A carnival cooch dancer seeks to escape her sordid existence...
World-weary Helen Herbert (aka "La Belle Helene"), sick and tired of life in her barker Blackie's harem, packs her suitcase and hits the road. Bound for nowhere, she's picked up by wealthy, wet behind the ears Bobby Spencer who whisks her off to his hometown of Spencerville and stakes her to an apartment and a job. Next thing you know, they're in love but it isn't long before Helen's past catches up with her and his mother pays her a visit. Realizing she'll ruin young Bobby's life if she stays, Helen hightails it back to Blackie but her sweetheart's hot on her heels and when his father brings up the rear, Helen dodges her dilemma by volunteering for a daring trapeze act on a hot air balloon...
William R. Doyle's source play must have had Alexandre Dumas fils spinning in his grave but that didn't deter Universal from bringing the carnival-set CAMILLE to the screen as a vehicle for the beautiful, blonde Mary Nolan, star of stage, screen, and tabloid scandal. It wasn't as melodramatic or creaky as I thought it would be but it's still a nickel's worth of "penny dreadful" and too hokey by far. At times Mary's so beautiful it hurts and she tries her best with lines like "Now you know -I'm a carnival girl!" but she was better suited to the silent screen while perpetual juvenile William Janney spends his screen time either reacting to the stilted goings ons with a constipated mien or beaming like an idiot. It should be pointed out, however, that Hollywood's transition from silent to sound wasn't very smooth and if the stars seemed awkward, it wasn't entirely their fault -or the script's. Even so, Ralf Harolde and Mae Busch as shady, jaded Blackie and his midway mama come off best. The movie can be fun for those who like the era and/or the leading lady but it'd sure be a chore for anyone else.
World-weary Helen Herbert (aka "La Belle Helene"), sick and tired of life in her barker Blackie's harem, packs her suitcase and hits the road. Bound for nowhere, she's picked up by wealthy, wet behind the ears Bobby Spencer who whisks her off to his hometown of Spencerville and stakes her to an apartment and a job. Next thing you know, they're in love but it isn't long before Helen's past catches up with her and his mother pays her a visit. Realizing she'll ruin young Bobby's life if she stays, Helen hightails it back to Blackie but her sweetheart's hot on her heels and when his father brings up the rear, Helen dodges her dilemma by volunteering for a daring trapeze act on a hot air balloon...
William R. Doyle's source play must have had Alexandre Dumas fils spinning in his grave but that didn't deter Universal from bringing the carnival-set CAMILLE to the screen as a vehicle for the beautiful, blonde Mary Nolan, star of stage, screen, and tabloid scandal. It wasn't as melodramatic or creaky as I thought it would be but it's still a nickel's worth of "penny dreadful" and too hokey by far. At times Mary's so beautiful it hurts and she tries her best with lines like "Now you know -I'm a carnival girl!" but she was better suited to the silent screen while perpetual juvenile William Janney spends his screen time either reacting to the stilted goings ons with a constipated mien or beaming like an idiot. It should be pointed out, however, that Hollywood's transition from silent to sound wasn't very smooth and if the stars seemed awkward, it wasn't entirely their fault -or the script's. Even so, Ralf Harolde and Mae Busch as shady, jaded Blackie and his midway mama come off best. The movie can be fun for those who like the era and/or the leading lady but it'd sure be a chore for anyone else.