Camille (1936)

A Parisian courtesan must choose between the young man who loves her and the callous baron who wants her, even as her own health begins to fail.

Director:

George Cukor

Writers:

Zoe Akins (screen play), Frances Marion (screen play)

Stars:

Greta Garbo, Robert Taylor, Lionel Barrymore

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 3 wins.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Greta Garbo	...	Marguerite Gautier
Robert Taylor	...	Armand Duval
Lionel Barrymore	...	Monsieur Duval
Elizabeth Allan	...	Nichette
Jessie Ralph	...	Nanine
Henry Daniell	...	Baron de Varville
Lenore Ulric	...	Olympe
Laura Hope Crews	...	Prudence Duvernoy
Rex O'Malley	...	Gaston

Storyline

An attractive woman going by the name Marguerite lives in Paris and is a courtesan, kept by the rich aristocrat Baron de Varville. When the handsome young Armand sees her for the first time, he immediately falls in love. Camille is not so easy as to fall for his charms immediately. She lives a comfortable life, after all. As she comes to have feelings for him, Armand's father intervenes asking her not to cast a shadow on his son's future prospects and she agrees. In her greatest time of need however, the loving Armand returns to her.

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Plot Keywords:

love | f rated | courtesan | terminal illness | theatre | 

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Taglines:

You who are so young--where can you have learned all you know about women like me?

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French Latin

Release Date:

1937 (Austria)

Also Known As:

Kameliadamen

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,486,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$1,154,000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,688,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Irving Thalberg saw the rushes, he said, "I think we have caught [Greta Garbo] as she should be caught. She will be the most memorable Camille of our time."

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Goofs

The name CAMILLE--a Latin name--has nothing to do with the camellia of the Lady of the Camellias, which was so named by Linnaeus in honor of the Czech botanist Jiri Josef Kamel.

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Quotes

[Marguerite & Armand flirt by way of long glances]
Marguerite: His eyes have made love to me all evening.

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Alternate Versions

Also available in a computer colorized version.

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Connections

Referenced in The Slipper and the Rose: The Story of Cinderella (1976)

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Soundtracks

Nocturne In E Flat Major, Op.9 No.2 (1830-1832)
(uncredited)
Composed by Frédéric Chopin

User Reviews

Sublime Garbo; Exquisite Production

When you think of the lavish 30s films of MGM, Camille is near the top of the list. Great story and flawless production here boasting perhaps the most shimmering of Greta Garbo's ethereal performances as Marguerita Gautier (Camille). Familiar and much filmed story, this is nevertheless the best of them all. Matching Garbor is the hopelessly romantic Robert Taylor in his best 30s role. Also good are Lionel Barrymore, Henry Daniell, and Jessie Ralph as the maid. Great comic relief is provided by Laura Hope Crews (Prudence)and Lenore Ulric (Olympe)--what a pair of vultures! But the center of this gorgeous film is Garbo. She is so frail looking, her voice so soft. Garbo plays Marguerite as a frailty incarnate. She never overacts the part as most do with the endless coughing and fainting. One of George Cukor's triumphs. Rex O'Malley and Elizabeth Allan are dull but have small parts. I also spotted Eily Malyon and Zeffie Tilbury, and Joan Leslie is listed in the credits. I think this is Garbo's best performance, but she lost the Oscar to Luise Rainer for The Good Earth. Also nominated that year: Irene Dunne (The Awful Truth), Barbara Stanwyck (Stella Dallas), and Janet Gaynor (A Star Is Born). Wow----how could you choose just one?