Hotel Berlin | The Official Andrea King Web Site

"Hotel Berlin" (Warner Bros., 1945) is Andrea King's favorite film for many reasons. It was her first leading role at Warners, playing Lisa Dorn -- a part that Bette Davis herself had campaigned publicly for. And with this one film, Andrea was lifted, after scarcely a handful of films, from the ranks of "featured player" to that of "leading lady."

Based on Vicki Baum's popular follow-up novel to her best-seller "Grand Hotel," "Hotel Berlin" is set on the eve of the fall of the Nazi empire in Germany at the end of World War II. To say that the subject was timely, in 1945, would be an understatement, and Warner Bros. did everything it could to incorporate up-to-the-minute facts and attitudes into the film. This endeavor created chaos during filming, when cast and crew were handed daily dialogue revisions in order to thrust their story into a parallel with current headlines.

Andrea remembers filming day and night, with no time off for over a month, in order to rush this "current" film into the theatres. The studio cut down by nearly half the usual number of shooting days, but made up for it by making everyone work 12- to 18-hour days. Andrea didn't complain. She was given the full star treatment, with interviews, photo shoots and publicity events worked into every second that she wasn't in front of the cameras. She may have been exhausted, but it was everything she had dreamed of.

Then fate took a twist, but not on her behalf... During filming, co-star Faye Emerson eloped with President Roosevelt's son Elliott. Andrea remembers feeling as if the red carpet had been pulled sharply out from under her. The studio's attention shifted to Miss Emerson, and while she clearly had a good but supporting role in "Hotel Berlin," Warner Bros. executives decided to boost her to top billing, simply switching her name with Andrea's, who would now be billed fourth -- despite the fact that Andrea and Helmut Dantine were obviously the story's leads. But there was nothing she could do about it. This was, after all, her first leading role, and the studio clearly called the shots.

Original half-sheet from "Hotel Berlin" (Warner Bros., 1945).

Original half-sheet from "Hotel Berlin" (Warner Bros., 1945).

"Hotel Berlin" received a mixed bag of reviews when it opened. Everything from high praise and shock to dismissal. But one thing was clear in all the reviews -- Andrea had delivered a star-caliber performance. At least the critics weren't fooled by the billing switch. They made no hesitation in pointing out the film's standout performance. Our very own, very lovely, Andrea King.

Click here for a rare behind-the-scenes look
at "Hotel Berlin."

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