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Svengali
A man hypnotizes a young woman into being an opera singer.
- Original title
- Svengali
- Language
- EN
- Country
- US,GB
- Budget
- —
- Revenue
- —
CinemaSerf
Nov 21, 2022 · via TMDB
A better example of over-acting you will struggle to find in this overly theatrical adaptation of George Du Maurier's 1894 novel "Trilby". Hildegard Knef is a young, impressionable, girl who falls under the spell of the almost Rasputin-esque Donald Wolfit in the title role. He hypnotises her to rid her of pesky headaches, and give her the voice of an angel - and soon she becomes an international star of the opera. Robert Newton was originally slated for the lead, but I can't imagine he could have done better than Wolfit, who has the maniacal look (eyes, especially) and pithy dialogue down to a T. The support from Terence Morgan - as her much younger beau "Billee Bagot", Paul Rogers, David Kossoff and the truly wonderful singing of Elisabeth Schwarzkopf keep this entertaining enough, but the staging and style are just to limiting to let this version of a really menacing and evocative story soar.
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
Hildegard Knef
Trilby O'Farrell
Donald Wolfit
Svengali
Terence Morgan
Billy Bagot
Derek Bond
Landlord
Alfie Bass
Carrell
Noel Purcell
Patrick O'Farrell
Jeremy Brett
Pierre
Paul Rogers
Taffy
David Kossoff
Gecko
Hubert Gregg
Durian
Harry Secombe
Barizel
Peter Illing
Police Inspector
Hugh Cross
Dubose
David Oxley
Dodor
Richard Pearson
Lambert
Michael Craig
Zou Zou
Neville Phillips
Contran
Martin Boddey
Doctor
Cyril Smith
Stage Manager
Marne Maitland
Stage Manager
Michael Hordern
Billy's Uncle
Alan Hume
Camera Operator
Noel Langley
Director
Noel Langley
Screenplay
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Le Cercle Rouge
Bob le Flambeur
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Moonlight Mile
Not Easily Broken
The Yellow Handkerchief
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Disappearing Acts
Blind
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Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between
Angel Eyes
The Truth About Emanuel
Sep 1, 1954
