Camille (1936)

Camille
Directed by George Cukor
1936/USA
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
First viewing
#99 of 1001 Films You Must See Before You Die

[box] Marguerite: When one may not have long to live, why shouldn’t one have fancies?[/box]

I wasn’t particularly looking forward to this but it won me over almost immediately.  I wonder whether Garbo was ever lovelier or more appealing than in MGM’s glossy adaptation of the La Traviata story.

Marguerite Gautier (Greta Garbo) is a carefree Parisian courtesan, trading on her beauty to live an extravagant lifestyle between bouts of consumption.  One night at the theater, dressmaker Prudence (Laura Hope Crewes – Aunt Pittipat in Gone with the Wind) introduces her to fabulously wealthy Baron de Varville (Alan Mowbray) who can keep her well supplied with gowns and jewels.  At the same time, Marguerite is coincidentally introduced to Armand (Robert Taylor), an adoring young lawyer.  Marguerite starts a liaison with the Baron but her path crosses that of Armand repeatedly.  Finally, Marguerite falls hopelessly in love with Armand and accompanies him for some idyllic weeks in the country.  She must decide between Armand’s long-term prospects and her own happiness when Armand’s father (Lionel Barrymore) comes to beg her to leave his son.  With Jessie Ralph as Marguerite’s faithful maid.

 I am often quite resistant to Garbo’s acting but she captivated me here.  The gorgeous gowns only accentuated her stunning beauty and her smile was all the acting chops she really needed.  This movie also benefitted by an outstanding supporting cast, lavish set decoration, and beautiful score.  I think if the leading man had been a tad bit more sympatico – not that Taylor was bad – this film would have been just about perfect for the type of film it is.  As it was, I had tears in my eyes at the end.  Quite an achievement for Cukor.

Clip – second meeting