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Svengali (1954 film)
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Wikipedia article
'Svengali' is a 1954 British drama film directed by Noel Langley and starring Hildegard Knef, Donald Wolfit and Terence Morgan. A svengali hypnotises an artist's model into becoming a great opera singer, but she struggles to escape from his powers. It was based on the 1894 novel 'Trilby' by George du Maurier. The film was made at Walton Studios near London with sets designed by the art director Frederick Pusey and costumes by Beatrice Dawson. It was shot in Eastmancolor. It was picked up for distribution in the United States by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
Donald Wolfit was a last-minute replacement for actor Robert Newton, who left three weeks into filming and can still be seen in some long shots. Amongst the end credits is the acknowledgement: "The producer expresses his grateful appreciation for the magnificent singing voice of Madame Elizabeth Schwarzkopf."
Synopsis
After being fired from working as a barmaid in Paris bar, Trilby O'Ferrall is hired by the sculptor Durian as a model. She encounters three British painters living next door, including the sensitive Billy Bagot with whom she gradually falls in love. She also encounters the street musician Svengali, but does not much like him. Billy wants to marry Trilby, but his wealthy family do not approve. He is also distressed when he discovers her posing nude for a class of art students. He is knocked down in the street by a carriage and suffers from ill health, returning to London.
In the meantime, Svengali takes control of Trilby's life, after he is able to cure her of a headache. Despite the fact that previously she has only been able to badly sing the parlour song "Alice, Where Art Thou?" which she learnt from her Irish father, he now coaches her and transforms her into a magnificent opera singer by his mesmerising technique. She becomes an international success, performing in capitals across Europe and led by the domineering Svengali she forgets Billy completely. However, when he attends a performance of hers in London, the spell is shattered and instead of performing classical opera to the expectant crowd she sings "Alice, Where Are Thou?" in her old voice.
Cast
* Hildegard Knef as Trilby O'Ferrall
* Donald Wolfit as Svengali
* Terence Morgan as Billy Bagot
* Derek Bond as The Laird
* Paul Rogers as Taffy
* David Kossoff as Gecko
* Hubert Gregg as Durian
* Noel Purcell as Patrick O'Ferrall
* Alfie Bass as Carrell
* Harry Secombe as Barizel
* Peter Illing as Police Inspector
* Joan Haythorne as Mrs. Bagot
* Hugh Cross as Dubose
* David Oxley as Dodor
* Richard Pearson as Lambert
* Michael Craig as Zouzou
* Arnold Bell as Tout
* Martin Boddey as Doctor
* Neville Phillips as Contran
* Rica Fox as Dresser
* Toots Pounds as Mama Martin
* Joan Heal as Barmaid
* Cyril Smith as 1st Stage Manager
* Marne Maitland as 2nd Stage Manager
* Jeremy Brett as Pierre
* Michael Hordern as Billy's Uncle
* Aileen Lewis as Covent Garden Patron
* Elisabeth Schwarzkopf as Trilby O'Ferrall (singing voice)
Critical reception
Under the heading, "Sixth Filming of Novel Fails to Hypnotize", 'The New York Times' critic described the film as "a stylized curio that seems out of place in the atomic age...as old-fashioned as side whiskers and bustles".
'DVD Talk', comparing it to the 1931 John Barrymore version posited that "the 1954 British film fleshes out the characters of Trilby and Billy considerably and adds a lot of color and subtlety, but the results suggest that a more flamboyant approach might have worked better than the lush but tame version that resulted. The Eastmancolor production aims for an evocative atmosphere akin to John Huston's gorgeous Moulin Rouge (1952), photographed in Technicolor by Oswald Morris. 'Svengali' was made on a fraction of that film's budget, though does look handsome for what it is."
References
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