On this day in movie history - La Bohème (movie & novel):

La Bohème

directed by King Vidor,

written by Frédérique De Grésac, William M. Conselman and Ruth Cummings,

based on the 1851 novel Scenes of Bohemian Life by Henri Murger,

and the 1896 opera La bohème by Giacomo Puccini,

was released in the United States on February 24, 1926.

Music by William Axt.

Cast:

Lillian Gish, John Gilbert, Renée Adorée, George Hassell, Roy D'Arcy, Edward Everett Horton, Karl Dane, Mathilde Comont, Gino Corrado, Eugene Pouyet, Frank Currier, David Mir, Catherine Vidor, Valentina Zimina, Agostino Borgato, Harry Crocker, Blanche Payson.

Recommended reading:

Scènes De La Vie De Bohême

By Henri Murger.

First published 1849.

Paperback.

ISBN-10: 0359742505

ISBN-13: 978-0359742509

Description:

The inspiration for Puccini’s great opera La Bohème, Henri Murger’s episodic story of the bohemians of mid-19th century Paris is a lively, eccentric and amusing narrative – it is presented here with the original 33 drawings. Less a novel and more a series of entertaining encounters, Murger’s work constructs a picture of artistic community and madcap association – aspiring painters, musicians and writers, all with strange stories to tell. Though struggling with poverty, the bohemians are blessed with occasional good fortune; eccentric but monied clients, or jobs landed by sheer luck and opportunistic panache. More than this however is the abiding theme of bonhomie between the young associates; all share the same dream – recognition and money for their creative endeavours – and are bound together by their place of meeting and low social standing. The café where the group gather to socialize serves as the genesis for several plotlines; here the protagonists commiserate and collaborate in equal measure.