Yes, they adapted an opera as a silent film, not that there was any other type of film at the time. Well, technically, the opening credits claim that it was "suggested by" Henri Murger's Life in the Latin Quarter, which was the source material for the opera. The opera itself is not actually cited as a source for the film, despite the fact that they share the same title.
This film has the examples of:
- Blood from the Mouth: Signaling that Mimi's cough has gotten to a serious stage.
- Cranky Landlord: The film opens with the landlord coming by to angrily demand his rent.
- Demoted to Extra: Mimi and Rodolphe are the main characters, and the rest of the gang is more-or-less relegated to the background.
- Dies Wide Open: Lillian Gish's Mimi dies with her eyes open and Musette closes them. A far cry from the operatic version where Mimi dies with her eyes closed.
- Distinction Without a Difference:Rodolphe: How much do you want to borrow, Schaunard?
Schaunard: Borrow is a vulgar word. I offer you the honor to render temporary pecuniary assistance to genius. - Gaussian Girl: Used liberally for Lillian Gish. This is most notable when Mimi and Rodolphe are at a picnic in the country. In one scene the camera cuts back and forth from a shot of John Gilbert in perfect focus, to a shot of Gish looking all blurry, and back again.
- Hooker with a Heart of Gold: It's subtly implied that Musette is a High-Class Call Girl. She is probably a courtesan or "kept woman" who seeks out sugar daddies like Alcindoro; her flashy, hedonistic behavior would be considered demi-mondaine at the very least. There's no other explanation for why she can afford such fine clothes and such a sumptuous dinner table. And she's certainly very kindly and sweet towards poor Mimi.
- Idle Rich:Vicomte Paul, a true aristocrat, who did nothing, but did it very gracefully.
- Large Ham: Rodolphe in-universe when he's acting out his play, which evidently involves a sword duel and a dramatic rescue of a maiden.
- Mistaken for Cheating: Rodolphe thinks Mimi is cheating on him when he sees her alone with Vicomte Paul.
- The Muse: Mimi becomes one for Rodolphe:He was in love. Now his dreams had a focus, his words an object, his play a motive.
- Poirot Speak: French terms like "M'sieu" and "M'amselle" appear in the otherwise English intertitles.
- Psychic Link: At the peak of his success following the debut of his play, Rodolphe thinks about Mimi, wishing that she would come to him. Mimi, dying in a different part of town, hears this and staggers back to Rodolphe's apartment.
- Starving Artist: As per the source material.Marcel would have starved to produce a masterpiece...as yet he had succeeded only in starving.
- Suggested by...: The opening credits say the film was suggested by Henri Murger's Life in the Latin Quarter, which was the source material for the opera. Except actually Murger's novel was called Scènes de la vie de bohème ("Scenes of Bohemian Life"), so who knows why they're calling it Life in the Latin Quarter.
