SVENGALI (1931) John Barrymore, Marian Marsh & Donald Crisp | Drama, Horror, Romance | B&W

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Svengali is a 1931 American pre-Code drama film directed by Archie Mayo. The film stars John Barrymore and Marian Marsh. It is based on the 1894 George du Maurier novel Trilby and was among the many film adaptations of the book. The film was shot from January 12 to February 21, 1931. On its release in the United States, Svengali received some positive reviews but did not perform well at the box office.

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

When attractive but untalented Madame Honori confesses to her sinister singing teacher Svengali that she has left her husband, yet refuses to accept Svengali's offer of money, he fixes her with an intense stare that drives her screaming from the room. A short time later, her body is found in the Seine. Untouched by her death, Svengali and his flatmate Gecko visit the studio of English artists the Laird, Taffy and Billee in search of a meal. On leaving, they meet a lovely young milkmaid and artist's model, Trilby O'Ferrall. Svengali is enchanted by her, but she falls in love with the handsome, young Billee. One day, under the pretext of curing her headache, Svengali hypnotizes her and thereafter is able to control her by the power of his thoughts. When Billee discovers Trilby posing nude for a group of artists, they quarrel, and Svengali convinces her to fake a suicide and leave Paris with him. Five years later, as "Madame Svengali" the singer, she has become the toast of Europe with the help of his powers. Her old friends attend her Paris debut and they are astonished to see the woman whom they thought was dead. Determined to win her back from Svengali, Billee unfailingly attends all of her performances. His powers weakened by the strength of her attachment to Billee, Svengali must keep canceling performances until, finally, her schedule is reduced to an engagement in an Egyptian cabaret. When Svengali suffers an "attack," his powers over Trilby fail; she falters and sings horribly off key. As he dies from the attack, he begs to be granted Trilby's love in death as he never was in life. As if in response, she then dies in Billee's arms.

CAST & CREW
John Barrymore as Svengali
Marian Marsh as Trilby O'Farrell
Donald Crisp as The Laird
Bramwell Fletcher as Billee
Carmel Myers as Madame Honori
Luis Alberni as Gecko
Lumsden Hare as Monsieur Taffy
Paul Porcasi as Bonelli

Directed by Archie Mayo
Screenplay by J. Grubb Alexander
Based on Trilby by George du Maurier
Produced by Jack L. Warner
Cinematography Barney McGill
Edited by William Holmes
Production company Warner Brothers-First National
Release date: 1 May 1931 (New York)
Running time: 81 minutes
Country: United States
Nominations: Academy Award for Best Production Design, Academy Award for Best Cinematography

NOTES
Svengali was based on the 1894 George du Maurier novel Trilby. The novel is titled after the story's doomed heroine, but the character that caught the public's attention was the villain Svengali, a Jewish hypnotist and pianist who hypnotizes Trilby into becoming a great vocalist. The success of Trilby was a surprise to du Maurier as the novel was adapted to the stage, where Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree performed as Svengali in the United Kingdom and Wilton Lackaye portrayed him in 1895 in the United States. At least six silent film adaptations of Trilby were made, ranging from 1908's Trilby to 1923.

Actor John Barrymore had performed on Broadway in early du Maurier adaptations, including the title role in Peter Ibbetson. In November 1930, Louella Parsons reported "the most surprising news of the year" that Warner Bros. had purchased the rights to adapt Trilby and that Barrymore was set to play the role of Svengali.

While on his yacht, Barrymore cabled his ideas for the film to Warner Bros., specifying that Svengali "must be funny and get lots of laughs." Warner Bros. initially wanted Evelyn Laye for the role of Trilby. Stories conflict as to why Laye was not cast; one account holds that the actress wanted to return to England for a vacation while another story claims that Laye was exhausted from overwork and was under treatment in a sanitarium. Soon before December 25, Warner Bros. hired Marian Marsh for the role of Trilby.

Svengali began shooting on January, 1931 at Stage 8 at Warner Bros.' First National lot in Burbank. Filming was completed on February 21. According to daily production notes, the script was unfinished when filming began, with screenwriter J. Grubb Alexander writing the scenes one at a time.

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