Afterward, I read the novel and the facts about the real courtesan that the story was based on. The book also mentioned the multiple movie and stage versions. I rented one of them: 1937th "Camille" with Greta Garbo. The DVD also had a a silent 1921 "Camille" starring Alla Nazimova.
Here is the comparison:
Met's version - beautiful music, sets and costumes and very talented Renee Flemming. Enjoyable.
Greta Garbo version - tough, sarcastic heroine. Garbo seemed too old for the role.
Nazimova version - fun to watch just for the crazy hair and mimicry. The sets are also hilarious and must have been out there for 1921.
"La Dame aux Camelias" novel version - although not a literary masterpiece, it was very interesting to read about life in 1850's Paris and how things were back then.
The real Marie Duplessis - "most celebrated courtesan of the times". Possibly was being offered to men by her farther by age 12. Dead by age 23. Apparently very beautiful and elegant, she "possessed a natural tact, and an instinctive refinement which no education could have enhanced."
I actually found her life story much more interesting than "La Dame aux Camelias". I wish there was a fictionalized version of it. Apparently there is a movie loosely based on her life: Dame aux camélias / Lady of the Camelias.
2 comments:
Hard to believe you weren't at least impressed with Garbo's CAMILLE.
Anonymous, I do not recall being impressed, sorry. Did not feel feminine enough for the character she was portraying.
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