La Bohème (1926 film)

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La Bohème
Promotional poster
Directed by	King Vidor
Produced by	Irving Thalberg
Written by	William M. Conselman Ruth Cummings Fred De Gresac Ray Doyle
Starring	Lillian Gish
Cinematography	Hendrik Sartov
Editing by	Hugh Wynn
Release date(s)	February 24, 1926
Running time	95 minutes
Country	United States
Language	Silent English intertitles

La Bohème is a 1926 silent drama film directed by King Vidor, based on the opera La bohème by Giacomo Puccini.

Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Production 4 See also 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Plot

The film takes place in Paris in 1830. Several bohemians try to survive on the streets, living under poor conditions and desiring to one day become famous. One of them is Marcel (Gino Corrado), a painter who is starving himself to create a masterpiece. Just like his roommate, playwright Rodolphe (John Gilbert), he has no luck. They are constantly bothered by the landlord, but they have no money to pay him. The landlord, annoyed by their behavior and refusal to pay rent, threatens to throw them out if they don't come up with rent that night. Rodolphe reluctantly starts writing an article for a newspaper editor to earn some money, but the editor isn't satisfied.

Meanwhile, Mimi (Lillian Gish), an orphaned embroiderer without any friends, is bothered by the same landlord, Bernard (Eugene Pouyet), who takes an interest in the girl. When she doesn't give in to his attempts to seduce her, he makes the same threat. Devastated, she packs her stuff and leaves her apartment. Rodolphe immediately notices her, but lets her walk away. She goes to the pawnshop to sell almost everything she knows, but she doesn't receive a great amount of money for it. The rich but lazy aristocrat Vicomte Paul (Roy D'Arcy) finds Mimi wandering on the streets and falls in love with her. Meanwhile, musician Schaunard (George Hassell), Rodolphe's other roommate, has more luck and is able to earn the rent in a single night. Rodolphe is able to pay the rent later that night, but notices that Mimi isn't.

Another plot involves Marcel's relationship with his wealthier neighbor Musette (Renée Adorée). His roommates convince him to use her to get some food. Rodolphe stays behind and receives a visit from Mimi, who is desperate to warm up as she has no stove. Later that night, she is at the point of leaving behind her apartment, knowing she isn't able to pay the rent, when Rodolphe and Musette invite her to stay with them. She enjoys the night celebrating, until Vicomte Paul comes over. She thinks he is only there for embroidery and doesn't realize he is in love with her. Rodolphe, however, does and immediately thinks of the aristocrat as his rival. He expresses his worries of the patron to her, but she assures him that he is the only one for her.

Times goes by and spring reaches Paris. Mimi is out for her very first picnic and kisses Rodolphe after telling him she loves him. The romantic feeling inspire Rodolphe to write a play, but this results into neglecting his work at the newspaper office. Mimi hears from his editor he is discharged, but she doesn't tell Rodolphe about it, not wanting to destroy his happiness. Trying to keep up the deception, she makes longer hours at work to earn more money, but this makes her getting sicker every day. Meanwhile, Vicomte Paul takes a look at Rodolphe's play and offers Mimi to bring it to a theatrical manager, if she comes with him to the theatre. Rodolphe sees them together in the apartment and, in a rage, blames Mimi for having an affair. She tries to explain everything, but he is too mad to listen and leaves her.

Rodolphe decides to flee the apartment in order to forget Mimi. At a bar, he runs into the editor and is surprised to here he has been fired for five weeks now. Meanwhile, Mimi, with the help of Musette, tries to make his play successful by going out with Vicomte Paul. He tries to force himself up to her, but she refuses his attempts and returns home. There, she is confronted by Rodolphe over the job at the newspaper. She admits having worked extra hard for him, wanting him to become a success. He initially forgives her, until he finds out she went out with him one night, and then makes the conclusion she got her money from him. He hits her, but later apologizes to her and pleads to always take care of her when she finds out she is very sick.

Rodolphe tries to find her a doctor, but she has left him in the meanwhile, leaving him a letter in which she explains she will only be in his way of becoming a successful playwright. He searches for her for months and becomes very depressed. His play turns out to be very popular, but he can't be happy until he finds Mimi. Meanwhile, Mimi is working very hard in the slums of Paris, but one day collapses. She stumbles on the street and eventually reaches her old apartment. Rodolphe is very happy to see her and tells her he loves her very much. However, she dies only moments later of tuberculosis, leaving Rodolphe behind devastated.

[edit] Cast

• Lillian Gish - Mimi Brodeuse
• John Gilbert - Rodolphe
• Renée Adorée - Musette
• George Hassell - Schaunard
• Roy D'Arcy - Vicomte Paul d'Aubray
• Edward Everett Horton - Colline
• Karl Dane - Benoit
• Mathilde Comont - Madame Benoit
• Gino Corrado - Marcel
• Eugene Pouyet - Bernard (as Gene Pouyet)
• Frank Currier - Theatre Manager
• David Mir - Alexis
• Catherine Vidor - Louise
• Valentina Zimina - Phemie
• Harry Crocker - Bit Part (uncredited)
• Blanche Payson - (uncredited)

[edit] Production

Lillian Gish was glad to make the film, because she just came back from a visit to Europe and since then she wanted to especially reach out to her European fans. Making a film which takes place in Paris would be a good way to do this.^[1] After seeing an uncut version of The Big Parade (1925), she decided that John Gilbert and Renée Adorée were most suited as her co-stars.^[2] When she first arrived at the studio for filming, Gish was treated as 'a queen'.^[3] Co-stars said she was acting very arrogant, with Marion Davies telling she brushed off Gilbert and didn't want to give director King Vidor a hand.^[4] However, it was reported that Gilbert was infatuated with her regardless, and deliberately flubbed love scenes to kiss her as many times as possible.^[5]

To prepare herself for the role, Gish allowed no liquid touch her lips to make her death scene believable. She also learned how to breathe without visible movement.^[3] She also visited hospitals to learn about several stages of tuberculosis. Shooting lasted from August 19 to November 5, 1925.^[6]

[edit] See also

• Lillian Gish filmography

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• La Bohème at the Internet Movie Database

v • d • e Films directed by King Vidor 1910s Hurricane in Galveston • The Grand Military Parade • The Lost Lie • Bud's Recruit • The Chocolate of the Gang • Tad's Swimming Hole • The Accusing Toe • I'm a Man • The Turn in the Road • Better Times • The Other Half • Poor Relations 1920s The Family Honor • The Jack-Knife Man • The Sky Pilot • Love Never Dies • Real Adventure • Dusk to Dawn • Conquering the Woman • Peg o' My Heart • The Woman of Bronze • Three Wise Fools • Wild Oranges • Happiness • Wine of Youth • His Hour • The Wife of the Centaur • Proud Flesh • The Big Parade • La Bohème • Bardelys the Magnificent • The Crowd • The Patsy • Show People • Hallelujah! 1930s Not So Dumb • Billy the Kid • Street Scene • The Champ • Bird of Paradise • Cynara • The Stranger's Return • Our Daily Bread • The Wedding Night • So Red the Rose • The Texas Rangers • Stella Dallas • The Citadel • The Wizard of Oz (Kansas scenes) 1940s Northwest Passage • Comrade X • H. M. Pulham, Esq. • An American Romance • Duel in the Sun • On Our Merry Way • The Fountainhead • Beyond the Forest 1950s Lightning Strikes Twice • Japanese War Bride • Ruby Gentry • Man Without a Star • War and Peace • Solomon and Sheba 1960s The Metaphor