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Svengali

  • 20132013
  • UnratedUnrated
  • 1h 33m
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
Svengali (2013)
  • Comedy
  • Music
Svengali chronicles a wide-eyed Welshman's haphazard attempts to manage an unruly rock band up the ladder of success whilst keeping his love life firmly on track. Can he manage it?Svengali chronicles a wide-eyed Welshman's haphazard attempts to manage an unruly rock band up the ladder of success whilst keeping his love life firmly on track. Can he manage it?Svengali chronicles a wide-eyed Welshman's haphazard attempts to manage an unruly rock band up the ladder of success whilst keeping his love life firmly on track. Can he manage it?
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • John Hardwick
  • Writer
    • Jonny Owen
  • Stars
    • Nicola Coughlan
    • Vicky McClure
    • Martin Freeman
Top credits
  • Director
    • John Hardwick
  • Writer
    • Jonny Owen
  • Stars
    • Nicola Coughlan
    • Vicky McClure
    • Martin Freeman
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 11User reviews
    • 19Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Photos23

    Svengali (2013)
    Svengali (2013)
    Svengali (2013)
    Svengali (2013)
    Svengali (2013)
    Svengali (2013)
    Svengali (2013)
    Svengali (2013)
    Svengali (2013)
    Svengali (2013)
    Svengali (2013)
    Svengali (2013)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Nicola Coughlan
    Nicola Coughlan
    • Club Girlas Club Girl
    Vicky McClure
    Vicky McClure
    • Shellas Shell
    Martin Freeman
    Martin Freeman
    • Donas Don
    Joel Fry
    Joel Fry
    • Maccaas Macca
    Natasha O'Keeffe
    Natasha O'Keeffe
    • Natashaas Natasha
    Matt Berry
    Matt Berry
    • Jeremy Brainesas Jeremy Braines
    Michael Socha
    Michael Socha
    • Tommyas Tommy
    Maxine Peake
    Maxine Peake
    • Angieas Angie
    Morwenna Banks
    Morwenna Banks
    • Francine Hardyas Francine Hardy
    Jessica Ellerby
    Jessica Ellerby
    • Aliceas Alice
    Michael Smiley
    Michael Smiley
    • Irish Pierreas Irish Pierre
    Pearl Mackie
    Pearl Mackie
    • Foh girlas Foh girl
    Katy Brand
    Katy Brand
    • Katyaas Katya
    Jordan Long
    Jordan Long
    • Homesas Homes
    Dylan Edwards
    Dylan Edwards
    • Jakeas Jake
    Di Botcher
    Di Botcher
    • Mrs. Cooperas Mrs. Cooper
    Roger Evans
    Roger Evans
    • Horseyas Horsey
    Jonny Owen
    • Dixieas Dixie
    • Director
      • John Hardwick
    • Writer
      • Jonny Owen
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The Don's Records scene is filmed at Out on the Floor Records, Inverness Street, Camden.
    • Goofs
      When Dixie is getting on the train to go back to London from Wales, the time can clearly be seen on the electronic board as 11.02am. As the train pulls out, a different board shows a partially obscured time, but one which is clearly just after 10am.
    • Connections
      Featured in Soccer AM: Episode dated 1 March 2014 (2014)
    • Soundtracks
      Bert's Apple Crumble
      Performed by The Quik

      Written By David Hadfield

    User reviews11

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    Straightforward Tale of Thwarted Ambition
    SVENGALI tales a straightforward tale of a would-be band manager Dixie (Jonny Owen) traveling up from his home in the Welsh valleys to manage a band. The band achieved a certain notoriety (pace the Sex Pistols) and secure a BBC recording session as well as numerous offers of recording contracts. Dixie tries his best to keep them under control, but finds the strain too much and eventually returns home with his girlfriend Shell (Vicky McClure). This film is very much a one-person show: Owen not only stars in it, but wrote the script and produced it. Director John Hardwick keeps the action going at a brisk pace, and there is some atmospheric cinematography by Catherine Derry, contrasting the lonely Welsh and Scottish rural locations with the urban squalor of central London. The film makes some trenchant points about the difficulties of surviving in the Smoke, especially when Dixie and Shell have to deal with a formidable central European landlady (Katy Brand). There are some memorable cameos by Martin Freeman as a record-shop owner and Maxine Peake as his long-suffering spouse desperately trying to prevent her husband from losing his temper. The story is a familiar one, but Owen turns in a winning central performance as Dixie: after what he experiences in trying to keep the band together, as well as dealing with a series of rapacious characters including loan-shark Teddy (Eddie Webber) and vamp Natasha (Natasha O'Keeffe), it's not surprising that he wants to return to the comparative security of home. In his final film before his untimely death, Brian Hibbard turns in a memorable cameo as Dixie's Dad; the scene where father and son talk to one another on a wind-swept Welsh mountain is particularly affecting.
    helpful•2
    0
    • l_rawjalaurence
    • Aug 10, 2014

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 21, 2014 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Official sites
      • Official site
      • Official Twitter
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Свенгали
    • Production company
      • Root Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Gross worldwide
      • $14,482
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 33 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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