I have seen Greta Garbo in only one other film and that was NINOTCHKA, which I absolutely love. After seeing this film, I am quickly becoming a Garbo fan. Ranked at #33 on the AFI's 100 Years… 100 Passions list, the film has been copied so many times that its originality has been lost, however Garbo commands the screen and brings layers to the character of Marguerite Gautier. Garbo simply is the character.
Marguerite is a courtesan in 1847 Paris. Because this film was made in 1936 the fact that see is a prostitute is not made overt, but it works because it makes the characters dance around the issue. One night at the theater, she meets young, handsome Armand Duval (Robert Taylor, MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION), whom has loved her from a far since the moment he first saw her. However, Marguerite thought she was meeting the wealthy and arrogant Baron de Varville (Henry Daniell, WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION). It doesn’t take long before the hardened heart of Marguerite is softened by the passion of Armand. Still, Marguerite is reluctant to jump into love, because her past haunts her. But others stand in the way of the romance as well. Armand’s father (Lionel Barrymore, KEY LARGO) is not so keen on the romance and Marguerite's backstabbing friend Prudence (Laura Hope Crews, GONE WITH THE WIND) has sabotage on her mind.
George Cukor is not a director I think of when I think of my favorite directors, however looking over his resume there are so many films of his that I quite enjoy, including THE PHILADELPHIA STORY and ADAM'S RIB. He was known in Hollywood as a "woman's director." Here he knows exactly what to do — nothing fancy just let Garbo do her thing. I don't know where the term "she makes love to the camera" originated from, but Garbo makes us understand why someone would say that. With a natural passion, Garbo brings both a strong optimism and fragility to the ill courtesan. Cukor knew what he had in Garbo and paces the wider shorts and close-ups to hook the audience more.
I was also impressed with the film’s writing. Zoe Akins, Frances Marion and James Hilton did an excellent job of bringing Alexandre Dumas fils novel to the screen. The film is classic melodrama, brought to life with effortless honesty from Oscar-nominated Garbo. When Camille coughs, the pangs of foreboding flutter one's heart. Simply put, Garbo makes you believe her character is real and makes you fall in love with her just as Armand does.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
