Themes: Star-Crossed Lovers, Life in the Arts, Dying Young
Main Cast: Gertrude Lawrence, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Diana Napier, Harold Warrender, Carol Goodner
Release Year: 1935
Country: UK
Run Time: 98 minutes
Plot
Mimi is based on Murger's La Vie de Boheme, with operatic snatches from Puccini's La Boheme occasionally thrown in. The very healthy-looking Gertrude Lawrence seems an odd casting choice for the consumptive Mimi, whose tragic romance with starving artist Rodolfe (Douglas Fairbanks Jr.) in Paris' Latin Quarter provides the film's dramatic thrust. Director Paul Stein has spared nothing to make the film as historically accurate as possible; unfortunately, Stein has also robbed the story of much of its vitality in the process. Fans of Gertrude Lawrence couldn't have been happy that her singing was confined to only one tune, and a forgettable one at that. Originally released at 98 minutes, Mimi is currently available only in its 62-minute American release version. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Richard Bird - Colline; Martin Walker - Schaunard; Austin Trevor - Lamotte; Lawrence Hanray - Barbemouche; Paul Graetz - Durand; Lisa Berenger; Porsche Lynn; Jack Raine - Duke
Credit
Paul Stein - Director, Leslie Norman - Editor, G.H. Clutsam - Composer (Music Score), Jack Cox - Cinematographer, Walter Mycroft - Producer, Clifford Grey - Screenwriter, Jack Davies, Jr. - Screenwriter, Paul Merzbach - Screenwriter, Denis Waldock - Screenwriter, Giacomo Puccini - Featured Music, Henri Murger - Book Author
