★ 7 / 10
Greta Garbo "Marguerite" is on wonderfully seductive form
CinemaSerf
Greta Garbo "Marguerite" is on wonderfully seductive form in this classy adaptation of Alexandre Dumas' story. She is the comfortably off courtesan kept by the…
Greta Garbo "Marguerite" is on wonderfully seductive form in this classy adaptation of Alexandre Dumas' story. She is the comfortably off courtesan kept by the wealthy "Baron de Varville" (Henry Daniell) who is introduced to the handsome "Armand" (Robert Taylor). He falls for her hook, line and sinker - but she isn't just going to take him in her arms. He is young, handsome, naive - and skint, but he has a certain charm! Determination is also one of his qualities as he vows to take her away from it all to a quite recluse in the country where she can recover from a mysterious ailment. The intervention of the young man's father (Lionel Barrymore), puts a fly in this ointment - he pleads with her not to toy with his son's affections, nor to tarnish his reputation - and she returns to her old beau and his chequebook... It's the ultimate menage-à-trois. The witty and popular woman having to face the grim choice of a loveless relationship, or a penniless one... Cukor sets a high standard; he allows the story to evolve slowly and delicately. The production looks great with wonderful attention to detail, and there is a chemistry between Garbo and the very young Taylor that is quite enthralling. Needless to say, Daniell is his usual dastardly self as the Baron, and Jessie Ralph also detersives notices as "Nanine". Although the 1926, much shorter, version of this is interesting - it features Paul Robeson - this is my favourite version by far.
Read full review
★ 9 / 10
Greta Garbo (I'm not objective in the slightest
talisencrw
Greta Garbo (I'm not objective in the slightest here, because she's my favourite actress ever) is astonishing as The Lady of the Camellias in this, the most…
Greta Garbo (I'm not objective in the slightest here, because she's my favourite actress ever) is astonishing as The Lady of the Camellias in this, the most well-known cinematic rendition of Alexandre Dumas' tragic story. In comparison to the 1921 silent version, Cukor's a much better director, though Rudolph Valentino's better as Armand Duval. Both versions are intriguingly different, and Henry Daniell's just great as the villainous Baron. Essential viewing, especially for fans of Garbo and classic tearjerker films.
Read full review
★ 7 / 10
"Don't you believe in love, Marguerite?"
bigticket-36199
"Camille" is a tragic romantic drama based on the 1848 novel and the 1852 stage adaptation by Alexandre Dumas, fils.The story takes us into 19th-century Paris…
"Camille" is a tragic romantic drama based on the 1848 novel and the 1852 stage adaptation by Alexandre Dumas, fils.The story takes us into 19th-century Paris, where the beautiful Marguerite Gautier, a famed courtesan, lives on the edge of polite society. Her companion arranges a meeting with the wealthy Baron de Varville, hoping to secure her future. But at the theatre, Marguerite mistakes the baron for a charming young man from a respectable family - Armand Duval - and a spark is ignited. Upon realizing her error, she accepts the baron's offer, leaving behind a heartbroken Armand who may have fallen in love at first sight...Director George Cukor delivers a sumptuous romance, rich in emotion and aesthetic elegance. However, the plot at times drifts into melodrama, dealing heavily in the cards of unrequited love, rendering some of the climactic scenes predictable, though still deeply affecting.The film's set design glows with opulence, as if trying to mask the sorrow woven through this tale of tragic love. Cukor skillfully uses silence and light in the final scenes, gently dimming the candle in Marguerite's eyes and stilling the breeze in her curls.The story balances love's ideals against the weight of social expectation - without leaning into overt moralizing. This world does not forgive the past nor the burden of reputation. Cukor wraps this world in stark character contrasts: Marguerite may dazzle in ballrooms and champagne, but at her core, she is melancholic and achingly aware of her dreams - and of the cost they bear.Greta Garbo plays Marguerite - a woman who can extinguish lights with a glance, drive away darkness with a smile, and provoke duels with a mere turn of the wrist. It is arguably one of the finest performances of her career. Unlike other directors, Cukor shapes her character with restraint, placing her in situations she causes herself, never allowing her to lapse into overwrought theatrics. She remains who she is - complex, composed, and quietly doomed - from first frame to last. This subtlety, I believe, saves the film from tumbling fully into soap opera.Robert Taylor is Armand Duval - a young man who believes in love above all. His performance may be occasionally awkward, but it's honest, especially in moments of jealous frustration, when he battles the pain of a love he doesn't quite understand.Lionel Barrymore plays Armand's father, a figure of moral gravitas. Torn between his affection for his son and the preservation of the family name, he recognizes Marguerite's genuine love, but also the social ruin their union might bring.Henry Daniell as Baron de Varville is no simple antagonist. He is a gentleman who courts, caresses, honors and punishes - all with the elegance of gloved hands. He symbolizes the world Marguerite longs to escape, yet cannot deny - a shadow cast over what she dares to call happiness.Love may be fleeting, and loss may sting - but it is still worth giving. Camille is, for that reason, a work of poetry for those who cherish the art of classic tragic romance.
Read full review
96%
TOMATOMETER
· 76 reviews
83%
AUDIENCE
· 2.5K ratings
7.3/10
9.6K
•••
Thank you very much!