In the movie "Grand Hotel"  whose character dies and what is the cuse
of Death?   Also, who wrote the book on which the movie is based?

Greetings!
The person who meets his untimely demise in the movie "Grand Hotel" is
Baron Felix von Geigern, played by John Barrymore.  He is beaten to
death with a phone by Preysing (played by Wallace Beery) over a
financial dispute.  The Baron makes a lunge at Preysing who, in a
blind rage, hits the Baron over the head with a phone repeatedly. 
Below you'll find a number of exerts from the script which illustrates
this.

-----------------------------------
PREYSING
Strike me, would you? Attack me would 
you? Attack me --

With a terrific lunge, Preysing brings the telephone down 
upon the Baron's head. The Baron sways, stunned. (as in book). 
In his mad rage, Preysing, hits again with the telephone.

PREYSING
I'll strike you -- I'll strike you -- 
I'll strike you -- Strike me!

By this time the Baron is a heap on the floor. We see Preysing 
come out of his blind trance. He even repeats again.

PREYSING
I strike you --
(with telephone 
foolishly in his 
hand, he looks down 
at what he has done.)

----------------------------------
Preysing is still leaning against the table, his mouth is 
open, he is gaping -- stunned. The two hundred and four pounds 
has collapsed and sagged. He is staring, his victim lying -- 
a heap upon the floor, very still and quiet. His eyes come 
around as Kringelein enters.

Kringelein crosses, looks down. Touches the Baron's hand.

KRINGELEIN
Oh -- the Baron -- the Baron.

   
PREYSING
He tried to rob me -- he is dead --

KRINGELEIN
My best friend -- poor, Baron -- 
dead -- just like that.

http://sfy.ru/sfy.html?script=grand_hotel_1932

----------------------------------

"Grand Hotel" is based on the book "Menschen Im Hotel" (People in a
Hotel) which was written by Vicki Baum.

"Austrian popular novelist, whose MENSCHEN IM HOTEL (People in a
Hotel, 1929) started her career as one of the most widely-read authors
of her time. Baum's novel was made into an Oscar winning film in
Hollywood in 1932 under the title Grand Hotel, starring Greta Garbo,
Joan Crawford, Wallace Beery, and Lionel Barry"


http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/vbaum.htm


If your interested in the movie you can find it on DVD available at Amazon...
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00011D1RC

IMDB Trvia -- Grand Hotel
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0022958/trivia

IMDB Memorable Quotes -- Grand Hotel
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0022958/quotes

Best,
djbaker-ga