CAMILLE

US, 1936, 108 minutes, Black and white.
Greta Garbo, Robert Taylor, Lionel Barrymore, Henry Daniell.
Directed by George Cukor.

Camille has become something of a movie classic. Directed very tastefully by George Cukor, who was noted for his elegant films of the '30s e.g. Romeo and Juliet, and The Women, and who had a very long and successful career through many decades, winning an Oscar for My Fair Lady.

The film is memorable for Greta Garbo's performance as Margeurite, the Lady of the Camellias, Camille. She invests the elegant courtesan character with a great deal of feeling and dignity. Her romantic scenes with Robert Taylor are memorable and also the death scene. Robert Taylor was at the beginning of his career as a dashing young hero and he matches Greta Garbo well. There is a strong supporting cast, a vivid re-creation of France in the early 19th. century and beautiful black and white photography and musical score. The film is well worth seeing for itself, as an example of M.G.M. film-making in the '30s, and as an example of Greta Garbo's screen presence and artistry.

1. How enjoyable a film is this, considering that this was a classic of the '30s? Why does it have such a famous reputation? The film itself, its style, Greta Garbo, the performances? Does the film deserve its reputation? Why?

2. How interesting is the basic plot? Does it smack too much of the 19th century? Its relevance for modern audiences - its themes of love, shallowness, intensity and betrayal?

3. Why is this a classic romance and love story? Does the film give insight into true love? Into infatuation? Into self-sacrifice and love? Which sequences illustrated this best? Why?

4. How important was the picture of Parisian society for the background of this love story? Did the love story make sense only within this society? What kind of society was it? The prologue mentioned a half-world'. Was this true? How happy was this society? How shallow and superficial? How able to cope with the depths of human experience? How well visually was this kind of society portrayed - in the settings. the houses. theatre, the countryside? The Place of money and snobbery in this society?

5. How attractive a character was Camille? In herself., how superficial and selfish a woman was she? How did she change during the film? Why? The importance of Greta Garbo's performance - what was so special about it? What quality did she bring to the character of Camille? It is suggested she transcended the character. How? Which incidents best illustrated her character? How did she fit into this superficial society world? Her love for money and finery, her flirting, her changing of affections? Her moral sense? When did she begin to change? What effect did Armand have on her? The importance of the sequences in the country? Her happiness? The influence of the Baron on her and the contrast with Armand? Her reliance on Prudence? How well did she take her advice or ignore it? The contrast of Marguerite with Olympe? How did you feel when she was confronted by Armand's father? Did his father have right on his side? Was Marguerite right to sacrifice herself for Armand? The effect that it had on her, the suffering she was willing to undergo, the effect on her health?

6. How attractive a hero was Armand? Was he credible and real? Robert Taylor's personality? What was the difference between his infatuation and his love for Marguerite? Why did he sacrifice his leisure and career to her? What good did he see in her? What effect did she have on him? His idealising of her? Did you sympathise with him when she reacted against him? His shock? His disgust? The impact of his humiliation of her with the money?

7. How happy and how sad was the interaction between Marguerite and Armand? Why? How did the dialogue and the situations portray this? The intensity of Greta Garbo's performance, her way of speaking, her way of posing and movement? What insight into love did this interaction give?

8. The importance of Armand's father in the film? How well handled was the confrontation between Marguerite and the father? Where were your sympathies? Why? Did he have the right to threaten Marguerite as he did? Did you believe his admiration for her?

9. What was your reaction to Prudence? As a symbol of the society in which she lived? Her superficial friendship, her greed for money? The importance of Olympe in the film? An attractive character? What Marguerite might have been like? The importance of Gaston as Armand's friend, and as a support to Marguerite in her illness? His final helping of her with the money etc.? How did these all add to the atmosphere of the film?

10. How villainous was the Baron? Again, as a symbol of this society? His infatuation for Marguerite but no love? His cruelty with possessing her and her affections? His playing the piano with Armand knocking at the door. His final forcing her to look at Armand? The importance of the card game?

11. What was the dramatic impact of the casino sequence? Armand's winning and the humiliation of the Baron? The humiliation of Marguerite? How did this prepare for the final sadness of the ending?

12. How convincing was Marguerite’s death scene? Garbo's portrayal of illness and death? The changing of Armand's heart and his coming? The building up of hopes and yet the impossibility of fulfilment? The quick fading to the end after her death? What was the emotional and dramatic impact of this? Why?

13. How does Camille compare with modern love stories? Why is this film considered such a classic?