Camille | 1921 | Drama

Title: Camille | 1921 | Drama Director: Ray C. Smallwood Studio: Nazimova Productions / Metro Pictures Corporation Starring: Alla Nazimova, Rudolph Valentino, Rex Cherryman, Arthur Hoyt, Zeffie Tilbury, Patsy Ruth Miller, Elinor Oliver Based on: Novel *La Dame aux Camélias* by Alexandre Dumas, fils Release Date: September 26 1921 Runtime: Approximately 70 minutes Format: Silent black and white with English intertitles Country: United States Language: Silent with English intertitles Genres: Drama Romance --- Chapters: 00:00:00 Marguerite’s life in Paris society 00:10:00 Armand Duval first notices Marguerite 00:20:00 Romance blossoms amid lavish parties 00:30:00 Armand’s father intervenes 00:40:00 Marguerite’s sacrifice and departure 00:50:00 Armand’s despair and nightlife descent 01:00:00 Marguerite’s decline and final moments --- Summary: Camille is a 1921 American silent drama that retells the classic tragic romance of a courtesan and her young lover in Paris. Marguerite, a celebrated and terminally ill courtesan, captivates law student Armand Duval and enters a passionate affair with him. Their happiness is disrupted when Armand’s father persuades Marguerite to leave to protect the family’s reputation, leading Armand into heartbreak and a downward spiral amid Parisian nightlife. The narrative explores themes of love, societal expectation, sacrifice, and tragic loss as Marguerite’s illness and choices culminate in her lonely final moments, holding a treasured gift from Armand. --- Background: Produced by and starring Alla Nazimova, with a scenario adapted by June Mathis, Camille modernizes Alexandre Dumas, fils’s *La Dame aux Camélias* by setting the story in 1920s Paris with lavish Art Deco sets and dramatic visual style. Rudolph Valentino, cast as Armand, contributed to the film’s appeal and commercial success, while art direction by Natacha Rambova enriched the film’s design aesthetic. --- Trivia: The 1921 adaptation relocates the setting of Dumas’s story to the contemporary Paris of its production era, employing striking Art Deco production design. Rudolph Valentino and art director Natacha Rambova met during production and later married, linking the film to his personal life. The film survived while many silent era works were lost and has been made available on DVD, sometimes alongside later versions of the story. --- Public Domain / Rights: Original Release: September 26 1921 Original Studio / Distributor: Nazimova Productions / Metro Pictures Corporation Copyright Status: Public Domain Renewal: Unknown --- Hashtags: #Camille1921 #AllaNazimova #RudolphValentino #SilentFilm #ClassicRomance #MetroPictures #PublicDomain