Alexandre Dumas' sentimental saga of the doomed 19th century French courtesan Camille was a staple of the silent screen and was played by, among others, Sarah Bernhardt, Theda Bara and Norma Talmadge. The 1936 version gave Greta Garbo what many believe to be her finest role, although she was really rather too old - and too cold - to be entirely convincing. Here writer Blanche Hanalis reworks the sturdy old warhorse to make Camille and her lover Armand younger and their romance more relevant to contemporary audiences and Greta Scacchi and Colin Firth do their level best to breathe life into the characters. But the acting honours go to a superior supporting cast - John Gielgud, Denholm Elliott, Ben Kingsley, Billie Whitelaw and, in a telling cameo, Rachel Kempson. Director Desmond Davis decorates his film with well chosen French locations, finely photographed in colour by Jean Tournier and Allyn Ferguson contributes an attractive musical score.

©ipc tx. Film content from TVTimes