Movies - Camille

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	Movies - Camille

This is an article about the 1921 film version of Camille. For other versions of this movie, please see Camille (movie).

Camille is a 1921 silent film starring Rudolph Valentino and Alla Nazimova. It is one of numerous screen adaptations of La Dame aux Camelias by Alexandre Dumas fils.

Synopsis

A young law student, Armand (Valentino) becomes smitten with a courtesan, Marguerite (Nazimova). Marguerite is constantly surrounded by suitors, whom she entertains at her lavish apartment. She also has consumption and is frequently beset by bouts of illness.

Armand sees Marguerite at the opera and, later, pursues her when he attends one of her private parties. She rejects his advances at first, but eventually returns his affection.

The two live happily together until Armand's father, seeking to protect his family's reputation, convinces Marguerite to end the relationship. She finally relents and runs away to a wealthy client, leaving a note for Armand.

When Armand finds the note he is shattered. The sorrow eventually turns to rage, and he decides to plunge into Parisian nightlife, associating himself with Olympe, another courtesan. When he sees Marguerite at a casino, he publicly denounces her.

Marguerite gives up her life as a courtesan and quickly finds herself in massive debt. Her illness also takes a heavy toll. Eventually, as she lays dying in bed, her furniture and belongings are repossessed. She persuades the men taking her belongings to allow her to keep her most precious possession, a book Armand gave to her.

Armand is summoned, but only arrives on the scene after Marguerite has died.

The film moves the setting of the story to 1920s Paris, and includes many lavish Art Deco sets, including that of Marguerite's apartment. Natacha Rambova, who would later become Valentino's second wife, was the movie's art director.

Preservation

Camille has survived and has been made available to the public on DVD and VHS by various film distributors and independent dealers. It has also been presented on the Turner Classic Movies television channel in the United States.

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