What are some good ensemble-type movies set in motels/hotels?

May 5, 2013 4:26 PM

Seeking recommendations for good films that are set in hotels or motels, and feature an ensemble cast. The Platonic ideal of the kind of movie I'm thinking about is Bagdad Café. A good recent example might be The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Basically, stories that use the hotel/motel setting as a way to tell a variety of stories about people's lives. Thank you for any tips.
posted by El Sabor Asiatico to Media & Arts (26 answers total)

Neil Simon's California Suite is high on the cheese factor but is pretty awesome for how weird it is. The stories it tells aren't that great but you've got to love a film with Alan Alda! Maggie Smith! Jane Fonda! Bill Cosby! Michael Caine! and Dana Plato!
posted by vespabelle at 4:35 PM on May 5, 2013

Four Rooms is four mini movies, each by a different director, and loosely tied together. But there are several ensembles featured.
posted by kimdog at 4:36 PM on May 5, 2013 [3 favorites]

Plaza Suite.
posted by essexjan at 4:36 PM on May 5, 2013

A Month by the Lake, A Room with a View.
posted by apparently at 4:40 PM on May 5, 2013

Grand Hotel (1932). "People come, people go. Nothing ever happens."
posted by wdenton at 4:44 PM on May 5, 2013 [1 favorite]

Have you seen "Hotel"?
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 4:46 PM on May 5, 2013

Came to say Grand Hotel. All-star cast, too.
posted by stopgap at 4:46 PM on May 5, 2013

Bottle Rocket
posted by Room 641-A at 4:49 PM on May 5, 2013 [1 favorite]

Mystery Train "Three stories are connected by a Memphis hotel and the spirit of Elvis Presley."
posted by wsquared at 4:49 PM on May 5, 2013 [1 favorite]

Hot L Baltimore is a play by Lanford Wilson that was made in to a TV series. I saw it at Steppenwolf in Chicago last year and the set was a cross-section of a hotel where you could see in to all the rooms and the lobby. All the action takes place within the hotel. There's videos on youtube of different productions.
posted by readery at 4:59 PM on May 5, 2013

Blame it on the Bellboy might fit your definition. (assuming you think Dudley Moore, Richard Griffiths, Bronson Pinchot, and Ronnie Stevens qualify as an ensemble style cast.
posted by Nanukthedog at 5:40 PM on May 5, 2013

Four Rooms. Not sure if it counts as 'good', though.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 5:47 PM on May 5, 2013

Hotel New Hampshire?
posted by Max Power at 5:48 PM on May 5, 2013

The night of the iguana is a classic
posted by rmless at 6:03 PM on May 5, 2013 [2 favorites]

Enchanted April
posted by goggie at 6:05 PM on May 5, 2013

Separate Tables

And yes, definitely, The Night of the Iguana
posted by gudrun at 6:13 PM on May 5, 2013 [1 favorite]

Same Time Next Year with Alan Alda. LOVE it!
posted by michellenoel at 6:15 PM on May 5, 2013

I can't believe I forgot about Memento.
posted by Room 641-A at 6:49 PM on May 5, 2013 [1 favorite]

Chelsea Walls
Although I don't know if it qualifies as "good." The IMDB rating is pretty accurate, IMO.
posted by puritycontrol at 7:02 PM on May 5, 2013

Key Largo.
posted by skypieces at 8:28 PM on May 5, 2013

Identity with John Cusak.
posted by deborah at 9:55 PM on May 5, 2013

This might be off base for what you're looking for, but I enjoy International House.
posted by Fortnight Bender at 10:14 PM on May 5, 2013

Any ideas for this same theme in books?
posted by aryma at 10:23 PM on May 5, 2013

Barton Fink. Surprised me, in a good way.
posted by tilde at 4:23 AM on May 6, 2013

It's a TV show, but still: Hotel Babylon.
posted by iviken at 4:31 AM on May 6, 2013

The Big Kahuna
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 8:25 AM on May 6, 2013