Alla Nazimova

CAMILLE (1921)

Metro Pictures Corp., 1921.  Directed by Ray C. Smallwood.  Camera:  Rudolph J. Bergquist.  With Alla Nazimova, Rudolph Valentino, Arthur Hoyt, Zeffie Tillbury, Rex Cherryman, Edward Connelly, Patsy Ruth Miller, Consuelo Flowerton, Mrs. Oliver, William Orlamond.

Click for larger image

Click for larger image

Armand Duval, a young and unsophisticated law student, falls passionately in love with Marguerite Gautier, known as Camille, a notorious Parisian courtesan.  Armand forsakes his family and career, Marguerite abandons her friends for him, and they pass the days happily in a country retreat.

They soon find themselves without money; consequently, Armand arranges for Marguerite to receive his small legacy and, unknown to him, Marguerite plans to sell her possessions.  Armand's father learns of the situation and determines to save the family name from disgrace.  He persuades Marguerite to give up Armand, and she reverts to her former life of debauchery.

Visiting a gambling house one evening she encounters Armand; believing himself abandoned for the Count de Varville's wealth, he denounces her before the crowd.  Abandoned and ill, Marguerite finally dies in her home, clasping Armand's only gift, a copy of Manon Lescaut.

Notes
The film is based on the novel La Dame aux camélias by Alexandre Dumas, fils (Paris, 1848) and his play of the same name (Paris, February 2, 1852).

American Film Institute Catalog