Camille (played by Greta Garbo) is a fashionable Parisian courtesan and her current lover is Baron de Varville (Henry Daniell). Despite her profession, Camille is not a cruel person and she is kind to those who have been her friends. She even goes as far as to financially support the wedding of an old friend, Nichette (Elizabeth Allan).

One day, while at the theater, Camille meets a young man named Armand Duval (Robert Taylor) and they both fall deeply in love. Camille wishes to spend time in the country with Armand but when the Baron discovers that she has been unfaithful, he hits her, but still gives her the money she asked for. Unfortunately, her happiness is short-lived as Armand's father (Lionel Barrymore) arrives to see her alone and reveals that if Armand marries her, he will ruin his career and future. In order to protect Armand, Camille chooses to leave him and tells him that she prefers the wealthy men in Paris.

Camille contracts tuberculosis, is forced to sell all of her possessions, and is left with only her faithful maid, Nanine (Jessie Ralph), to take care of her. As she is dying, Camille is unable to forget Armand. When he learns of her condition, he visits her and promises to stay with her forever. Camille passes away, but finds solace in the knowledge that Armand still loves her.



Books with substantial mentioning of Camille

David Thomson
Have you seen?, A personal introduction to 1,000 films
New York, 2008

Tom Pendergast, Sara Pendergast (eds.)
International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers, 1. Films
Detroit/New York/San Francisco/London/Boston/Woodbridge, CT, 2000

Gavin Lambert, edited by Robert Trachtenberg
On Cukor
New York, 2000

Neil Sinyard
Classic Movies
London, 1993

Stanley Hochman (editor)
From Quasimodo to Scarlett O'Hara, A National Board of Review Anthology 1920 - 1940
New York, 1982

Lawrence J. Quirk
The Films of Robert Taylor
Secaucus, N.J., 1975
pp. 54-56 info

Michael Conway, Dion McGregor and Mark Ricci
The Films of Greta Garbo
Secaucus, New Jersey, 1973

Books with an entry on Camille

Paul Michael, editor in chief. James Robert Parish, associate editor
The American movies reference book, The sound era
Englewood Cliffs, N.J.,, 1969