Hotel Splendide (1932 film)

Hotel Splendide is a 1932 British comedy drama film directed by Michael Powell.[1] It was made as a Quota quickie.[2]

For the 2000 film, see Hotel Splendide (2000 film).

Hotel Splendide
Directed byMichael Powell
Produced byJerome Jackson
Written byPhilip MacDonald (story)
Ralph Smart
StarringJerry Verno
Anthony Holles
Edgar Norfolk
CinematographyGeoffrey Faithfull
Arthur Grant
Edited byArthur Seabourne
Distributed byIdeal
Release date
  • 18 July 1932 (1932-07-18) (UK)
Running time
53 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Plot

Jerry Mason inherits the Hotel Splendide at Speymouth but is disappointed when he sees it is a quiet place with few permanent residents. Gentleman Charlie, a jewel thief arrives after a long spell in prison expecting to be able to dig up the pearls he had buried - only to find the hotel has been built on the site.

Cast

Production

Made for £4,000 for Gaumont-British, the film features one of the earliest cinematic uses of Gounod's "Funeral March of the Marionettes", better known as the theme music for Alfred Hitchcock Presents.[2]

Critical reception

In contemporary reviews, Picturegoer Weekly wrote, "Jerry Verno is an efficient and funny comedian...What laughter there is is easily accounted for but the scenes that are supposed to be thrilling miss the mark";[3] Kine Weekly wrote, "Comedy and thrills are adequately blended in a somewhat far-fetched crook story. Acting is quite good, presentation fair. A light second feature, of which cheeriness is the keynote, is indicated";[4] and The Bioscope wrote, "Here is one of those unostentatiously produced British pot-boilers, made with an eye on the cash-box, which may be expected to hold its own in the family house, chiefly as a second feature. Its light comedy and mystery atmosphere will get it past an unsophisticated audience."[5]

References

Notes
  1. "Hotel Splendide (1932)".
  2. "BFI Screenonline: Hotel Splendide (1932)". www.screenonline.org.uk.
  3. "Contemporary Review (Picturegoer) - Hotel Splendide (1932)". www.powell-pressburger.org.
  4. "Contemporary Review (Kinematograph) - Hotel Splendide (1932)". www.powell-pressburger.org.
  5. "Contemporary Review (Bioscope) - Hotel Splendide (1932)". www.powell-pressburger.org.

Bibliography
  • Chibnal, Steve. Quota Quickies : The Birth of the British 'B' Film. London: BFI, 2007. ISBN 1-84457-155-6
  • Powell, Michael. A Life in Movies: An Autobiography. London: Heinemann, 1986. ISBN 0-434-59945-X.
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