and a sudden act of violence which brings in the law to figure everything out. Suicide, shootings, accusations of infidelity and other issues add to the Auld Lang Syne feeling of this storyline which may not have been Tiffany's in budget (in spite of the studio name) but ultimately is satisfying, if not quite the equivalent of the more remembered "Grand Hotel". A fine supporting cast also includes Alan Mowbray and Henry B. Walthall, with a gripping conclusion that brings everything to a close with a great morale to the story.

MartinHafer "Hotel Continental" is a movie that starts off horribly. Fortunately, if you can possibly wade past the first 10 minutes or so, the film is pretty enjoyable...though a bit clichéd and stupid. As I mentioned above, the film begins badly. It almost comes off like the cocktail party skit on "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-in". Again and again, the camera pans on folks and they spout a line or two of supposedly funny or clever dialog and then the camera goes on to the next. It really didn't have much to do with the rest of the film.As for the REAL plot, the ultra-famous hotel is about to close forever. So, the owners are staging a huge party. Among the guests is a guy fresh out of prison. He is an embezzler and has apparently hidden the money somewhere in the hotel. Unfortunately, the nice woman he meets isn't so nice--and she was planted there by other crooks who want the money. Their relationship, while interesting, really makes no sense. Overall, a silly but enjoyable film that is like a super-low budget version of "Grand Hotel"....if it was written by an nice idiot.

wes-connors The "Hotel Continental" has seen 50 years of romance, intrigue, and tragedy. But, in one day, the bustling building is going be demolished, "until the last brick is carted away." Its "last night" attracts many nostalgic patrons to the "Continental", but most importantly (for the sake of this motion picture), it attracts embezzler Theodore von Eltz (as James Bennett). The suave Mr. Von Eltz has just finished a stint in prison, and needs to collect a stash of money before the hotel closes. Von Eltz checks in as "A. R. Cooper", and maneuvers his way into the suite where he stashed the money. Along the way, he falls in love with suicidal Peggy Shannon (as Ruth Carleton). Von Eltz doesn't know it, but the duplicitous Ms. Shannon has ulterior motives! You will need to check your brain at the door of the "Hotel Continental", if you want to fully enjoy the movie. There is NO WAY this building is ready to be torn down. Every fixture remains in place - probably, even the soap and towels haven't been removed. The place is, also, doing rather brisk business. Mostly, director Christy Cabanne follows the Von Eltz/Shannon storyline, with drunken Irishman Bert Roach (as Charlie Layton) providing comic relief. Mr. Cabanne was a D.W. Griffith "Biograph" veteran, as was Henry B. Walthall, who has a small role (as Tommy Winthrop). "Tiffany Productions" got this film out in time to get some box office overflow from MGM's impending "Grand Hotel".**** Hotel Continental (1932) Christy Cabanne ~ Theodore von Eltz, Peggy Shannon, Bert Roach, Henry B. Walthall

boblipton This poor knockoff of Vicki Baum's GRAND HOTEL -- or perhaps the MGM extravaganza produced the same year as this last gasp from Tiffany Productions -- is short of major stars in front of the camera, even though it does contain some notable names such as Theodore von Eltz, J. Farrell MacDonald and Henry Walthall from the silent era and future stalwart Alan Mowbray from the sound era. So it's fun to look at to see what they look like in 1932.Christy Cabanne, a prolific director whose reputation time has not been kind to, is in there pitching with this one. There are an awful lot of moving shots, including extended takes that look like they were shot with a crab dolly -- something that would not exist for another dozen years.Shot too cheaply to be done well, it shows that people did try, even when the roof was crashing in on their heads. Tiffany went under this year. Cabanne, who started out directing Raoul Walsh in LIFE OF PANCHO VILLA in 1912 and would continue directing for another sixteen years, always tried to give value for money. It's a pity he so rarely had much to work with.