Inspiration (1931 film)

Inspiration is a 1931 American PreCode film adapted from the Alphonse Daudet short novel Sappho 1884. The film was adapted by Gene Markey, directed by Clarence Brown and produced by Irving Thalberg. The cinematography was by William H. Daniels, the art direction by Cedric Gibbons and the costume design by Adrian.

Yvonne Valbret Garbo is a Parisian kept woman who poses as an artists model. She falls in love with a young student of foreign diplomacy, Andr Montell, played by Robert Montgomery. When Andr 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. Andr eventually realizes 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 Yvonnes old lovers pleading with her to return to him. She immediately decides to marry Andr, but fearing their relationship will ruin his career, she chooses her old amour and writes Andr a farewell note while he is sleeping.

Source: Wikipedia