Yes, this is the same "St. Gregory" as the 1983-1987 TV series, just a different city. Obviously, the Trent family went on to buy a lavish hotel in San Francisco, run first by Bette Davis and later by Anne Baxter. But in this movie version of Arthur Hailey's novel, they are in New Orleans, run by an older relative of theirs. Still, the format is the same. A bevy of guests arrive for a stay, having different adventures and causing some grief for the staff and the hotel's seemingly recluse owner (Melvyn Douglas). Instead of James Brolin, Rod Taylor is the hotel's manager, and he is involved with the beautiful but bland Catherine Spaak. As much happens here as happened in one episode of that Aaron Spelling soap opera like anthology drama, and it is all done with class, if a bit empty headed and wrapped up a bit too easily. The two story lines that stand out in my mind are the ones about the thief (Karl Malden) and the domineering countess (Merle Oberon) involved in a blackmail plot with a hotel staff member (Richard Conte). You can see some of the same plot devices that author Arthur Hailey would use in his next big novel turned screen epic, a little something called "Airport".
Review of Hotel
