PlatinumRead Just so...so bad

Smartorhypo Highly Overrated But Still Good

FuzzyTagz If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

Francene Odetta It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

Bonehead-XL 1931: Greatest year for horror ever? It certainly produced some of the most iconic films of the genre, such as "Dracula," "Frankenstein," "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," "M," and, much further down the list, "Svengali." Despite its reputation, "Svengali" isn't really a horror movie. The story resides squarely in the world of Gothic melodrama. George du Maurier's novel "Trilby" was as much about the bohemian scene of 1850s France as it was about the wicked hypnotist and his attempt to manipulate the beautiful but tone-deaf Trilby into being his personal diva. There's some of that in the movie, with awkward comic relief coming from the other tenets of the apartment. As you'd expect, Svengali is only one corner of a love triangle. Before coming under the hypnotist's influence, Trilby is in love with some guy named Billie. Billie is an ineffective hero and does little beside react to those around him. The romance still works, thanks to Marian Marsh's charming performance. A scene between the two involving a pie is especially memorable.The horrific content is negligible but "Svengali" does pile on some impressive black-and-white atmosphere. A sequence about forty minutes in seriously impresses. The camera spins around Svengali's room. His eyes have gone completely white, deep in hypnotic trance. We pan out of the apartment, across the city, to Trilby's home. This visually illustrates the man's influence over her. It's also extremely creepy, the wind blowing and a church bell ominously chiming being the only sounds during the scene. It's hard to tell how much of an influence "Dracula" had on this film but the close-ups on John Barrymore's eyes glowing as he works his powers seem to purposely recall similar shots of Lugosi in the same year's film.Which brings us to the second thing the movie has going for: John Barrymore's performance. Barrymore establishes the character's sinister intent early. After seducing another music student, and discovering she's not as rich as she let on, Svengali hypnotizes her into suicide. However, we only see Barrymore looming over the girl, his back to the camera. He cuts an intimidating figure. His manipulation of Trilby plays out in an especially cruel manner, like in a scene where he reminds her of her promiscuous past. However, he's not a heartless monster. Svengali legitimately loves her. After hypnotizing her into being his wife, he finds the charade unfulfilling. Mesmerizing the girl takes a great physical toll on the man and eventually cost him his life, his subconscious guilt manifesting itself.The ending is surprisingly downbeat. The hero proves how useless he is by failing to rescue his lady. Even as he lay dying, Svengali reaches out to his true love. While a little thin, "Svengali" is a moody character study, well shot and with an impressive lead performance. It might not be as strong as some of 1931's other classics but I liked it all the same.

jotix100 Svengali is an impoverished singing professor, of Polish extraction, down on his luck. Living is Paris in precarious conditions, he forces his way into the flat of Taffy, and the Laird, two Englishmen painters. He seizes the opportunity for a bath and borrows clothes that turn him into a more distinguished person.The unexpected appearance of Trilby, a model that has been sent to the English painters, produces a change of heart in Svengali. He cannot have the beautiful girl on his looks alone, so he decides to use his mental powers to cast a spell on the unsuspecting young woman. This will change them forever; Svengali will use Trilby as his trophy because he finds she has the right bone structure in her mouth to be a great singer.Trilby, who was attracted to a young friend of the Englishmen, Billee, until to his shock, he finds her posing nude for a group of painters. Overnight, Trilby becomes a singing sensation with Svengali taking her throughout Europe. The spell works out for a while, but Trilby begins to have problems and Svengali cancels her appearances. It is in Cairo, where Billee had followed Trilby and Svengali that she is able to break the spell she has fallen under.Archie Mayo directed this classic 1931 production. The great John Barrymore, almost unrecognized in his appearance, makes a wonderful take on the legendary man with magical powers. Marian Marsh, one of the screen early beauties is seen as Trilby O'Farrell. The restored DVD had an excellent picture and sound qualities. The supporting cast included Donald Crisp, Bramwell Fletcher, Luis Alberni and Lumsden Hare.What was remarkable in this feature was the art direction of Anton Grof. For the time it was made, and with the resources of the time in which it was filmed, one cannot help being impressed by the sets that were used in the film. Barney McGill was the cinematographer and the musical score is credited to David Mendoza. Archie Mayo directed with an eye for detail the classic novel by George DuMaurier.

JoeKarlosi Svengali (John Barrymore) is an eccentric mystical music teacher/pianist who makes his daily bread giving singing lessons to aspiring students in Paris. His long hair, forked beard, and piercing eyes make the unusual instructor a prime target of ridicule among the local townsfolk. One day a stunning and earthy young model named Trilby (Marian Marsh, perfectly cast and the living picture of the girl you heard about in the song "You're Sixteen") makes her way into the life of Billee (Bramwell Fletcher from the 1932 MUMMY), and wins his devotion. But like all the red-blooded men in this tale, the sly Svengali takes a liking to her himself, and hypnotizes the girl into following him. It's always exciting to discover an old classic from Hollywood's Golden Age that still captivates. SVENGALI is only borderline horror at best, yet it remains a true gem, an absorbing achievement in every way: from the powerful lead performance of Barrymore, to the delicious beauty of 16 year-old Marian Marsh, to the bizarre set designs of Anton Grot, to the wonderful direction by Archie Mayo. This is when movies were movies. *** out of ****

Steve McDonald One of my favorite films of all time. I first saw this movie when I was 10 years old and it has been with me for the rest of my 50 years. John Barrymore's performance was incredible and still gives me chills to this day--his ability to make you hate and fear Svengali's diabolical scheming but to feel his heartache and yearning for Trilby's love--it amazes me. The set design is incredible, maybe better than that of the Blue Angel. But the real reason I love this film is Marian Marsh--I absolutely fell in love with her the first time I saw the movie and still feel that tingle even today! I never fell for any movie star but Marian Marsh--what absolute beauty with her coquette smile and sparkling eyes. Great story, great acting and great visuals, and "Svengali" is a part of American lexicon today because of this film version. This film is A+ in my book.