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Svengali (1931)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
22 May 1931 (USA)
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Tagline:
All Paris desired her, but Svengali owned her! more
Plot:
Through hypnotism and telepathic mind control, a sinister music maestro controls the singing voice, but not the heart, of the woman he loves. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for 2 Oscars.
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User Comments:
Superb Barrymore-Delightful Marsh
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Cast
(Complete credited cast) | John Barrymore | ... | Svengali |
 | Marian Marsh | ... | Trilby O'Farrell |
| Donald Crisp | ... | The Laird |
| Bramwell Fletcher | ... | Billee |
| Carmel Myers | ... | Madame Honori |
| Luis Alberni | ... | Gecko |
| Lumsden Hare | ... | Monsieur Taffy |
| Paul Porcasi | ... | Bonelli |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
81 min | Belgium:72 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
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Company:
Fun Stuff
Goofs:
Continuity: When Svengali and Billie at having champagne at the café in Cairo, Svengali drains his glass. They exchange a few more words as Svengali is being introduced, then when he stands his glass is somehow full again.
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Quotes:
Svengali:
Svengali will go to London himself! Where he will be all alone on a platform. And Princesses. And Countesses. And serene Highnesses will fling him their jewels, and applaud, and invite him to their palaces. And he will take you with him. I never look at them. Ah, we could be so happy. Look at me, in the eyes. Open your eyes.
Trilby O'Farrell: Oh, I do love you!
Svengali: Close your eyes.
Trilby O'Farrell: I love...
Svengali: Ah, don't say it! You are beautiful, my manufactured love. But it is only Svengali talking to himself again.
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Trilby O'Farrell: Oh, I do love you!
Svengali: Close your eyes.
Trilby O'Farrell: I love...
Svengali: Ah, don't say it! You are beautiful, my manufactured love. But it is only Svengali talking to himself again.
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FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (23 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Svengali (1931)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
|---|---|
| What does Trilby sing? | CultGuy1 |
| John Barrymore and Ron Moody | Mme_Jannings |
| Trilby | prometheusburns |
Recommendations
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This is such a great early sound film from the Warner Brothers studio. The sets by Anton Grot are amazing (there is an eye-popping miniature set of the rooftops of Paris). The sentimental background music used in "Svengali" is Thomas Dunn English's "Ben Bolt", which is played effectively throughout the film and is partially sang twice. The great John Barrymore IS the one and only Svengali and is superb in the role. He captures Svengali's wicked humor and cunningness perfectly. Marian Marsh is ideally cast and simply delightful as the artists model Trilby. She even looks like Trilby as drawn in George Du Maurier's novel. She displays an infectious smile and high-spirited jolliness that other actresses who have played Trilby have failed to deliver (Clara Kimball Young was okay in the 1915 silent version ("Trilby"), but Hildagarde Neff and Jodie Foster weren't at all appealing in the later sound remakes). Mostly everyone else in 1931's "Svengali" give good performances (the exception being Carmel Myers, whose acting dates badly). This 1931 version of "Svengali" will always be a film worth seeing for Barrymore's humorous villain, Marsh's adorable heroine and those glorious expressionistic sets by Anton Grot on the early Warner Brothers sound stages.