Svengali (1931 film)

Svengali (1931)
Directed by	Archie Mayo
Written by	J. Grubb Alexander based on the novel Trilby by George du Maurier
Starring	John Barrymore Marian Marsh Donald Crisp Bramwell Fletcher Carmel Myers
Cinematography	Barney McGill
Editing by	William Holmes
Distributed by	Warner Bros.
Release date(s)	May 22, 1931
Running time	81 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Svengali (1931) is a drama/horror film starring John Barrymore, Marian Marsh, and Bramwell Fletcher, directed by Archie Mayo, written by J. Grubb Alexander, and released by Warner Brothers. It is based on the gothic horror novel Trilby (1894) by George du Maurier. The film was originally released on May 22, 1931. Warner Brothers was so pleased by the box office on this film that the studio hurriedly reteamed Barrymore and Marsh for another horror film The Mad Genius, released on November 7, 1931. The region 1 DVD of Svengali was released on October 17, 2000 by the Roan Group.

Plot

The ending of the novel is changed in this film to a highly dramatic one by having Trilby die after Svengali is stricken with a fatal heart attack, instead of dying of a mysterious illness a few days later. She faints after he collapses in the stage box, but Svengali revives long enough to gasp, "Oh God, grant me in death what you denied me in life- the woman I love". Trilby then dies, followed by Svengali. In the film Billee survives.

Cast (in credits order)

• 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

Awards

The film was nominated for two Academy Awards, one for Best Art Direction by Anton Grot, and one for Best Cinematography by Barney McGill.

External links

• Svengali at the Internet Movie Database
• Svengali is available for free download at the Internet Archive [more]
• Svengali at AllRovi