Camille (1936)

Set in 1847 Paris, a well known courtesan (Greta Garbo) mistakes a handsome young man (Robert Taylor) for a wealthy Baron (Henry Daniell) that she hopes to make her "patron". After she discovers her mistake, she still finds herself attracted to the young man as he is to her. Based on the novel and play LA DAME AUX CAMELIAS by Alexandre Dumas (THE THREE MUSKETEERS) and directed by George Cukor. There are those who still insist that Garbo was more of a movie star, a screen presence than an actress. While there's no denying that screen presence that made her a legend, one would think that CAMILLE would put a stop to that nonsense that she wasn't much of an actress. By 1936, the Dumas play was already creaky and the film gets the full MGM treatment in terms of sets and costumes. But it's Garbo's superb performance that holds the film together. Every line she speaks, no matter how hackneyed, rings with authenticity. Praise must also be given to Cukor for his sensitive direction. The score by Herbert Stothart hits all the right notes. With Lionel Barrymore, Elizabeth Allan, Jessie Ralph, Lenore Ulric and getting as close to stealing the movie as anyone, Laura Hope Crews as a shallow, greedy "friend" of Camille.