Svengali (1931)

John Barrymore: Svengali

Photos 

Quotes 

• Svengali : That might be as well to remember. There are more things in Heaven and Earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

• Svengali : [to Trilby]  There is nothing in your mind... nothing in your heart... nothing in your soul... but Svengali... Svengali... Svengali... !

• Gecko : Maestro, I don't know what we are going to do. We have borrowed from everyone we know. We cannot go back to Bernard's. He will throw us out.

  Svengali : Oh, possibly, possibly... But there are other people... Our English friends - - they have not enjoyed the *fragrance* of our society, for a week. We will go there.

  Gecko : But Maestro, the last time we were there, Monsieur Taffy, and Monsieur the Laird, and even little Billie... he's so kind.

  Svengali : Now listen. Gecko. You know, the trouble with you is you have not sufficient optimism. Little things discourage you. Remember, in the bright lexicon of youth, there is no such word... as "Fail."

• Trilby O'Farrell : Svengali, I've tried, but I...

  Svengali : Ja, ja, ja, ja. But you know very well why you can't. It is the magnificent young Englander. The head of the Purity Brigade. Sir Galahad. This stiff-necked little Billie... What is he, Liebchen? With his silly paints in one hand, and these twiddling brushes of pig's bristles in the other... What does he amount to, compared to Svengali? Ah, he paints his silly pictures and sends them to London, where they hang up on the wall like... dead soldiers on parade. And the people pass in a long procession - "ah" - and yawn.

  Svengali : [continues, gesturing dramatically]  Svengali will go to London himself, where he will be all alone on the platform. And princesses, and countesses, and serene highnesses will *fling* him their jewels, and applaud him, and invite him to their palaces! And he will take you with him, Liebchen, and never look at *them.* Da, we could be so happy!

  Trilby O'Farrell : But I... I don't like palaces.

  Svengali : No. Nor anything else that other women like. Except the little Bi--. Look at me .. in the eyes!

  [He hypnotizes Trilby and she closes her eyes] 

  Svengali : Open your eyes.

  Trilby O'Farrell : Oh .. I *do* love you.

  Svengali : Ah, 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.

• Billee : You're wonderful. You're the sweetest thing I've ever known. When we're married, I want to take you to England, and to my mother... She'll be proud of you, Trilby. Proud of you as I am.

  Trilby O'Farrell : Tell me: what's England like?

  Billee : Oh, England's beautiful! Green fields, and hedgerows and hollyhocks, primroses...

  Svengali : [Svengali, who's been eavesdropping, butts in]  ... and fog, and pneumonia, and shopkeepers, and flat feet, and boiled beef and cabbage - ha, ha, ha! Trilby in England would be like a butterfly in mutton soup!

  [continues to laugh] 

• Svengali : [as he is on the verge of death]  Oh, God, grant me in death... what you denied me in life... the woman I love.

• Svengali : Now... what did we do last?

  Madame Honori : Don't you remember?

  Svengali : I am speaking about music.

• Svengali : Well, my patriotic friend, you up yet?

  The Laird : Yeah, I'm up. And I want to be done, ya' Polish scavenger!

  Svengali : Oh, is it my fault that you Englanders have to take a bath every morning?

  The Laird : How long is it since *you* took one?

  Svengali : Eh? Not since I tripped and fell in the sewer. Ha ha!