Life in 1847 Paris is as spirited as champagne and as unforgiving as the gray morning after. In gambling dens and lavish soirees, men of means exert their wills and women turned courtesans exult in pleasure. One such woman is Marguerite Gautier, who begins a sumptuous romance with Armand Duval.
Acting
Garbo's final death scene—acting as exorcism.
Costume
Adrian's gowns: tuberculosis never looked so expensive.
Direction
Cukor crafts intimacy in cavernous sets.
Director
George Cukor
Greta Garbo
Marguerite Gautier
Robert Taylor
Armand Duval
Lionel Barrymore
Monsieur Duval
Elizabeth Allan
Nichette
Jessie Ralph
Nanine
Henry Daniell
Baron de Varville
Lenore Ulric
Olympe
Laura Hope Crews
Prudence Duvernoy
Rex O'Malley
Gaston
Lita Chevret
Woman in Theatre Box (uncredited)
E. E. Clive
Saint Gaudens (uncredited)
Elspeth Dudgeon
Fireplace Attendant (uncredited)
Effie Ellsler
Grandma Duval (uncredited)
Dorothy Granger
Woman in Theatre Box (uncredited)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Garbo insisted on filming the death scene last, then refused to leave her trailer for hours after wrapping, claiming she was 'actually dying.'
This role finally earned Garbo mainstream respect in America after years of 'mysterious Swede' typecasting—she became the definitive Marguerite by simply refusing to be anyone else.
US
