Camille (1921 film)

Infobox_Film
name = Camille
director = Ray C. Smallwood
producer = Metro Pictures Corporation
writer = Alexandre Dumas, fils
June Mathis(adaptation)
starring = Rudolph Valentino
Alla Nazimova
Rex Cherryman
Alexander Hoyt
Patsy Ruth Miller
distributor = Metro Pictures Corporation
released = September 26, 1921 (USA general release)
runtime = 70 minutes (contemporary edit)
language = Silent film
English intertitles
country = USA
imdb_id = 0012027

"Camille" is a 1921 silent film starring Rudolph Valentino and Alla Nazimova. It is one of numerous screen adaptations of "La Dame aux Camélias" by Alexandre Dumas, fils.

ynopsis

A young law student, Armand (Valentino) becomes smitten with a courtesan, Marguerite (Nazimova). Marguerite is constantly surrounded by suitors, whom she entertains at her lavish apartment. She also has consumption and is frequently beset by bouts of illness.

Armand sees Marguerite at the opera and, later, pursues her when he attends one of her private parties. She rejects his advances at first, but eventually returns his affection.

The two live happily together until Armand's father, seeking to protect his family's reputation, convinces Marguerite to end the relationship. She finally relents and runs away to a wealthy client, leaving a note for Armand.

When Armand finds the note he is shattered. The sorrow eventually turns to rage, and he decides to plunge into Parisian nightlife, associating himself with Olympe, another courtesan. When he sees Marguerite at a casino, he publicly denounces her.

Marguerite gives up her life as a courtesan and quickly finds herself in massive debt. Her illness also takes a heavy toll. Eventually, as she lays dying in bed, her furniture and belongings are repossessed. She persuades the men taking her belongings to allow her to keep her most precious possession, a book Armand gave to her.

Armand is summoned, but only arrives on the scene after Marguerite has died.

The film moves the setting of the story to 1920s Paris, and includes many lavish Art Deco sets, including that of Marguerite's apartment. Natacha Rambova, who would later become Valentino's second wife, was the movie's art director.

Cast

*Rudolph Valentino as Armand Duval
*Alla Nazimova as Marguerite Gautier
*Rex Cherryman as Gaston Rieux
*Arthur Hoyt as Count de Varville
*Zeffie Tilbury as Prudence
*Patsy Ruth Miller as Nichette
*Elinor Oliver as Nanine, Marguerite's Maid
*William Orlamond as Monsieur Duval, Armand's Father
*Consuelo Flowerton as Olympe

Trivia

* The original play opened in Paris in 1852. The first Broadway production of the play opened on 9 December 1853. There have been 15 Broadway revivals of the popular play, the last in 1935. [http://imdb.com/title/tt0012027/trivia]

Preservation

"Camille" has survived and has been made available to the public on DVD and VHS by various film distributors and independent dealers. It has also been presented on the Turner Classic Movies television channel in the United States.

In the first "Annie" movie, "Camille" is shown to Annie in New York.

External links

* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0012027/ "Camille" at the Internet Movie Database]
* [http://www.silentsaregolden.com/reviewsfolder/camillereview.html 1921 review from "Motion Picture Classic" magazine]