Inspiration is a 1931 American pre-Code Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer romantic melodrama film adapted by Gene Markey from the Alphonse Daudet short novel Sappho (1884). The film stars Greta Garbo, Robert Montgomery, Lewis Stone and Marjorie Rambeau. It was directed by Clarence Brown and produced by Irving Thalberg. The cinematography was performed by William H. Daniels, the art direction by Cedric Gibbons and the costume design by Adrian.
Plot
Yvonne Valbret 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. 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 that 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 that their relationship will ruin his career, she chooses her old lover 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
Reception
The film earned approximately $1,127,000 in its worldwide distribution, resulting in a $286,000 profit for MGM.
References
Further reading
Mark A. Vieira. Greta Garbo: A Cinematic Legacy. New York: Harry N. Abrams, 2005;