SVENGALI
US, 1983, 100 minutes, Colour.
Peter O’ Toole, Jodie Foster, Elizabeth Ashley, Holly Hunter.
Directed by Anthony Harvey.
Svengali is a update of the classic novel by George Du Maurier. Svengali is the music teacher with hypnotic powers. Trilby is the singer unable to sing without him. This adaptation focuses a former musical comedy star from Europe, who had appeared on Broadway, who has an ability to train the young Zoe. He had appeared in the musical of Svengali - hence the connection.
The film is set in New York City, in the world of popular music. Peter O'Toole uses his eccentric style as the Svengali like teacher who is infatuated with the singer. Jodie Foster gives a solid performance as the singer. The supporting cast includes Elizabeth Ashley as the agent. Holly Hunter can be glimpsed in a small role as Johnny's girlfriend.
The film was directed by Anthony Harvey who directed Peter O'Toole in his Oscar nominated performance in The Lion in Winter. (Previous versions of Svengali came from the 30s with John Barrymore and the 50s in a British production with Donald Wolfit and Hildegarde Neff).
1. Enjoyable story? The contemporary music world? The updating and adaptation of the original?
2. The New York settings, affluence, the music world? The touring concerts? Special effects?
3. The musical score, the songs especially written for the film (by Don Black and John Barry)? The themes for Zoe? The credibility of the Svengali story adapted for the modern rock world?
4. The title, the reference to the classic, the musical version? Anton as Svengali? His friendship with Eve? His career, the collapse of his voice, training singers and his rudeness to the woman who had lessons for 24 years? At the nightclub, disgusted with the rock music? His sardonic comments? Interest in Zoe? Eve introducing them, the lessons, her initial hostility, her return? His interest, lessons and hard training, infatuation? Her proposal, his succumbing to her personality, the affair? The effect on him? Her records, his needing to he there? The discussion about the tour, his not wanting to go? The decision to go, supporting Zoe, his presence during the performance - and the irony that it was someone else? His attempts to make her stand on her own two feet? The falling out, the clash? His return, further students? The finding of somebody else in Zoe' place, the rubbing of his ear? Her visit to him, the planned marriage? The final close-up - and the process beginning again?
5. Jodie Foster as Zoe, at work, friendships, relationship with Johnny, the band, the opportunity to sing, perform for the agent? Her rock'nroll style, strident? Eve's interest, the phone call, Johnny persuading her to go? Her antagonism toward Anton? The drudgery of the lessons? His persuading her, changing her voice? Her success, the audition? The record - her anxiety, unable to sing without Anton's presence? The success of the record, looking at the jacket in the window, meeting Johnny, his asking for a job? Her relationship with him, discovering him with the girl in the apartment? The proposal to Anton, her falling in love, their living together, her wanting to be with him always? The prospect of the tour, her not wanting to go on it? Getting a job for Johnny? Her anxiety, singing and performance, looking at Anton - and her reaction when she discovered it was not he? The cooling of the relationship? The plan to get married, moving out, the return visit? Her future?
6. Eve as the New York agent, her ability to spot talent, her own personal style, her secretaries and boyfriends? Friendship with Anton? Listening to Zoe, discovering something in her? Taking her to Anton, the audition and her pressurizing, bargaining? Anxiousness about the record, the tour? Trying to support Anton? Portrait of an agent?
7. Johnny, the band, their ability to play, back-up? Johnny urging Zoe to go to the audition? With the girl in the room, Zoe's walking out? His job in the record shop, asking Zoe for a Job, playing with her as backup? The world, of the would be musicians?
8. The producers, the make-up company, buyouts and takeovers, auditions? The interest in Zoe, the record, impatience, Eve's pressure? Success?
9.The world of rock music, competitiveness, records, tours? Musical talent? Agents recognizing it? Teachers capitalising on it?
10. The theme of Svengali, the opening with Zoe under hypnosis, giving up cigarettes, her susceptibility, her abilities and potential, coming tinder the spell of Anton, not being able to perform without him, standing on her own feet?
