Inspiration

In a plot with some similarities to the much better Camille, Greta Garbo is an artist's model who like the rest of her peers lives on the financial favors of those in the artist's colony. I wouldn't doubt she does those things professionally as well. It costs a lot to be an artist's Inspiration.

However she gets inspired by a young callow youth played by Robert Montgomery and she's willing to shake off all her patrons, chief among them being Lewis Stone for life with a young man entering France's diplomatic service. No matter because Lewis Stone seems rather enthralled with Karen Morley at the moment.

Probably Inspiration would not sit well with today's audiences. It's not one of Garbo's better vehicles.

One thing I did like about Inspiration was its torch song theme. Though it's not sung in Inspiration, the theme has lyrics and it's entitled How Long Will It Last. It was recorded by Bing Crosby the following year and was one of his early successes. It's the best thing about Inspiration.

I'd really recommend that you see this side by side Camille and judge for yourself how much better Camille is. Still Garbo and Montgomery do their best by this dated melodrama.

I've seen practically every Garbo film and I have to say that INSPIRATION is one of my favorite of hers. Certainly in the top five films. It's a beautiful and delicate film with one of Greta's best performances. Though the story is slightly underwritten and the direction could have used a bit more punch and Robert Montgomery is miscast, what weaknesses this film has are easily compensated by the amazing performance by GG, the sharp dialogue and the assured direction of Clarence Brown.

It's not easy to make a film about inspiration and in a way this film has. There are so many inspired moments in it, it would be difficult to list them. Here's a few: the opening sequence at the party; the staircase to Andre's room; what happens to Lewis Stone and his young girlfriend; when Garbo confronts Robert about infidelity; the ending, with the scenes in the snow.

Unlike a lot of other Garbo films or even other films made in those days, the melodrama is kept low. No screeching violins and such or major scenery chewing moments. I love the way Clarence Brown kept everything low key. Probably too low key for most people but I for one loved it. The pace is a tad slow but that's a minor complaint.

It's one of those Garbo films I like to watch and re-watch on a regular basis. Had the male lead been someone else than Robert, this little film would have been perfect.

''Inspiration'' is no doubt dated, but that's not the only failure of this film....... The plot also does much to ruin the film...... First of all, there is absolutely NO chemistry between Garbo & Montgomery to speak of...... The plot of how they met, and fell for each other, makes no sense, and is totally unbelievable...... They both looked bored with each other, throughout the film, and not to mention, putting the audiences to sleep...... It seems as though, they weren't even in the same movie together...... ''Inspiration'' only adds to my confusion, about what made Garbo such a superstar.....? Most of Garbo's performances are slow, sluggish & dated (with a minor exception of ''Ninotchka'') Otherwise, every Garbo's performance, is the same performance..... Same acting, same pace...... In my opinion, the most overrated, and undeservingly legendary actress of all time....... Watch this film, is you're really, really serious fans of Garbo & Montgomery...... Even so, you'll be disappointed......

The plot of this film is very bland, but the plots of many of Garbo's films are very bland. People only really came (come) to her films for her. Her mystique, her sparkle, her aloof charm and her husky voice (or over-the-top mannerisms, if we're watching a silent film). In this one, she fails to deliver.

Basically, Garbo is a kept woman in this one. She serves as an artist's model, among other things. She meets Robert Montgomery at a party, and they fall in love and start an affair. The ending to this one is so moralistic it almost made me gag, but at least no one randomly died like they usually do in Garbo films, and at least she didn't decide that life was no longer worth living. However, I feel that the film would have been better had one of the leads died. I'm sorry to sound macabre, but it's true. (I believe there was one point in this film where somone did commit suicide).

Robert Montgomery plays the same character he always plays.

Bob and Garbo aren't a great match, and they don't have a lot of chemistry together. Someone like Norma Shearer or Joan Crawford would have worked better in this role, I think. For someone who was such a smashing success, how did Garbo manage to pick such bad films to star in? Did she just not want to be a movie star? In this film, she certainly feels like it.

Don't get me wrong. I love both Garbo and Montgomery. They are both very talented and extremely sexy. This film, however, was not. As the previous poster has said, there is NO chemistry between the 2 stars. It was as if they were not even in the same movie.

Montgomery looked very bored with it all, and, although very dapper in his tuxedo, looked as though he were going to fall asleep throughout the film. I had to laugh when he WAS asleep in the last scene and never woke up, credits rolling. Looks like the poor thing finally got his nap after all. Still, he's always wonderful to look at!

The same goes for Garbo, only this time, her slow talking got on my nerves not just a little bit. I loved her outfits, and she could definitely be a model, but her speech was simply too languid for the film. Even Bob spoke slowly. What the hell?

The supporting players were given awful dialog, stock characterization, and no substance whatsoever, thus making no impact. All this accomplished was to get screen time away from the 2 stars, thankfully, I suppose. (The little doggie was cute, though.)

Nobody looked as though they had any enjoyment making this film, and the same can be said for the unfortunate viewer.

Bottom line: lovely to look at, painful to follow through.