Svengali (1931)
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- Approved
- 1h 21min
- Drama, Horror
- 22 May 1931 (USA)
- Movie
- Nominated for 2 Oscars.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| John Barrymore | ... |
Svengali
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| Marian Marsh | ... |
Trilby O'Farrell
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| Donald Crisp | ... |
The Laird
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| Bramwell Fletcher | ... |
Billie
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| Carmel Myers | ... |
Madame Honori
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| Luis Alberni | ... |
Gecko
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| Lumsden Hare | ... |
Monsieur Taffy
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| Paul Porcasi | ... |
Bonelli
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Ferike Boros | ... |
Marta (uncredited)
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| Adrienne D'Ambricourt | ... |
Mme. Vinard (uncredited)
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| Yola d'Avril | ... |
Maid (uncredited)
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| Rose Dione | ... |
Trilby's Mother (uncredited)
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Julia Griffith | ... |
Concertgoer (uncredited)
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| Henry Otto | ... |
Man with Opera Glasses (uncredited)
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Sam Savitsky | ... |
Townsman (uncredited)
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| Ellinor Vanderveer | ... |
Concertgoer (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Archie Mayo | ||
Written by
| George L. Du Maurier | ... | (novel "Trilby") |
| J. Grubb Alexander | ... | (screenplay) & |
| J. Grubb Alexander | ... | (dialogue) |
Music by
| David Mendoza | ... | (uncredited) |
Cinematography by
| Barney McGill | ... | (photography by) |
Editing by
| William Holmes | ||
Art Direction by
| Anton Grot | ||
Makeup Department
| Johnny Wallis | ... | makeup artist (uncredited) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Gordon Hollingshead | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Irving Lippman | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
| Buddy Longworth | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Earl Luick | ... | wardrobe |
Music Department
| David Mendoza | ... | conductor |
| Oscar Potoker | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Fred Jackman | ... | technical effects |
| Hans F. Koenekamp | ... | technical effects (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Warner Bros. (1931) (United States) (theatrical) (as The Vitaphone Corporation)
- Vitagraph Limited (1931) (Canada) (theatrical)
- Warner Brothers Pictures (1931) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Warner Brothers First National Films (1931) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Warner Brothers First National Films (1931) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Associated Artists Productions (AAP) (1956) (United States) (tv)
- Yleisradio (YLE) (1996) (Finland) (tv)
- VCI Home Video (1998) (United States) (VHS)
- Alpha Video Distributors (2003) (United States) (DVD)
- Reel Media International (2004) (World-wide) (VHS)
- Reel Media International (2007) (World-wide)
- Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution (2015) (United States) (tv)
- F.C.E. (2013) (United States) (Blu-ray) (re-mastered standard definition Blu-ray)
- Stream Go Media (2022) (World-wide)
Special Effects
Other Companies
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Sinister music maestro Svengali (John Barrymore) can control the actions of women through hypnotism and his telepathic powers. When a pupil (Carmen Myers) he seduced announces she has left her husband for him, he uses his powers to cause her suicide and promptly forgets her. He meets beautiful model Trilby (Marian Marsh) and becomes infatuated with her, but she falls for young artist Billie (Bramwell Fletcher), 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 Billie 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 Billie discovers the ruse and follows the pair, upsetting Svengali enough to have him cancel performances too frequently, so they can no longer perform in Europe. They go to Egypt, but Billie relentlessly follows.
Written by Arthur Hausner |
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| Taglines | Trilby was once the Talk of Paris! DuMaurier's drama gave her delicate, flower-like loveliness and the music in her soul as a gift to a worshiping world. (Print Ad- The Sun, ((Sydney, NSW)) 20 November 1931) See more » |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | This 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. See more » |
| Goofs | In 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. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in When the Talkies Were Young (1955). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Ben Bolt (Oh Don't You Remember) See more » |
| Quotes |
Svengali:
That might be as well to remember. There are more things in Heaven and Earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy. See more » |