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Svengali

Play trailer Poster for Svengali 1931,  1h 16m,  Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 80% 5 Reviews Tomatometer 81% 500+ Ratings Popcornmeter
80% Tomatometer 5 Reviews 81% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
With his powers of hypnosis, the cruel music teacher Svengali is able to control women. When he sets his sights on the beautiful Trilby O'Farrell, she falls under his spell -- but her true love, Billee, won't be taken easily out of the picture. Though Svengali gets the golden-voiced Trilby to fake her death, and then brings her on a tour of Europe, Billee uncovers the deception and sets out to wrest her from Svengali's clutches.

Critics Reviews

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Fernando F. Croce CinePassion Mar 9, 2013
A peculiar, affecting ode to the tragic lecher Go to Full Review
Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Mar 24, 2006
B-
Vintage old-fashioned psychological melodrama about the evil use of mind-control. Go to Full Review
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Jun 29, 2005
3/5
Ken Hanke Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) Mar 29, 2004
5/5
One of the best -- and most overlooked -- early talkie horror films. Barrymore is magnetic in the lead. Go to Full Review
Scott Weinberg Apollo Guide Mar 16, 2004
55/100
Movies this old seem to come from another planet. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Apr 28, 2019 The best movie character ever portrayed: John Barrymore as Svengali!
Rey W Feb 20, 2017 Svengali is an incredible film. It is about a sinister music maestro who controls the singing voice, but not the heart, of the woman he loves. John Barrymore and Marian Marsh give amazing performances. The screenplay is well written. Archie Mayo did a great job directing this movie. I enjoyed watching this motion picture because of the drama and romance. Svengali is a must see. See more
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Svengali

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Archie Mayo

Director

John Barrymore

Svengali

Marian Marsh

Trilby O'Farrell

Donald Crisp

The Laird

Bramwell Fletcher

Billee

Lumsden Hare

Monsieur Taffy

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Svengali

Svengali (1931) Svengali (1931) Svengali (1931) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis With his powers of hypnosis, the cruel music teacher Svengali is able to control women. When he sets his sights on the beautiful Trilby O'Farrell, she falls under his spell -- but her true love, Billee, won't be taken easily out of the picture. Though Svengali gets the golden-voiced Trilby to fake her death, and then brings her on a tour of Europe, Billee uncovers the deception and sets out to wrest her from Svengali's clutches.
Director
Archie Mayo
Screenwriter
J. Grubb Alexander
Production Co
Warner Brothers/Seven Arts
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 1, 1931, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 11, 2016
Runtime
1h 16m
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