Who is Greta Garbo?

Who is Greta Garbo?

Those words, uttered by magistrate Robert Norman Macleod in 1938 painted an intelligent, upstanding pillar of the community as an oddity. At that time, especially just after the triumph of Camille, Greta Garbo was the best known woman in the world. It would not be an overstatement to say that she was considered a goddess.

Jim and I have watched several Garbo movies. Some I've liked, some not as much, mostly because I couldn't be sure if she was overacting or her co-stars under acting. But this movie--Camille--makes it clear what all the fuss is about.

I can't say enough about how great she was in that movie. The other actors were good, believable...but Garbo. Amazing. I believe this was one of the top ten best performances I've enjoyed.

The Lady of the Camellias (La Dame aux camélias) began as a novel written by Alexandre Dumas in 1848 which was adapted for the theater in 1852. It was such a success that famed composer, Giuseppe Verdi wasted no time in setting it to music, coming away with the transcendental opera, La Traviata. According to Wikipedia, there have been 16 stage adaptations of Dumas' book, and about 20 screen versions.

After having watched Camille, with Greta Garbo, I'm quite satisfied that I've seen the best adaptation of the work.

In the film, it's never quite clear what Marguerite is suffering from, though her occasional coughing and shortness of breath suggests tuberculosis. The characterizations throughout the film are well done, beginning with gaudy Prudence, who played by Laura Hope Crews (Aunt Pittypat, Gone with the Wind), pushing for Marguerite to settle with the Baron de Varville so that all her bills will be paid. Obviously, the hard-drinking milliner has her own best interests at heart, but she pushes Marguerite into Box A so that she'll meet the Baron. It's occupied by a vapid courtesan called Olympe who has her own ideas for M. Le Baron.

Henry Daniel, who plays the middle-aged Baron, is perfect in his role. He shows just the right amount of arrogance and disdain, but somehow manages to elicit, if not sympathy, at least a bit of empathy.

Of course, there's Lionel Barrymore to take into account as well. He usually plays a bad guy, and we end up hating him this time, too. Even though his errand with Marguerite is heartfelt and in his son's best interest, his meddling is tragic, all the same.


I found this collage on a website called Tinypic.com and had to share--click here for more pictures

The film was rich in emotion from start to finish, even including Olympe, the shallow fair-weather friend who swears she has been visiting and looking after Marguerite as her illness worsens.

I won't give the film away, though there can't be too many people who don't know the barest story line. Even the King of Sweden felt that Garbo deserved more than an Academy Award nomination and conferred upon her the decoration of "Litteris et Artibus"--an ancient award given for exceptional Literary achievement.

In all my ravings about Garbo, I realize I haven't mentioned Robert Taylor at all. This was the first movie I've ever seen him in; in fact, I believe it was his first film ever. He was quite believable as the love-struck innocent,determined to sweet his lady off her feet and take her away from the tawdry life she'd led. He plays his part well, so offended by the slights against his love, completely ignorant of the importance of money and excess in Paris, and so sure that love would conquer all.

I read that Garbo kept her distance from Taylor during filming. She wanted to envision him as perfect, and had she gotten to know him, she might have liked him, but he'd have been human, flaws and all.

I wish I could offer up some visionary insight based on the film, the actors, the story. All I can say was it's a great move and you should see it.

Joan