In the Alexander Dumas fils tale of nineteenth-century Parisian mores, the classy courtesan inhabits a lush and sensual world, but is denied "perfect love." In the 1937 film version, Greta Garbo so perfectly enacts the role of "The Lady of the Camellias" that Dumas' much-told tale comes to life anew, its romance and tragedy balanced by Garbo's skillful enactment of all sides of the heroine. "To me," George Cukor has said, "Garbo was born to play 'La Dame aux camellias,' and only she could bring a fresh viewpoint to this...story." Camille is generally acknowleged to be Garbo's greatest performance, and some consider Garbo's performance to be the finest on film.