Camille (1936)

Director:

George Cukor

Writers:

Alexandre Dumas fils (novel)
Zoe Akins (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

1 January 1937 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

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

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Love | Courtesan | Terminal Illness | 1800s | Foreign Language Adaptation

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win

Cast

Greta Garbo	...	Marguerite Gautier
Robert Taylor	...	Armand Duval
Lionel Barrymore	...	Monsieur Duval
Elizabeth Allan	...	Nichette, the Bride
Jessie Ralph	...	Nanine, Marguerite's Maid
Henry Daniell	...	Baron de Varville
Lenore Ulric	...	Olympe
Laura Hope Crews	...	Prudence Duvernoy
Rex O'Malley	...	Gaston
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Mariska Aldrich	...	Friend of Camille (uncredited)
Marion Ballou	...	Corinne (uncredited)
Phyllis Barry	...	(uncredited)
May Beatty	...	Second Doorman (uncredited)
Daisy Belmore	...	Saleswoman (uncredited)
Wilson Benge	...	Attendant (uncredited)
John Bryan	...	Alfred de Musset (uncredited)
Georgia Caine	...	Streetwalker (uncredited)
Lita Chevret	...	Woman in Theater Box (uncredited)
E.E. Clive	...	Saint Gaudens (uncredited)
Mabel Colcord	...	Madame Barjon, the Florist (uncredited)
Chappell Dossett	...	Priest (uncredited)
Elspeth Dudgeon	...	Fireplace Attendant (uncredited)
Effie Ellsler	...	Grandma Duval (uncredited)
Elsie Esmond	...	Madame Duval (uncredited)
Rex Evans	...	Charles, Pianist at Party (uncredited)
Dorothy Granger	...	Woman in Theater Box (uncredited)
Russell Hardie	...	Gustave, the Bridegoom (uncredited)
Sam Harris	...	Armand's Friend (uncredited)
Sibyl Harris	...	George Sand (uncredited)
Maude Hume	...	Aunt Henriette (uncredited)
Olaf Hytten	...	Baccarat Croupier (uncredited)
Eugene King	...	Gypsy Leader (uncredited)
Fritz Leiber Jr.	...	Valentin (uncredited)
Joan Leslie	...	Marie Jeanette (uncredited)
Gwendolyn Logan	...	Governess (uncredited)
Eily Malyon	...	Therese, Maid in Country House (uncredited)
Adrienne Matzenauer	...	Soprano (uncredited)
Edwin Maxwell	...	Doctor (uncredited)
Ferdinand Munier	...	Priest at Wedding (uncredited)
Barry Norton	...	Emile (uncredited)
Lionel Pape	...	General (uncredited)
John Picorri	...	Orchestra Leader (uncredited)
Guy Bates Post	...	Auctioneer (uncredited)
Frank Reicher	...	Creditor Agent (uncredited)
Yorke Sherwood	...	Butcher (uncredited)
Zeffie Tilbury	...	Old Duchess Bidding 3750 Francs (uncredited)
Douglas Walton	...	Henri (uncredited)
June Wilkins	...	Louise, Armand's Sister (uncredited)
Howard Wilson	...	Armand's Friend (uncredited)
William Worthington	...	Extra in Casino (uncredited)

Directed by
George Cukor

Writing credits
Alexandre Dumas fils		(novel and play "La dame aux camélias") (as Alexandre Dumas Fils)
Zoe Akins		(screenplay) &
Frances Marion		(screenplay) and
James Hilton		(screenplay)

Produced by
David Lewis	....	associate producer
Bernard H. Hyman	....	producer (uncredited)
Irving Thalberg	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Herbert Stothart

Cinematography by
William H. Daniels		(as William Daniels)
Karl Freund

Film Editing by
Margaret Booth

Art Direction by
Cedric Gibbons

Set Decoration by
Henry Grace		(uncredited)
Jack D. Moore		(uncredited)

Costume Design by
Adrian		(gowns)

Makeup Department
Harry Thomas	....	assistant makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Ulric Busch	....	unit manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
E. Mason Hopper	....	director: mob scene (uncredited)
Edward Woehler	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Fredric Hope	....	associate art director
Edwin B. Willis	....	associate art director
Harry Edwards	....	props (uncredited)
George E. Lee	....	property manager (uncredited)

Sound Department
Douglas Shearer	....	recording director

Camera and Electrical Department
William Grimes	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Music Department
Milton Benjamin	....	composer: theme music
Milton Benjamin	....	lyrics
Wayne Allen	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Paul Marquardt	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Charles Maxwell	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Leonid Raab	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Edward Ward	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)

Other crew
Val Raset	....	dance stager
Nathalie Bucknall	....	researcher (uncredited)
Eugene Joseff	....	jeweller (uncredited)
Joan Joseff	....	jeweller (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (controlled by Loew's Inc.)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1936) (USA) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1937) (France) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1937) (UK) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1937) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1937) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Avo Film Edizioni (????) (Italy) (VHS)
• Azzura Home VIDEO (????) (Italy) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (????) (Italy) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Mondadori Video (????) (Italy) (VHS)
• Panarecord (????) (Italy) (VHS)
• Reserva Especial (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Versátil Home Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (2005) (Brazil) (DVD)

Runtime:

109 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

West Germany:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #2825)

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

The film had its world premier at the Plaza Theater on Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs, California on 12 December 1936, which also was the grand opening night of the theater. Robert Taylor was in attendance at the gala.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the final scene, in closeup, as Armand helps the dying Marguerite from her bed, she has a woolen bed jacket around her shoulders. When the scene cuts to the long shot as she stands up, it has vanished and she is just wearing her nightgown.

Quotes:

Nichette: Marguerite, it's ideal to love, and to marry the one you love.
Marguerite: I have no faith in ideals.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Last Action Hero (1993)

Soundtrack:

Aufforderung zum Tanz (Invitation to the Dance)

Typical Garbo vehicle...richly detailed romantic drama...

Most Greta Garbo fans rank this as her finest work--and it probably is. Not only is she highly competent in the title role, but the supporting cast shines just as brightly--everyone from Laura Hope Crewes to Henry Daniell to Lionel Barrymore. And Robert Taylor is the ideal romantic hero at the peak of his darkly handsome good looks. He and Garbo make a wonderful pair.

George Cukor's direction is full of richly observed details of behavior, never flinching from the occasional coarseness of the characters. All of the technical work is above reproach and those familiar with the story of the Lady of the Camelias will not be disappointed. Lionel Barrymore makes a brief but effective appearance midway through the film. His scene with Garbo is delicately played and gives added credence to Garbo's nobility in letting her lover go.

Biggest drawback is the film's pace--some editing may have helped--but the final result is still impressive.