Svengali (1931)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Archie Mayo

Writers:

J. Grubb Alexander (writer)
George L. Du Maurier (novel)

Release Date:

22 May 1931 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror

Tagline:

All Paris desired her, but Svengali owned her!

Plot:

Through hypnotism and telepathic mind control, a sinister music maestro controls the singing voice, but not the heart, of the woman he loves.

Plot Keywords:

Hypnotism | Mind Control | Artist | Model | Villain Played By Lead Actor

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars.

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

Runtime:

81 min | Belgium:72 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Vitaphone

Certification:

USA:Approved | Spain:13

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: After Billie vows to follow Svengali and regain Trilby's attentions, we see an article in a Naples newspaper titled "Opera News." The second paragraph reads thus: "Monsieur Bonelli states Monsieur Svengali has recoved 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.

Movie Connections:

Featured in When the Talkies Were Young (1955)

Needs to be seen repeatedly to appreciate

The futuristic sets are combined with realistic sets in a very strange manner. You wonder, "Am I taking a tour of various approaches to this movie: realism vs. fantasy, comedy vs. drama?"

Watching John Barrymore work is amazing. I have no frame of reference since I don't know how stylized the acting in 1931 was. I'm sure, since sound was new, that they were still working subconsciously under the same duress, the same constraints as having to show emotions only visually.

Love the story as an analogue for the young woman who is mesmerized by some man she is totally incapable of having anything in common with. The last scene is puzzling, as we are once more back in fantasy land.

Trilby herself is like a trilling bird, so cheerful and so under the spell of Svengali. Winding up in the cheap dance halls is their fate, as Svengali insists on having his way: another morality lesson. He didn't have the ability to be flexible.

The price that ignorant Trilby pays for being hypnotized by this lying charming mesmerizer is death, who brings her great fame but at such a price!!!. Great analogue for our country in its present state..