Svengali (1931)

John Barrymore stars in the cinematic adaptation of famous late 19th century horror novel "Trilbey" in the film Svengali. The novel was considered the second best selling novel of its time, under the best selling Bram Stoker's "Dracula," and would warrant a film adaptation especially after the success of Universal Pictures Dracula earlier in 1931. The every busy and well known John Barrymore, of the famous acting Barrymore family, would bring a grand presence to the character Svengali, a strange musical genius with the power of hypnosis that would enslave those he desired most. Despite the fact the original story was named after the character Trilbey, the tragic woman upon which the story revolves around, it would be simple to see why the title would be changed to accommodate the character that carries the weight of the story and is played by the headlining star of the film.

Svengali is poor, lanky Jewish musical composer that prays off the money of his clients and the friends that live nearby who happen to be struggling artists as well, painters to be exact. When the beautiful young model Trilbey enters the lives of the men, each take a liking to her. The youngest of the painters, Billie, becomes romantically evolved with her, but Svengali becomes absolutely overwelled by her beauty. With his hypnotic powers Svengali has Trilbey leave a suicide note, and secerately has her leave with him to become the star of his orchestrated operatic presentation, leaving the poor Billie heartbroken. In time Svengali and Trilbey marry simply because she is under his trance with Svengali becoming a highly successful composer. While on tour Billie becomes aware of the truth of Trilbey and stalks Svengali hoping Trilbey will fall out of her trance. Although desperately wanting Trilbey's effection Svengali realizes that he only controls Trilbey, but does not have what he really wishes for, her heart. Upon Svengali's final show where he agrees to let go of Trilbey after her performance, Svengali suddenly dies of a heart attack taking the life of Trilbey with him as she is still under his power.

John Barrymore was a wonderful actor playing many roles including in that of horror films as seen in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. In this picture he would play this strange Jewish character with eerie hypnotic powers. The power of hypnosis is played out very much like Bella Lugosi's Dracula with well lit eyes with a darkened face as the lighting. Hear we see the parallel between the two pictures. It is interesting to point out that the character/villain is Jewish. Whether or not that it was intentional as a anti-Semitic thought is not well known. Barrymore performs Svengali as having a Jewish accent and the character is greedy always looking to take never to give. Nothing is said about the Jewish culture, but it is interesting to note since it is not very often we see a Jewish character in Hollywood pictures, an industry ran by movie moguls that happen to be of Jewish backgrounds.

The film would be remade in 1954 and again in 1983 as a made for TV movie.This picture would be seen as one of the years best, but not near as successful as Universal's Dracula. The film however, probably with the help of the recognition of have a big star like Barrymore headlining the picture, would be nominated for two Academy Awards, although for best art direction and best cinematography. The best of the cinematography can be seem in a shot the utilizes the art direction where the shot begins on a close up of Svegali's eyes with the camera pulling out, continuing to pull out through a window away for the apartment across the neighborhood through the window of Trilbey as we see her sleeping peacefully. This would be a shot masterfully done and never seen before, and it was done smoothly. The cinematography of just that shot is worth noting.

The film may not be the most well known, but tends to leave an impact on a few that do see it. Though listed as a horror, it is nothing like the horrors that would come to theaters in the 70s, 80s, or 90s. The horrors of the 30s were supernatural thrillers with people or creatures with powers that controlled things that were not natural. This frightened audiences of that time and would find a cult following though the years. Though not well know the story would live on in the various remakes in the decades to come.