Main Cast: Greta Garbo, Robert Montgomery, Marjorie Rambeau, Judith Vosselli
Release Year: 1931
Country: US
Run Time: 77 minutes
Plot
Not every Greta Garbo film is an imperishable classic; this was seldom truer than in the case of her repetitious 1931 vehicle Inspiration. A modernized adaptation of Alphonse Daudet's Sappho, the film casts Garbo as Yvonne, a Parisian belle with "a history." When her past returns to haunt her, she decides to walk out on her sweetheart Andre (Robert Montgomery), even though she still loves him. Eventually she returns to Andre, but this time he leaves her. Worried that Yvonne will take drastic action over his defection, Andre returns, whereupon Yvonne breaks up the romance a third time, "all for the best." Had there been a fourth breakup, the audience probably would have walked out. No matter: Garbo illuminates every scene she's in, and that's all anyone could possibly ask for. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Inspiration is a 1931 English language film adapted from the Alphonse Daudet short novel Sappho (1884). It 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 the leading actress Greta Garbo as Yvonne, an artist's model. Other stars include Robert Montgomery, Lewis Stone, Marjorie Rambeau and Judith Vosselli. It is a romantic melodrama, portraying a Parisian belle with a past returning to haunt her. The film is the only one where Montgomery played opposite Garbo.[2][3]
According to the critiques, Garbo plays her role easily and convincingly, contributing sparkling brief bits of light comedy, and making the awkward dialogue to sound almost real. She illuminates every scene of the picture, shining in her different styles of coiffure and striking costumes.[2][3]
Yvonne Valbret (Greta Garbo) is an Parisian belle who poses as an artist's model, who falls in love with a young diplomat candidate called André Montell (Robert Montgomery). As they begin a relationship, André ignores her prior dalliances with multiple lovers. Discovering her past, André leaves her. Later, their paths cross again: André finds Yvonne living in poverty and buys her an estate to live in. At some point, he reveals his intent to marry another woman. Yvonne pleads for him not to leave her. Fearing her rashness, André chooses love over his career, and returns to Yvonne to tell her of his decision -- his arrival clashes with another former lover of Yvonne, who is pleading with her for her return. André is willing to let the past be the past, but as he sleeps Yvonne writes him a farewell note, choosing not to ruin his career.
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