Beautiful Marguerite Gauthier (Greta Garbo) lifts herself out of her poverty-stricken upbringing by becoming the enchanting “Lady of the Camellias,” well-kept courtesan of the rich and influential Baron de Varville (Henry Daniell). When young Armand (Robert Taylor) falls in love with Marguerite, his sincere adoration causes her to question her comfortable life, and, despite the protests of Armand’s scandal-wary father (Lionel Barrymore), she considers leaving the Baron for him.
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Video Quality
Camille (1936) makes its Blu-Ray debut thanks to Warner Archive with a brand new 1080p master that does not quite reach the level of perfection of their normal output, but still manages to deliver something that bests most other labels who tackle films of such vintage. Due to the immense popularity of this title back in the day, the original elements were very worn and ragged. On account of this, the transfer is derived from a 4K scan of a 1936 Nitrate Duplicate Negative with a few replacement shots from a 4th generation Fine Grain Master Positive. To hear the details behind this, fans should know that this restoration was an immense challenge for the team, and we are lucky it looks as amazing as it does.
Even with the brief issues that arise from the lower quality shots, this is still a terrific transfer. Early on you may notice a scene or two that looks a bit softer than the remainder of the film, but the transfer blends the different sources well for a consistent experience. We always trust Warner Archive to make the right decision in these cases, and we know this transfer represents the best viewing experience the elements would allow.
Outside of these very minor exceptions, get ready for a spectacular presentation. This new transfer shows off a grand amount of depth and enhanced detail within the opulent production design. There is a fantastic amount of detail present with nice textures on the clothing including so many fancy dresses and handsome suits. The black-and-white photography appears luminous in high definition with natural grain intact. Black levels are deep with no trace of black crush or compression artifacts. The contrast holds firm, and there is almost nothing in the way of print damage to be found. Warner Archive has made this one look very nice for fans.
Audio Quality
This Blu-Ray release comes with a newly restored DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that brings this movie to life without issue. This is a very dialogue-driven narrative, and exchanges come through crystal clear throughout the duration. The score from Herbert Stothart supports the story well with a spritely and emotional backdrop that maintains its fidelity. None of the environmental effects or the music ever overpowers the dialogue on this release. There does not appear to be much at all in the way of damage or age related wear and tear to the track outside of some fleeting harsher inflections. This audio presentation does everything it needs to without issue.. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles available on the disc.
Special Features
- Camille (1921): The complete 70-minute silent film is provided here in HD with a score by Peter Vantine in DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio.
- Leo Is On The Air Promo: A 14-minute audio program is provided here which highlights some of the amazing films released by 1936 with a specific focus on Camille.
- Theatrical Trailer: The two-and-a-half minute trailer is provided here.
Final Thoughts
Camille (1936) is a well constructed period melodrama which does not particularly wow with its narrative daring but does show its might in the craftwork. Greta Garbo puts forth a formidable performance which does make you care about the ultimate fate of her character, but the romantic chemistry does not feel as palpable as it should. The pacing can be a bit sluggish for the material, but all in all the film delivers a decent viewing experience thanks to the performances and craftsmanship. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray featuring a really good A/V presentation and a small but mighty selection of special features. If you enjoy old-school Hollywood melodrama, there is no reason to pass up this top-tier release. Recommended
Camille (1936) can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or through various other online retailers.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.