Trailer
Plot summary
In 1847 Paris, Marguerite Gautier is a well-known courtesan in the demi-monde who spends freely despite her consumption. Her procuress Prudence Duvernoy sets up a meeting at the theatre with the wealthy Baron de Varville. Marguerite briefly takes Armand Duval, a good-looking young man from a respectable family but without much money, for the baron. She likes Armand, but after the mistake is clear she chooses the baron. Later, when Marguerite is ill, only Armand comes to see her, bringing flowers. Once she recovers, she invites him to her birthday party. During the party she has a coughing fit and goes into the bedroom; Armand follows and declares his love. Marguerite, who has never known love, hands him a key and asks him to return after the guests leave.
Cast
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about Camille (1936)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
SPOILER
Camille's released death scene is not the one first shot: the original, in which Marguerite had more to say and folded her hands before dying, is lost. George Cukor thought the dialogue unrealistic for a dying woman and had Greta Garbo's last scene reshot three times, with fewer words each time, until she simply slipped away in Armand's arms.SPOILER
For Marguerite's death scene, director George Cukor showed Greta Garbo how to hold her hands, recalling how his mother had folded her own hands and fallen asleep when she lay dying.- John Barrymore was originally cast as Baron de Varville in Camille but could not work after a bout of pneumonia, and his brother Lionel was scheduled to replace him. Casting changed again, giving Lionel Barrymore the role of Monsieur Duval and Henry Daniell the baron.
- According to associate producer Davis Lewis, Greta Garbo only agreed to make Camille on condition that MGM would finance Conquest.
- Producer Irving Thalberg died while Camille was being made, and after filming ended Louis B. Mayer put Bernard Hyman in charge; Hyman ordered retakes and cut or edited scenes from Thalberg's version, and it is not known exactly which.
SPOILER
While filming Marguerite's death scene, Robert Taylor brought his phonograph to Greta Garbo's dressing room so she could play Paul Robeson records to get in the mood.- Camille marked the screen debut of actress Joan Leslie, who was billed under her real name, Joan Brodel.
