The 1926 film "La Bohème" is a silent film starring Lillian Gish and John Gilbert. Lillian Gish plays the title character "La Bohème" or the Bohemian Girl.
The film is based on Henri Murger's 1847 French novel Scenes of Bohemian Life (Scènes de la vie de bohème).
The film is set in 1830 "Bohemia", the poor section of Paris where artists and writers live, always short of money. Rodolphe, a writer, and Mimi, an embroiderer, meet and fall in love. To get some money, Mimi pawns some clothes and works longer hours, and receives some French coins. The coins are shown and appear to be real French coins, probably more modern than 1830.

The artists and writers neighborhood of "Bohemia".

Rodolphe, a young writer.

Rodolphe is writing a play and for money writes articles for a magazine. Mimi, an orphan, is not an artist or writer but an embroiderer, lives in the building. On the first day of the month the landlords visit their tenants to collect room rent. Bernard, the landlord, visits both Rodolphe and then Mimi.

Mimi doesn't have enough money and Bernard suggests another way she can stay in the apartment. When she refuses he orders his assistant Benoit to evict her. Mimi heads for the pawn shop with some clothes.

The pawn shop gives her a few coins for the clothes.

The coins appear to be copper coins, not very much money. Back at her apartment, Mimi is spotted by Vicomte Paul d' Aulnay.

The count gives her his card and returns with some clothes which need embroidery. It is spring and the Bohemia community goes to the country to celebrate. Rodolphe takes to the opportunity to court Mimi.

Both fall in love with each other.

Back in Bohemia, Rodolphe gives Mimi an article to take to the magazine. The magazine manager tells her that Rodolphe is discharged because his articles are usually late. Mimi does not tell Rodolphe and works longer hours to support him while he works on his play.

She claims that it is from the magazine manager.

The coins appear to be silver French francs and bronze French centimes. They are probably French coins of the 1920's when the film was made as the sizes hadn't changed. Vicomte Paul visits Mimi and suggests that he can help Rodolphe get his play accepted by the theatre. He asks Mimi to accompany him to the theatre.

Rodolphe learns that the magazine discharged him and then sees Mimi with the count and assumes that she got the money from the count. He becomes jealous and leaves her. Mimi continues to work and becomes ill with consumption, a deadly disease. Rodolphe's play becomes a success and then he learns that Mimi has been supporting him and is dying.

Rodolphe visits Mimi.

Rodolphe apologizes for mistrusting her and she dies.

Lillian Gish as Mimi Brodeuse
John Gilbert as Rodolphe
Roy D'Arcy as Vicomte Paul
Gino Corrado as Marcel (Rodolphe's friend)
Renée Adorée as Musette (Model)
George Hassell as Schaunard (Musician)
Edward Everett Horton as Colline (Writer)
Gene Pouyet as Bernard (Landlord)
Director: King Vidor
Writers: Fred de Gresac, Harry Behn, Ray Doyle, William M. Conselman, Ruth Cummings
Based on the 1847 novel Scènes de la vie de bohème by Henri Murger