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Special Features
- 1921 silent version starring Alla Nazimova and Rudolph Valentino
- "Leo Is on the Air" radio promo (audio only)
- 1936 version theatrical trailer
Editorial Reviews
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Product Description
DVD Features:
Audio Commentary:Audio Bonus: Leo Is on the Air Radio Promo
Full Screen Version:1921 Silent Version Starring Alla Nazimova and Rudolph Valentino
Customer Reviews
This film was, and is one of the benchmarks for how a classic movie should be put together. Flawless attention to detail, a great romantic story, exquisite performances by all concerned, a sumptous production and a fine literary source. All these elements successively combine here to make a screen masterpiece that has moved, charmed and entertained movie goers for generations. Indeed "Camille" is probably the best known and most often revived of all of Greta Garbo's great body of work which includes such masterpieces as , "Grand Hotel", "Mata Hari", "Queen Christina", and "Ninotchka".
Greta Garbo, the mysterious, and reclusive MGM star here proves yet again what a stunning actress she can be when given material worthy of her talents. Based on the tragic story by Alexandre Dumas of "The Lady of the Camellias", "Camille" tells the story of Marguerite Gautier a famous 19th Century courtesan in Paris who lives by her beauty and the support of those men who can pay for it. The tragedy of her situation is that when life means very little to her and she finds herself slowly dying of consumption, she meets the love of her life the young and penniless gentlemen Armand who loves her for herself and not because of the charms she can offer. Armand offers her a life of genuine love and purpose which is missing in her gilded Parisian life among her superficial, pleasure loving friends and as the mistress of the grim and domineering Baron de Varville who views her as his personal plaything. Garbo instills in Marguerite just the right qualities of tragedy and humour to make her a well rounded believable character. Her scenes with the Baron have just the right elements of fear and loathing of the situation she finds herself in. Garbo, who earned yet another Oscar nomination for this role, reached new dramatic heights here and it was a performance which she was justifibly proud of.
"Camille" has a wonderful array of performers who surround Garbo with some stunning work. Robert Taylor was a rising MGM star only just beginning his incredibly long career with the studio when he was handed the plum role of Armand. Previously acted on screen by non other than Rudolph Valentino, Taylor has been accused of a certain stiffness in his playing. Reportedly he was terrified at the propect of working so closely with the legendary Garbo but it does not show in his performance. Certainly his work in the second half of the film is a major improvement when he experiences the frustrations of loving a woman who is being kept by a wealthy older man. His is a fine performance given the limitations of the role . Henry Daniell, a veteran character actor with many fine performances to his credit does a superb turn as the nasty Baron de Varville. He is excellent in his scenes with Garbo and projects an image of a cruel, self centred individual who regards Marguerite as his personal possession and who believes that money can get him everything he wants in life. The sterling cast also contains some wonderful work from Jessie Ralph another veteran character actress. She takes the sympathetic role of Nanine , Marguerite's devoted maid who stays with her devotedly through all the ups and downs of her life. Perhaps one of the most dazzling performances is turned in by Laura Hope Crews as Marguerite's superficial and self centred friend Prudence. Rarely has Crews, best known nowadays for playing Aunt Pittypat in "Gone With The Wind", given a more wonderful performance, she is in turn selfish, amusing, uncaring and infuriating and she dominates her scenes aided by her gaudy jewellery, over the top fashions and commanding presence . Lionel Barrymore also registers in the supporting role of Armand's concerned father Monsieur Duval and his most memorable scene occurs when he confronts Garbo's character with what she is potentially doing to Armand's chances of ever succesively making his way in life. Garbo's anguish at having to reject Armand for his own good despite the love she is feeling for him is heartrenching and gives Marguerite the mantle of a great tragic character. The interplay between Garbo and Barrymore, who had worked together before very effectively in "Mata Hari", is brilliant and goes a long way to explaining why these two performers are still considered stars 70 years after this production.
Superbly directed by the legendary director George Cukor who worked so beautifully with Garbo on a number of occasions, "Camille" literally glows with the essence of a tragic romance in the making. Cukor was expert at extracting just the right amount of pathos and longing for other things from his players and here he excels in one of his finest films. The production also benefits from MGM's great ability to bring the very best of talents to everything both in front of and behind the scenes. Adrian never surpassed himself than here in the stunning costumes he created for Garbo and the chief supporting players in this production. The film is so gorgeously costumed it makes viewing "Camille" a veritable eye feast but they tie in very carefully with what courtesans of that time wore and shows MGM's meticulous research into a time or period. Cedric Gibbon's sets almost rival his stunning work for "Marie Antoniette" a year later and have that unmistakably no expense spared MGM look about them.
"Camille" is the ultimate in romantic screen entertainment of the first order. For people wanting to sample Garbo's work for the first time this production is the best choice of all her films. I love it as an example of old style movie making at its very best with all areas of the production given total care and attention. It is a timeless story and for all lovers of romance this film will never fail to move you in its dilemma of searching for real love at the expense of ones creature comforts. I never fail to be impressed by "Camille" and you wont regret this trip into another time and place when love and position could mean everything in an individuals life.
"Camille" is based on Alexandre Dumas tragic story of a tubercular Parisian courtesan, Marguerite, who sacrifices all for true love.
George Cukor, the director, proved yet again that he is the consummate actor's director. With impeccable taste and skill, he consistently brought out the best in the most gifted actors such as Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, Judy Garland, Cary Grant, and Audrey Hepburn to name a few.
And with Greta Garbo as the star of "Camille", Cukor elicited one of the best performances in movie history. You are never aware of Garbo acting. She simply becomes Marguerite, the seemingly light-hearted, yet world-weary courtesan whose beauty and sexual favors she offers to wealthy men. Those men in turn use her and then pay her.
That is Marguerite's means of survival. She is not educated or job-skilled but she is seductive to men, and she can capitalize upon that.
Marguerite has never known true and unselfish love until she meets Armand Duvall, a young and principled man who falls in love with her at first sight. He is earnestly played by a very handsome and youthful Robert Taylor.
Armand is finally introduced to Marguerite by a mutual friend.
Unbeknownst to Marguerite, Armand has visted her home for several months while she was convalescing from her tuberculosis. He would visit with Marguerite's devoted housekeeper Nanine everyday to find out if Marguerite's health was improving. He truly cared about her well-being.
And even though Marguerite always has plenty of "friends" to party with, these so-called "friends" are mostly shallow and opportunistic. When Armand is finally invited to one of Marguerite's soirees, he is the only one who is concerned that she is gasping and weak after a tubercular bout worsened by dancing.
Marguerite is skeptical at first about Armand's devotion, but she finally realizes that he is truly in love with her. He wants to take her away from Paris to the peaceful countryside where the fresh air and sunshine will help her to get well.
And Marguerite and Armand do spend an idyllic summer in the countryside until something happens to disrupt their tranquility. I will not disclose what happens next.
For those who have never seen Greta Garbo in a movie before, I would alert you that her beauty is transcendent. There are no earthly words to adequately describe her luminous, extraordinary visage. Combine that beauty with formidable talent, and you can understand why Garbo was and still is a legend.
Garbo's performance as the tragic Marguerite is not merely great, it is sublime. Somehow she tranmits that there is a moral and selfless person beneath the apparently promiscuous and materialistic person she has become.
With exquisite subtly and restraint, Garbo as Marguerite convincingly conveys how profoundly Armand's love has not only touched her, but has transformed her entire being. You acutely feel Marguerite's overwhelming joy and despair. It is a perfectly modulated performance.
As for the rest of the movie, "Camille" is a trademark world-class MGM production with gorgeous sets, breathtaking costumes, and lovely cinematography. If you appreciate pure artistry in movie making, you'll love "Camille".
Still a great performance though. Should be obn television more often to boost sales.
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