SVENGALI

US, 1931, 81 minutes, Black and white.
John Barrymore, Marian Marsh, Luis Alberni, Lumsden Hare, Donald Crisp, Paul Porcasi.
Directed by Archie Mayo.

Svengali is based on the novel by George du Maurier, the story of an eccentric Polish emigre in Paris in the 1890s, his poverty, but his power of music and of hypnotism, especially over the singer Trilby. This is a very creaky version of the novel from the early sound period. It is very much studio-based, the sets resembling those of the German films of the '30s. However, it is of interest for the performance by John Barrymore as Svengali. It is an over-the-top performance, relying on the techniques of stage and silent films. Audiences familiar with Barrymore's later films will see a lot of his idiosyncratic mannerisms, especially with his eyes and facial expressions to the fore in this film. He endows Svengali with a kind of Rasputin presence - and was to play Rasputin in the film only a few years later.

Marian Marsh is Trilby. Amongst the supporting cast is a rather younger Donald Crisp (How Green Was My Valley, Hills of Home and so many other films).

The film is of interest for the photography, Oscar-nominated in 1931), the sets, the stars. It paints a picture of poverty in Paris, life among the artists, especially the painters and musicians. It focuses on Svengali's eyes and his power of hypnotism. There is also a sketch of his eccentric assistant, Gekko.

Trilby, under the spell of Svengali, becomes a famous singer, Svengali hypnotises Trilby so that she may love him. Together they have a career around Europe and gain great wealth. However, Svengali begins to fall ill, concerts in Naples are cancelled. Trilby is reduced to singing in cafes, still under the spell of Svengali. The English artist who has always loved her, pursues her to the end. In a cafe, Svengali collapses and dying, still weaves his power over Trilby. She dies with him, the English artist wanting her to love him - but in her final breath she says `Svengali'.

Direction is by Archie Mayo, who was to direct so many films during the '30s and into the '40s.

Subsequent versions, perhaps closer to the novel, had Donald Wolfit as Svengali and Hildegarde Neff as Trilby (Britain 1954); there was a telemovie version in the mid-`80s with Peter O'Toole and Jodie Foster.