IMDb RATING
6.8/10
2.5K
YOUR RATING
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.
- Nominated for 2 Oscars
- 2 nominations total
Ferike Boros
- Marta
- (uncredited)
Adrienne D'Ambricourt
- Mme. Vinard
- (uncredited)
Yola d'Avril
- Maid
- (uncredited)
Rose Dione
- Trilby's Mother
- (uncredited)
Julia Griffith
- Concertgoer
- (uncredited)
Henry Otto
- Man with Opera Glasses
- (uncredited)
Sam Savitsky
- Townsman
- (uncredited)
Ellinor Vanderveer
- Concertgoer
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis 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.
- GoofsIn the bathtub, Svengali says "Gott strafe England" ("God punish England"). This saying was created by German-Jewish poet Ernst Lissauer (1882-1937) during WWI. However, Svengali (1931) takes place during the mid-19th century.
- ConnectionsFeatured in When the Talkies Were Young (1955)
- SoundtracksBen Bolt (Oh Don't You Remember)
(uncredited)
Music by Nelson Kneass
Lyrics by Thomas Dunn English from his poem
Performed by Marian Marsh
Featured review
Exceptional classic film
An exceptional classic film. In a storyline very similar to Dracula, the strange Maestro Svengali (John Barrymore) falls in love with a young girl (Marian Marsh) and uses his powers of hypnotism and mind control to seduce her. Erie, eye catching, strangely romantic and a little twisted, Svengali was everything Dracula should have been. The film is a masterpiece of visuals. The slanted, disproportionate sets and imaginative camera work give many scenes a dreamlike feel. John Barrymore is perfect as the title character. He does not play Svengali as a flatly evil man, but gives him charm, humor and vulnerability. He causes us to pity him for his unrequited love almost more than we fear him for his actions. The talent of the supporting cast does not go to waste either. Marian Marsh gives a good performance as Trilby, the object of Svengali's desire, and Donald Crisp and Luis Alberni provide some comic relief as a couple of struggling artists. Complete with a dark, somewhat open ending, this movie has all the right touches. Svengali is better and more effective than a horror movie without quite being one itself.
helpful•402
- km_dickson
- Aug 13, 2005
- How long is Svengali?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Runtime1 hour 21 minutes
- Color
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