Famed as a sea-going Grand Hotel, this splendid comedy-drama presents a variety of interlocking stories set aboard a luxury liner bound for Latin America. Such marvelous actors as Victor McLaglen, John Gilbert (in his final feature), Wynne Gibson, Alison Skipworth, Walter Connolly (in the title role), Helen Vinson, Leon Errol, Tala Birell, Walter Catlett, Arthur Treacher, Akim Tamiroff, Donald Meek, Luis Alberni and even The Three Stooges (playing it semi-straight in their first Columbia feature) contribute to the merriment under the direction of Academy Award-winner Lewis Milestone (Best Director, All Quiet On The Western Front,), who was also responsible for one of Hollywood's most celebrated telegrams: when studio head Harry Cohn wired, "Hurry up. The cost is staggering," Milestone took one look at his booze-soaked thespians and replied, "So is the cast." Newly remastered.

It's GRAND HOTEL on the high seas, with a remarkable cast -- particularly for the usually parsimonious Columbia Pictures. As irascible captain Helquist (Walter Connolly) pilots his boat along the Atlantic, an assortment of subplots involving a vast array of characters play themselves out. Among the passengers are bond-thief Checkett (Fred Keating) and his girlfriend Janet Grayson (Helen Vinson), private detective Schulte (Victor McLaglen), "fallen woman" Mrs. Jeddock (Wynne Gibson), and her unforgiving husband. In his final film appearance, former silent-screen idol John Gilbert gives an outstanding performance as pugnacious hard-drinking reporter Steve Bramley, forever putting the lie to the legend that he failed in talkies because his voice was inadequate. The Three Stooges also show up as musicians -- but only Larry has any lines (spoken in a Yiddish accent!). The story goes that Lewis Milestone filmed the picture on a real ocean liner to prevent John Gilbert and the other imbibers in the cast from having easy access to liquor -- a plan doomed to failure when someone smuggled several cases of booze on board. As the production went way past its budget and schedule, Columbia's business manager sent an urgent wire to Milestone: HURRY UP--THE COST IS STAGGERING. Milestone's answer: SO IS THE CAST.