Greta Garbo in "Camille" As Marguerite Gautier

Greta Garbo received her last Oscar nomination for playing Marguerite Gautier in Camille.

Camille is a surprisingly modern, terrific film. It's really incredible because of it's modern take on it's story: a French courtesan who finds herself in a world of happiness and sudden romance, even as her life is beginning to end. The way the director and the writer moves around the film is brilliant and the acting itself is surprisingly...modern. There's really not a better word to describe it.

Marguerite is a very simple character: she is careless, yet happy and funny. She possesses wit and kindness, but in many ways, is not romantic. So when she suddenly falls for a very different kind of person, we see a different side of her, a side of love that has forever lasted her. With Garbo's incredible, one of kind looks and her natural acting skills, she does brilliant wonders with Marguerite. What's immediately noticeable is that Garbo shed her trademark voice for the part - she truly does sound French. As the film progresses, it also becomes obvious Marguerite is not simply a spoiled brat, she really does have a wonderful personality, she simply doesn't know how to make herself grow.

Greta Garbo has alot to do in the part, from carelessly laughing at a ball to finally passing out and coughing constantly, it's a dominating part that Garbo truly is magnificent in. It's a magical performance, something you could imagine young girls dreaming about - the kind of romance everyone would want. It's unfortunate that Marguerite is also very sick, and is not afraid to hide it. When she turns away her love because she doesn't want to sacrifice him, Garbo is brilliant as showing all the fears and the vulnerability of Marguerite.

There is an aura of brilliance hovering over Greta Garbo's performance. She incredibly understood this character enough to not overplay most of her showy parts, and exactly knew Marguerite was a tragic, yet romantic character. She can be weak, she can be cruel, she can be fun, everything is here.