Inspiration (1931 film)
Inspiration German: Yvonne Italian: La modella | |
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Directed by | Clarence Brown |
Written by | Gene Markey Alphonse Daudet |
Produced by | Irving Thalberg |
Starring | Greta Garbo Robert Montgomery Lewis Stone Marjorie Rambeau Judith Vosselli |
Cinematography | William H. Daniels |
Edited by | Conrad A. Nervig |
Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Release dates |
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Running time | 74 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Inspiration is a 1931 American Pre-Code Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film adapted from the Alphonse Daudet short novel Sappho (1884). The film was adapted by Gene Markey, directed by Clarence Brown and produced by Irving Thalberg. The cinematography was by William H. Daniels, the art direction by Cedric Gibbons and the costume design by Adrian.[1][2]
The film features Greta Garbo playing Yvonne Valbret, an artist's model and kept woman. Robert Montgomery, Lewis Stone and Marjorie Rambeau co-starred. The film is a romantic melodrama that portrays a Parisian belle whose past returns to haunt her. (Inspiration is the only film in which Garbo played opposite Montgomery.)[2][3]
According to the critics, Garbo played her role easily and convincingly, contributing sparkling bits of light comedy, and making the awkward dialogue believable. She illuminates every scene, shining in her different styles of coiffure and striking costumes.[2][3]
Plot
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/61/Inspiration_lobby_card.jpg/220px-Inspiration_lobby_card.jpg)
Yvonne Valbret (Garbo) is a Parisian kept woman who poses as an artist's model. She falls in love with a young student of foreign diplomacy, André Montell, played by Robert Montgomery. When André learns of her past and her multiple lovers, he leaves her. But finding Yvonne living in poverty when their paths cross again, he pays for her to live in his country cottage outside Paris and they engage in a Platonic relationship. He soon reveals his intent to marry another woman as Yvonne begs him not to desert her. André eventually realizes he loves Yvonne and decides to choose love over career. When he comes to the cottage to tell her, he is met by one of Yvonne's old lovers pleading with her to return to him. She immediately decides to marry André, but fearing their relationship will ruin his career, she chooses her old amour and writes André a farewell note while he is sleeping.
Cast
- Greta Garbo as Yvonne Valbret
- Robert Montgomery as Andre Montell
- Lewis Stone as Raymond Delval
- Marjorie Rambeau as Lulu
- Judith Vosselli as Odette
- Beryl Mercer as Marthe, Yvonne's maid
- John Miljan as Henry Coutant, the sculptor
- Edwin Maxwell as Uncle Julian Montell
- Oscar Apfel as M. Vignaud
- Joan Marsh as Madeleine Dorety
- Zelda Sears as Aunt Pauline
- Karen Morley as Liane Latour
- Gwen Lee as Gaby
- Paul McAllister as Jouvet
- Arthur Hoyt as Gavarni
- Richard Tucker as Galand
References
- ^ Inspiration, tcm.com; accessed August 5, 2015.
- ^ a b c Allmovie.com database
- ^ a b Inspiration, Turner Classic Movies website database], tcm.com; accessed August 5, 2015.
Further reading
- Mark A. Vieira. Greta Garbo: A Cinematic Legacy. New York: Harry N. Abrams, 2005; ISBN 0-8109-5897-X
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- 1931 films
- American drama films
- 1931 drama films
- American black-and-white films
- Films based on French novels
- Films based on works by Alphonse Daudet
- Films directed by Clarence Brown
- English-language films
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films
- Films produced by Irving Thalberg
- American films
- Films made before the MPAA Production Code