Trivia / Camille (1936)

• Actor-Inspired Element: Greta Garbo suggested the early scene where Marguerite kisses Armand all over his face.
• Cast the Runner-Up: Lionel Barrymore was set to replace his brother John as Baron de Varville (see below), but they ended up casting Henry Daniell. Lionel Barrymore was then given the role of Monsieur Duval.
• Died During Production: Producer Irving Thalberg died during the production. Bernard Hyman took over for him during post production.
• Enforced Method Acting:
  • Greta Garbo wore bedroom slippers underneath the fancy dresses to allow herself to feel more comfortable (and therefore more natural in her performance).
  • For Marguerite's death scene, Greta Garbo listened to Paul Roebson records to put herself in the proper mood.
• Throw It In!: George Cukor's mother had died shortly before production, and he had been there when she passed, so he suggested to Greta Garbo how she should fold her hands the way his mother had.
• What Could Have Been:
  • At one point, the setting was going to be changed to contemporary times. While they retained the period setting, some of the subject matter was updated to fit the views of the day. Notably, Marguerite was made more likable, since being a courtesan was not as shameful anymore.
  • John Barrymore was announced in The Hollywood Reporter as playing Baron de Varville, but had to pass on the role after a sudden bout of pneumonia.
  • The death scene had to be re-shot three times. Greta Garbo had more dialogue in the first version, but they felt a dying woman would not talk so much. They had to keep re-shooting to make her quieter until they got one that satisfied producers.
  • Franco Zeffirelli was planning another adaptation in the 70s, for Olivia Hussey to star in the title role (as they had both just been put on the map with Romeo and Juliet (1968)). In her autobiography, she claimed he had trouble getting funding and the project never materialized...until after Cabaret and he instead cast Liza Minnelli in the hopes of attracting more studio backing. Again, the project was never made.