Camille [Blu-ray]

Overview

Greta Garbo enjoyed one of her greatest triumphs in this glossy adaptation of Alexandre Dumas' oft-filmed romantic tragedy. Here, Garbo stars as Marguerite Gauthier, who is born into humble circumstances but in time becomes Dame aux Camille, one of the most glamorous courtesans in Paris. Camille is kept by the wealthy and powerful Baron de Varville (Henry Daniell), but after many years of earning a good living from her beauty without finding true love, Camille's heart is stolen by Armand (Robert Taylor), a handsome but slightly naive young man who doesn't know how she came by her fortune. Armand is just as attracted to Camille as she is to him, and she's prepared to give up the Baron and his stipend to be with Armand. However, Armand's father (Lionel Barrymore) begs Camille to turn away from his son, knowing her scandalous past could ruin his future. Realizing the painful wisdom of this, Camille rejects Armand, who continues to pursue her even as Camille contracts a potentially fatal case of tuberculosis. Remarkably, even though this was one of Garbo's greatest commercial and critical successes, she would make only three more films before her retirement in 1941; Camille, however, would be filmed several more times following this version (most memorably by elegant sexploitation auteur Radley Metzger in 1969's Camille 2000).

Product Details

Release Date:	03/07/2023
UPC:	0883929807666
Original Release:	1936
Rating:	NR
Source:	Warner Archives
Language:	English
Time:	1:49:00
Sales rank:	1,891

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Greta Garbo	Marguerite
Robert Taylor	Armand
Lionel Barrymore	Duval
Henry Daniell	Baron de Varville
Elizabeth Allan	Nichette
Jessie Ralph	Nanine
Lenore Ulric	Olympe
Laura Hope Crews	Prudence
Rex O'Malley	Gaston
Russell Hardie	Gustave
E.E. Clive	Saint Gaudens
Douglas Walton	Henri
Marion Ballou	Corinne
Joan Brodel	Marie Jeanette
Joan Leslie	Marie Jeanette
June Wilkins	Louise
Fritz Leiber	Valentin
Fritz Leiber Jr.	Valentin
Elsie Esmonds	Mme. Duval
John Bryan	De Musset
Georgia Caine	Streetwalker
Mabel Colcord	Madame Barjon
Elspeth Dudgeon	Attendant
Effie Ellsler	Grandma Duval
Rex Evans	Companion
Sibyl Harris	Georges Sand
Olaf Hytten	Croupier
Eily Malyon	Therese
Mariska Aldrich	Actor
Edwin Maxwell	Doctor
Phyllis Barry	Actor
Daisy Belmore	Actor
Wilson Benge	Actor
Gwendolyn Logan	Governess

Technical Credits

Frances Marion

Zoe Akins

George Cukor	Director
Bernard Hyman	Producer
Frances Marion	Screenwriter
Zoe Akins	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

Camille is among MGM's most lavish productions of the 1930s, and features what many critics consider to be Greta Garbo's greatest film performance. Among the last of the projects overseen by studio production chief Irving Thalberg, the film boasted MGM's customary collection of behind-the-camera all-stars, including director George Cukor, whose patient attention to Garbo helped her to find just the right tone for her role. The supporting cast is similarly solid, highlighted by standouts Henry Daniell and Laura Hope Crews. They help to deflect attention from the film's weaker scenes, most of which involve Lionel Barrymore as the father of the frustrated suitor (Robert Taylor). Despite spending the latter part of the film succumbing to illness, Garbo looks radiant, thanks to her Adrian gowns and William Daniels' loving cinematography.

All Movie Guide - Richard Gilliam