This film adaptation of a novel by Arthur Hailey – like most other adaptations of Hailey novels – seems doomed to failure because of the almost endless stream of characters flowing through it.
The set of the St Gregory Hotel (probably the film’s one redeeming feature, built at the Warner Bros. Studios at a cost of $350,000) is an amazing mock-up of a New Orleans hotel, which is at the centre of a takeover bid.
The main storyline revolves around the owner, Warren Trent (Melvyn Douglas) with a smattering of subplots involving the guests, to try to maintain momentum.
There are some good scenes with Douglas but lesser performances from Rod Taylor, Catherine Spaak, Karl Malden and Richard Conte.
The gowns are by Edith Head, and the original music in the score is by Johnny Keating. The film ran over budget and failed to even recoup its production budget at the box office.
This same source material was also used as the basis for the 1980s ABC TV series of the same name starring James Brolin and Anne Baxter.
Warren Trent (Owner of the St Gregory)
Melvyn Douglas
Peter McDermott (The Hotel Manager)
Rod Taylor
Jeanne Rochefort (The Girl from Paris)
Catherine Spaak
Keycase Milne (The Key Thief)
Karl Malden
Duchess Caroline
Merle Oberon
Detective Dupere (The House Detective)
Richard Conte
Geoffrey, Duke of Lanbourne
Michael Rennie
Curtis O’Keefe
Kevin McCarthy
Christine
Carmen McRae
Captain Yolles
Alfred Ryder
Bailey
Roy Roberts
Herbie Chandler
Al Checco
Mrs Grandin
Sheila Bromley
Sam
Harry Hickox
Mason
William Lanteau
Joe Laswell
Ken Lynch
Lawrence Morgan
Clinton Sundberg
Kilbrick
Tol Avery
Dr Elmo Adams
Davis Roberts
Director
Richard Quine