Camille (1921 film)
| Camille | |
|---|---|
 A newspaper advertisement. | |
| Directed by | Ray C. Smallwood |
| Produced by | Metro Pictures Corporation |
| Written by | June Mathis |
| Based on |
La Dame aux Camélias by Alexandre Dumas, fils |
| Starring |
Rudolph Valentino Alla Nazimova Rex Cherryman Arthur Hoyt Patsy Ruth Miller |
| Distributed by | Metro Pictures Corporation |
| Release dates |
|
| Running time | 70 minutes (contemporary edit) |
| Country | United States |
| Language |
Silent film English intertitles |
Camille is a 1921 silent film starring Rudolph Valentino and Alla Nazimova. It is one of numerous screen adaptations of the book and play La Dame aux Camélias by Alexandre Dumas, fils. The original play opened in Paris in 1852. [1] [2]
Plot
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 lies 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.
Marguerite dies lying in bed in her apartment holding the book Armand gave her, wishing to sleep where she is happy dreaming about Armand. Marguerite's maid Nanine, and her newlywed friends Gaston and Nichette are at her bedside as she dies. The viewer is left to believe that Armand never found out about his father forcing Marguerite to leave him, and therefore never saw Marguerite again after the casino scene.
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
Preservation
The film has survived and has been made available to the public on DVD and VHS by various film distributors and independent dealers. It is presented as a bonus on the DVD copy of the 1936 version Camille with Greta Garbo.
References
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Camille (1921 film). |
- Camille at the Internet Movie Database
- allmovie/synopsis
- 1921 review from Motion Picture Classic magazine
- Camille (1921) - Full Film on YouTube
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