Courtesans with TB
Mar. 28th, 2005 03:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dangermousieWho doesn't like a good melodrama? Yeah, plenty of people. But for those who do, isn't it fun to watch angst with beautiful women, handsome men, gorgeous costumes, and enough crying to keep an onion farm busy?
And as everyone knows, especially in older stories, if you are a Bad Woman, even if you reform and fall in love, you are doomed to die an early and tragic death. Getting more and more beautiful as your time approaches of course. See such 30s classics as Farewell to Arms and Wuthering Heights. But my favorite grand weepie of them all is a tale of a courtesan with TB who is redeemed by the love of a younger, naive man but gives him up to save him. A.k.a. Camille. If you think this sounds like Moulin Rouge, you are right.
When Baz Luhrman made Moulin Rouge, he took the story from Dumas-fils' classic novel "Camille" (if you want to read about a man exhuming the corpse of his beloved because he can't believe she is dead, this is the book for you), but that wasn't the first adaptation of it. This has been adopted many times: into a famous opera (la Traviata), a play, and a number of movies including a silent modernized version with Nazimova and Valentino (mostly notable for the insanity that is Nazimova's hair) and an 80s deadly-dull version with Colin Firth. My favorite of all these adaptations is the 30s weepie classic "Camille" with Greta Garbo and Robert Taylor. I am not the only one who likes it, because AFI voted it #33 on their "Love Stories" list.
This plot summary shows just how much Baz borrowed: Garbo takes self-sacrifice to a whole new level in this rendition of the classic tale of a kept woman who discovers what true love is in the arms of a handsome, honorable young man. Love may be a glorious experience, but when a lady depends on the favors of rich admirers to keep up her expensive lifestyle, it’s a luxury one cannot afford. Marguerite (Garbo) is one of the most sought after women in Paris and is content with her life of meaningless encounters and outrageous parties. Until she met the honest, sweet and charming Armand Duval (Taylor), she believed all men wanted from her was a good time. Armand sees past the party girl and makes an effort to get to know the woman underneath all the ruffles and jewels. Unfortunately, since he doesn't have enough money to support her, she’s forced to continue her relationship with Baron de Varville (Daniell), a man who doesn’t like to share his toys... Much angst ensues.
And here are some pictures. So yeah, go rent it. It's good I promise. Though nobody sings "Come What May"
Poster:
Confessing:
Mad:
Dying:
And as everyone knows, especially in older stories, if you are a Bad Woman, even if you reform and fall in love, you are doomed to die an early and tragic death. Getting more and more beautiful as your time approaches of course. See such 30s classics as Farewell to Arms and Wuthering Heights. But my favorite grand weepie of them all is a tale of a courtesan with TB who is redeemed by the love of a younger, naive man but gives him up to save him. A.k.a. Camille. If you think this sounds like Moulin Rouge, you are right.
When Baz Luhrman made Moulin Rouge, he took the story from Dumas-fils' classic novel "Camille" (if you want to read about a man exhuming the corpse of his beloved because he can't believe she is dead, this is the book for you), but that wasn't the first adaptation of it. This has been adopted many times: into a famous opera (la Traviata), a play, and a number of movies including a silent modernized version with Nazimova and Valentino (mostly notable for the insanity that is Nazimova's hair) and an 80s deadly-dull version with Colin Firth. My favorite of all these adaptations is the 30s weepie classic "Camille" with Greta Garbo and Robert Taylor. I am not the only one who likes it, because AFI voted it #33 on their "Love Stories" list.
This plot summary shows just how much Baz borrowed: Garbo takes self-sacrifice to a whole new level in this rendition of the classic tale of a kept woman who discovers what true love is in the arms of a handsome, honorable young man. Love may be a glorious experience, but when a lady depends on the favors of rich admirers to keep up her expensive lifestyle, it’s a luxury one cannot afford. Marguerite (Garbo) is one of the most sought after women in Paris and is content with her life of meaningless encounters and outrageous parties. Until she met the honest, sweet and charming Armand Duval (Taylor), she believed all men wanted from her was a good time. Armand sees past the party girl and makes an effort to get to know the woman underneath all the ruffles and jewels. Unfortunately, since he doesn't have enough money to support her, she’s forced to continue her relationship with Baron de Varville (Daniell), a man who doesn’t like to share his toys... Much angst ensues.
And here are some pictures. So yeah, go rent it. It's good I promise. Though nobody sings "Come What May"
Poster:
Confessing:
Mad:
Dying:
