Top 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsMost Popular Video GamesMost Popular Music VideosMost Popular Podcasts
    Release CalendarBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Svengali

  • 19311931
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 21m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
2.1K
YOUR RATING
John Barrymore and Marian Marsh in Svengali (1931)
DramaHorrorRomance
Through hypnotism and telepathic mind control, a sinister music maestro controls the singing voice, but not the heart, of the woman he loves.Through hypnotism and telepathic mind control, a sinister music maestro controls the singing voice, but not the heart, of the woman he loves.Through hypnotism and telepathic mind control, a sinister music maestro controls the singing voice, but not the heart, of the woman he loves.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
2.1K
YOUR RATING
    • Archie Mayo
    • George L. Du Maurier(novel "Trilby")
    • J. Grubb Alexander(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • John Barrymore
    • Marian Marsh
    • Donald Crisp
    • Archie Mayo
    • George L. Du Maurier(novel "Trilby")
    • J. Grubb Alexander(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • John Barrymore
    • Marian Marsh
    • Donald Crisp
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 55User reviews
    • 33Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars

    Photos35

    "Svengali" John Barrymore 1931 Warner Bros. **I.V.
    "Svengali" John Barrymore 1931 Warner / **I.V.
    John Barrymore and Marian Marsh in Svengali (1931)
    John Barrymore in Svengali (1931)
    John Barrymore, Luis Alberni, Bramwell Fletcher, and Marian Marsh in Svengali (1931)
    John Barrymore, Bramwell Fletcher, and Marian Marsh in Svengali (1931)
    John Barrymore in Svengali (1931)
    John Barrymore, Bramwell Fletcher, and Marian Marsh in Svengali (1931)
    John Barrymore and Carmel Myers in Svengali (1931)
    John Barrymore and Marian Marsh in Svengali (1931)
    John Barrymore in Svengali (1931)
    John Barrymore in Svengali (1931)

    Top cast

    Edit
    John Barrymore
    John Barrymore
    • Svengali
    Marian Marsh
    Marian Marsh
    • Trilby O'Farrell
    Donald Crisp
    Donald Crisp
    • The Laird
    Bramwell Fletcher
    Bramwell Fletcher
    • Billie
    Carmel Myers
    Carmel Myers
    • Madame Honori
    Luis Alberni
    Luis Alberni
    • Gecko
    Lumsden Hare
    Lumsden Hare
    • Monsieur Taffy
    Paul Porcasi
    Paul Porcasi
    • Bonelli
    Ferike Boros
    Ferike Boros
    • Marta
    • (uncredited)
    Adrienne D'Ambricourt
    Adrienne D'Ambricourt
    • Mme. Vinard
    • (uncredited)
    Yola d'Avril
    Yola d'Avril
    • Maid
    • (uncredited)
    Rose Dione
    Rose Dione
    • Trilby's Mother
    • (uncredited)
    Julia Griffith
    • Concertgoer
    • (uncredited)
    Henry Otto
    Henry Otto
    • Man with Opera Glasses
    • (uncredited)
    Sam Savitsky
    • Townsman
    • (uncredited)
    Ellinor Vanderveer
    Ellinor Vanderveer
    • Concertgoer
    • (uncredited)
      • Archie Mayo
      • George L. Du Maurier(novel "Trilby")
      • J. Grubb Alexander(screenplay) (dialogue)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Smart Money
    6.8
    Smart Money
    The Front Page
    6.7
    The Front Page
    A Free Soul
    6.6
    A Free Soul
    The Mad Genius
    6.3
    The Mad Genius
    Bad Girl
    6.5
    Bad Girl
    Five Star Final
    7.3
    Five Star Final
    The Student of Prague
    6.4
    The Student of Prague
    Svengali
    5.5
    Svengali
    King of Jazz
    6.7
    King of Jazz
    The Most Dangerous Game
    7.1
    The Most Dangerous Game
    The Dawn Patrol
    7.1
    The Dawn Patrol
    The Doorway to Hell
    6.5
    The Doorway to Hell

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This pre-Code film stirred controversy due its nude modeling scene featuring a teenage Marian Marsh. The actress wore a body stocking for the scene and, in the long shot where she runs from the room, an older body double was used instead of her.
    • Goofs
      After Billie vows to follow Svengali and regain Trilby's attentions, there is an article in a Naples newspaper titled "Opera News." The second paragraph reads thus: "Monsieur Bonelli states Monsieur Svengali has recovered from his illness."
    • Quotes

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

    • Connections
      Featured in When the Talkies Were Young (1955)
    • Soundtracks
      Ben Bolt (Oh Don't You Remember)
      (uncredited)

      Music by Nelson Kneass

      Lyrics by Thomas Dunn English from his poem

      Performed by Marian Marsh

    User reviews55

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    Barrymore as Svengali
    Wow. Creating opera singers in Paris was at one point, apparently, all the rage in literature - we have Christine Daae coached by the Phantom of the Opera and here, we have Trilby becoming an opera star under the tutelage of the great Svengali. This 1931 film stars John Barrymore in the title role, Marian Marsh as Trilby, along with Bramwell Fletcher as Billee, Trilby's boyfriend, and Donald Crisp.

    The poor, unkempt, dirty Svengali becomes obsessed with the artist's model Trilby. He hypnotizes her and takes over her mind. Though her boyfriend (Bram Fletcher) and the artists believe her dead, five years later, Svengali, now prosperous and clean, appears in concert with his wife, the phenomenal Mme. Svengali, the great opera star. After performing "The Mad Scene from Lucia," she leaves the theater, and her friends recognize her. Just one small problem - Svengali has a weak heart, and he is more and more losing control over her. And now that Billee has seen her, he keeps showing up.

    This is a classic film, thanks to the performance of Barrymore and the great sets, which, as many people have mentioned, were inspired by The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. Barrymore brings great humor and a vulnerability to an overtly scary role, and Marsh is adorable. Seventeen years old here, she retired at the age of 30, except for some TV appearances, and died at the age of 93. Blond Bramwell Fletcher, who often appeared on stage throughout his career, is Trilby's love interest. Eleven years after this film was made, he married Barrymore's daughter Diana.

    Had this film been made a few years later, it might have been a touch better. The actors and studio were still getting used to the sound process, so the rhythm of the dialogue is a little off. Nonetheless, this is an excellent film, and I'll take any opportunity I can to see the great Barrymore.
    helpful•10
    1
    • blanche-2
    • Mar 23, 2010

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 22, 1931 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
      • French
      • Italian
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 21 minutes
      • Black and White

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    John Barrymore and Marian Marsh in Svengali (1931)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Svengali (1931) officially released in Canada in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2023 by IMDb.com, Inc.