Svengali

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. Plot When attractive but untalented Madame Honori confesses to her sinister singing teacher Svengali that she has left her husband, and refuses to accept her ex's settlement 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 Style The question of whether Svengali is a horror film has been debated for many years. The film is not included in Phil Hardy's The Encyclopedia of Horror Movies (1986) but William K. Everson contextualized the film in relationship to the Hollywood horror cycle in 1973 in The New School Program Notes.