Svengali
1931 · Movie · NR · 81 min · ★ 6.2 · 78% critics
In bohemian Paris, a manipulative music teacher becomes fixated on a young model and discovers he can use hypnotism to shape her into a celebrated singer. As his control tightens, ambition, obsession, and romance collide in a dark early thriller with supernatural overtones.
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Details
- Years
- 1931
- Release date
- 1931-05-20
- Language
- English
- Rated
- NR
- Runtime
- 81 min
- Max quality
- SD
- Critic score
- 78/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.2/10 (64 votes)
About
You may enjoy this if you like moody, old-school chillers about obsession and mind control, especially if The Wolf Man or Cat People appeal to you; Not for you if very dated performances and melodrama put you off.
Pros: eerie mood; strong lead performance; memorable hypnotism scenes | Cons: dated style; uneven tone; thin story
Themes
- based on novel or book
- telepathy
- artist
- unrequited love
- model
- pre-code
- hypnotism
- mesmerist
Awards & recognition
- Academy Award — Best Production Design · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Cinematography · nominated
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 Honorine
Luis Alberni
as Gecko
Lumsden Hare
as Monsieur Taffy
Paul Porcasi
as Bonelli
Ferike Boros
as Marta (uncredited)
Adrienne D'Ambricourt
as Mme. Vinard (uncredited)
Directed by Archie Mayo