Weekend at the Waldorf

Films

Week-End at the Waldorf (MGM 1945)

Lana as "Bunny" in 1945's "Week-End at the Waldorf". Lou Valentino Collection

Production Dates: November 9, 1944-Early February, 1945

Release Date: October 5, 1945.

Credited Cast and Crew:

Ginger Rogers, Lana Turner, Walter Pidgeon, Van Johnson

Directed by: Robert Z. "Pop" Leonard

Writing Credits: Vicki Baum (original play), Guy Bolton (adaptation), Bella Spewack, Sam Spewack

Produced by: Arthur Hornblow Jr. and Robert Z. Leonard

Original Music by: Sidney Cutner, Johnny Green, Pepe Guizar and Sammy Fain

Cinematography by: Robert H. Planck

Synopsis: The comings and goings at New York's Waldorf Astoria Hotel during World War II. It's sort of Grand Hotel lite.

My Review: Having been a Joan Crawford fan from the age of 11, I have seen the original Grand Hotel countless times and in my opinion, this film pales in comparison to the original. While this film doesn't suffer from a lack of star power, with Lana sharing the billing with Ginger Rogers, Van Johnson and company, it's just way over long and there's too much dialogue and too much stuff going on. Although second billed, Lana actually has a very small part, maybe she has five or six scenes. I suspect that with the film already at a very long two hours and ten minutes, a lot of her footage may have ended up on the cutting room floor. When she is on the screen, which isn't often, she and co-star Van Johnson have great chemistry together.

In my opinion, if it's a rainy Sunday and you are trying to decide whether to rent the original Grand Hotel, with Crawford, Garbo and company or this film, try the Crawford, Garbo version.

Your Review: What are YOUR thoughts on this film? Contact me at Liza@lanaturneronline.com

Highlights and Trivia

*Ginger and Lana have no scenes together in the film (much like Crawford and Garbo have no scenes together in the original Grand Hotel)

Purchase Weekend at the Waldorf:

VHS

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