''Camille'' is a 1926 American silent film based on the play adaptation of ''

La Dame aux Camélias ''The Lady of the Camellias'' (), sometimes called ''Camille'' in English, is a novel by Alexandre Dumas ''fils''. First published in 1848 and subsequently adapted by Dumas for the stage, the play premiered at the Théâtre du Vaudeville in P ...

'' (''The Lady of the Camellias'') by Alexandre Dumas, ''fils'', first published in French as a novel in 1848 and as a play in 1852. Adapted by Fred de Gresac, George Marion Jr., Olga Printzlau, and Chandler Sprague, ''Camille'' was a directed by

Fred Niblo Fred Niblo (born Frederick Liedtke; January 6, 1874 – November 11, 1948) was an American pioneer film actor, director and producer. Biography He was born Frederick Liedtke (several sources give "Frederico Nobile", apparently erroneously) in Yo ...

and starred

Norma Talmadge Norma Marie Talmadge (May 2, 1894 – December 24, 1957) was an American actress and film producer of the silent film, silent era. A major box-office draw for more than a decade, her career reached a peak in the early 1920s, when she ranked among ...

as Camille and

Gilbert Roland Luis Antonio Dámaso de Alonso (December 11, 1905 – May 15, 1994), known professionally as Gilbert Roland, was a Mexican-born American film and television actor whose career spanned seven decades from the 1920s until the 1980s. He was twice no ...

as her lover, Armand. It was produced by the Norma Talmadge Film Corporation and released by

First National Pictures First National Pictures was an American motion picture production and distribution company. It was founded in 1917 as First National Exhibitors' Circuit, Inc., an association of independent theatre owners in the United States, and became the count ...

. The film's score was composed by

William Axt William Axt (April 19, 1888 – February 13, 1959) was an American composer of nearly two hundred film scores. Life and career Born in New York City, Axt graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School in The Bronx and studied at the National Conservat ...

Plot summary

Marguerite Gautier (

), known as "Camille" due to her fondness for camellia flowers, is a beautiful and popular courtesan in 1840s Paris. Despite her glamorous lifestyle supported by wealthy patrons, including the aging Baron de Varville ( Harvey Clark) and the controlling Count de Varville ( Oscar Beregi, Sr.), Marguerite suffers from tuberculosis and leads an empty existence beneath her façade of gaiety. At a theater performance, Marguerite meets Armand Duval (

), a young man from a respectable family who falls deeply in love with her. Unlike her other admirers, Armand offers genuine affection rather than merely seeking her company as a status symbol. Initially hesitant to abandon her luxurious lifestyle and skeptical of true love, Marguerite eventually returns Armand's feelings and the two begin a passionate romance. Encouraged by her friend Prudence (

Rose Dione Claudine Rosalie Gras (22 October 1875 – 29 January 1936), professionally known as Rose Dione, was a French-American actress who appeared in numerous silent era and pre-code films. She appeared in more than 60 films between 1910 and ...

), Marguerite abandons her life as a courtesan and moves with Armand to a peaceful country house outside Paris. For a brief period, they experience true happiness away from the corruption of Parisian high society. However, their idyllic existence is shattered when Armand's father (

Maurice Costello Maurice George Costello (February 22, 1877 – October 29, 1950) was a prominent American vaudeville actor of the late 1890s and early 1900s who later played a principal role in early American films as leading man, supporting player, and director ...

) secretly visits Marguerite. He pleads with her to end the relationship, arguing that her notorious reputation will destroy his son's future and bring shame to their family. Out of selfless love for Armand, Marguerite agrees to the painful sacrifice. Without revealing the true reason, she abruptly leaves Armand and returns to Paris, resuming her former life with the Count de Varville. A heartbroken and bitter Armand, believing Marguerite has betrayed him for wealth and luxury, publicly humiliates her at a gambling party by throwing money at her. As her illness worsens, Marguerite becomes increasingly isolated. Her fair-weather friends, including the opportunistic Olympe (

Lilyan Tashman Lilyan Tashman (October 23, 1896 – March 21, 1934) was an American stage, silent film, and sound film actress. Early life Born Lillian Tashman in 1896 in Brooklyn, New York to a Jewish family, Tashman was the youngest of eight children, bor ...

), abandon her as her beauty fades and her finances dwindle. In the film's poignant conclusion, Armand discovers the truth about Marguerite's sacrifice and rushes to her side, but arrives only in time for a brief reconciliation before she dies in his arms, finding peace in the knowledge that her love was understood at last.

Cast

– Marguerite Gautier, Camille *

– Armand *

– Olympe *

– Prudence * Oscar Beregi, Sr. – Count de Varville * Harvey Clark – The Baron *

Helen Jerome Eddy Helen Jerome Eddy (February 25, 1897 – January 27, 1990) was a movie actress from New York City. She was noted as a character actress who played genteel heroines in films such as '' Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm'' (1917). Early years Eddy was bor ...

– Camille's maid * Alec B. Francis – the Duke *

Albert Conti Albert Maroica Blasius Franz Maria, ''Ritter'' Conti von Cedassamare (29 January 1887 – 18 January 1967), commonly known as Albert Conti, was an Austrian Americans, Austrian-American actor. He was a member of the noble Kaboga family. Biograph ...

– Henri *

Michael Visaroff Michael Simeon Visaroff (born Mikhail Semenonovich Vizarov (Russian: Михаил Семёнович Визаров); December 18, 1889 – February 27, 1951) was a Russian-born character actor, who worked in the United States on stage and s ...

– Camille's Father *

Evelyn Selbie Evelyn Selbie (July 6, 1871 – December 7, 1950) was an American stage actress and performer in both silent and sound films. Biography Born in Louisville, Kentucky, as a young woman Selbie was a sidesaddle rider. She had a career which las ...

– Camille's Mother * Etta Lee – Mataloti *

– Armand's father

Preservation status

An incomplete 35mm positive print exists in the Raymond Rohauer collection of the Cohen Media Group, according to silentera.com.

References

External links

* * *
Film poster
Wayback) 1926 films 1926 drama films American silent feature films Films based on Camille American black-and-white films American films based on plays Films directed by Fred Niblo First National Pictures films Films based on adaptations Silent American drama films Films produced by Joseph M. Schenck 1920s American films Films scored by William Axt {{1920s-silent-drama-film-stub