Svengali

Svengali

🎞️ Movie 81 min US
โ˜… 6.8 /10 1931

He hypnotizes! He thrills...! Any woman caught in his spell must obey.

Sinister music maestro Svengali can control the actions of women through hypnotism and his telepathic powers. When a pupil he has seduced announces she has left her husband for him, he uses his powers to cause her suicide and promptly forgets her. He meets a beautiful model, Trilby, and becomes infatuated with her, but she, in turn, falls for a young artist called Billee who also loves her. One day Svengali hypnotizes Trilby to cure her headache, but also examines her upper palate and decides it is an ideal cavity for great singing. He convinces her to fake her suicide, so Billee and friends will forget her, and goes on a singing tour with her. Svengali uses his powers to make her sing wonderfully and Madame Svengali, as Trilby is now known, becomes a sensation throughout Europe. But Billee discovers the ruse and begins to follow the pair, upsetting Svengali enough to have him cancel performances too frequently, so they no longer can perform in Europe. They go to Egypt, but Billee relentlessly follows.

Cast

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
Adrienne D'Ambricourt
Adrienne D'Ambricourt
Mme. Vinard
๐Ÿ‘ค
Barney McGill
Cinematographer