Svengali *** (1931, John Barrymore, Marian Marsh) – Classic Movie Review 12,690

An ideally cast John Barrymore is extremely rousing as Svengali, complete with great makeup that substitutes white holes for his irises when he is mesmerising Trilby, an artist’s model he turns into an opera singer who struggles to escape from his powers. 

Director Archie Mayo’s 1931 American Warner Bros black and white drama film Svengali is based on the 1894 novel Trilby by George du Maurier, and tells the story of the famous hypnotist Svengali who abuses his skill for the sake of a woman, Trilby O’Ferrall.

An ideally cast John Barrymore is extremely rousing as Svengali, complete with great makeup that substitutes white holes for his irises when he is mesmerising Trilby, an artist’s model whom he turns into a renowned opera singer who then struggles to escape from his powers.

Nothing else about the film is as good as John Barrymore, neither Marian Marsh as Trilby nor Bramwell Fletcher as her suitor Billee, and certainly not J Grubb Alexander’s script, struggling to adapt Gerald du Maurier’s novel Trilby.

What the film can boast is hypnotic 1890s Paris atmosphere, though, thanks to Anton Grot’s unusual sets and Barney McGill’s exciting Oscar-nominated cinematography.

Before filming, Barrymore cabled his ideas for the film to Warner Bros, saying Svengali ‘must be funny and get lots of laughs’,

The film was shot from January 12 1931 to February 21, 1931.

When the novel was adapted for the stage, Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree performed as Svengali in the UK and Wilton Lackaye portrayed him in 1895 in the US, both to great success. At least six silent film adaptations of Trilby were made, from 1908 to 1923.

Next role like this for John Barrymore: The Mad Genius (1931).

Released on DVD.

Remade in 1954 as Svengali with Donald Wolfit and for TV in 1983 as Svengali with Peter O’Toole and Jodie Foster.

The cast are 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, Ferike Boros as Marta, Adrienne D’Ambricourt, Yola D’Avril, and Henry Otto.

© Derek Winnert 2023 – Classic Movie Review 12,690

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