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» La Daily Musto «

by Michael Musto | email: musto@villagevoice.com

Grand Hotel: The Gramercy Makes it to the Tribeca Fest

Posted by Michael Musto at 12:00 PM, April 18, 2008

The Gramercy Park Hotel was once as squalid and fabulous as the rest of New York. In fact, according to the synopsis for the documentary film Hotel Gramercy Park, it was "a drug-fueled haven for the likes of Bowie and Blondie." And so many other tempestuously fun good friends of mine. But a few years ago, hotelier Ian Schrager took the place over and made it upscale, with more art on the walls and fewer needles in the halls. The film—by Douglas Keeve, best known for the Mizrahi mirth-athon Unzipped—apparently views the hotel's transformation as a metaphor for all of New York. I agree—or at least I think I do. I have to wait to see the movie to see what I say. (Yes, I inevitably appear as a commentator, despite the fact that I've barely even been there. As Cindy Adams once wrote, "He's everywhere like crabgrass,") You can check it out too at one of four Tribeca Film Festival screenings starting Saturday April 26. Don't bring drugs.

comments

I miss the old Gramercy!

Posted by: laverne at April 18, 2008 2:20 PM

I miss the old Gramercy too. I'll never forget the mellow night I was sitting on the floor of one of the dirtier rooms, passing a joint around with Debbie Harry, David Bowie, Cindy (and Joey)Adams, Edie Sedgwick, Janis Ian and the June Taylor Dancers. Only in New York, kids!

Posted by: The Late Tallulah Bankhead at April 18, 2008 2:54 PM

Dated Douglas in the 80s B.I. (Before Isaac). He's hot but a bit affected and I don't think this is the best subject for a documentary. Do one on Dunhill Records, I'd be first in line.

Posted by: e.j. tweaker at April 18, 2008 4:59 PM

I'd rather see the documentary on Keith Haring that's playing at Tribeca. Do a feature, Michael!

Posted by: gloria loring at April 21, 2008 12:33 PM

Keeve is a pretentious, rich boy bore from Santa Monica. His films are dull, the only reason "Unzipped" was fun was because of Isaac's personality. Keeve lacks imagination and can't do anything unless it's about fashion or the elite. Witness his inability to get any narrative film off the ground!

Posted by: fiona crabapple at April 22, 2008 12:02 PM

I think Douglas is a great filmmaker and all around nice guy, I didn't get the spoiled rich boy thing from him at all. "Seamless" & "Unzipped" are classic docs and I look forward to the Gramercy one. You sound bitter, Crabby Appleton, Jane Child, Fiona Kate Bush, whatever your name is!!!

Posted by: deborah walley fangeek at April 23, 2008 9:30 AM

Everything new about the hotel in this film is shot shiny and bright and everything from the past of the hotel (even those interviewed today) is shot grainy and dark. If that's a metaphor of New York, we're all in trouble. But that's not New York. It's not even the story of the hotel, just the director's vision of it that all that glitters must be gold--not at all true. Plus any documentary that makes fun of the eccentric characters in it, rather than seeing them as whole, is not a good film.

Posted by: Rose at May 2, 2008 3:46 AM

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