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RomanceDramaThriller

Svengali

-

A man hypnotizes a young woman into being an opera singer.

Release Date : 1954-09-01

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : George Minter Productions

Production Country : United Kingdom

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Hildegard Knef

Character Name : Trilby O'Farrell

Original Name : Hildegard Knef

Gender : Female

Donald Wolfit

Character Name : Svengali

Original Name : Donald Wolfit

Gender : Male

Terence Morgan

Character Name : Billy Bagot

Original Name : Terence Morgan

Gender : Male

Derek Bond

Character Name : Landlord

Original Name : Derek Bond

Gender : Male

Alfie Bass

Character Name : Carrell

Original Name : Alfie Bass

Gender : Male

Noel Purcell

Character Name : Patrick O'Farrell

Original Name : Noel Purcell

Gender : Male

Jeremy Brett

Character Name : Pierre

Original Name : Jeremy Brett

Gender : Male

Paul Rogers

Character Name : Taffy

Original Name : Paul Rogers

Gender : Male

David Kossoff

Character Name : Gecko

Original Name : David Kossoff

Gender : Male

Hubert Gregg

Character Name : Durian

Original Name : Hubert Gregg

Gender : Male

Harry Secombe

Character Name : Barizel

Original Name : Harry Secombe

Gender : Male

Peter Illing

Character Name : Police Inspector

Original Name : Peter Illing

Gender : Male

Joan Haythorne

Character Name : Mrs. Bagot

Original Name : Joan Haythorne

Gender : Female

Hugh Cross

Character Name : Dubose

Original Name : Hugh Cross

Gender : Male

David Oxley

Character Name : Dodor

Original Name : David Oxley

Gender : Male

Richard Pearson

Character Name : Lambert

Original Name : Richard Pearson

Gender : Male

Toots Pounds

Character Name : Mama Martin

Original Name : Toots Pounds

Gender : Female

Michael Craig

Character Name : Zou Zou

Original Name : Michael Craig

Gender : Male

Neville Phillips

Character Name : Contran

Original Name : Neville Phillips

Gender : Male

Martin Boddey

Character Name : Doctor

Original Name : Martin Boddey

Gender : Male

Rica Fox

Character Name : Dresser

Original Name : Rica Fox

Gender : Female

Joan Heal

Character Name : Barmaid

Original Name : Joan Heal

Gender : Female

Arnold Bell

Character Name : Tout

Original Name : Arnold Bell

Gender : Male

Cyril Smith

Character Name : Stage Manager

Original Name : Cyril Smith

Gender : Male

Marne Maitland

Character Name : Stage Manager

Original Name : Marne Maitland

Gender : Male

Michael Hordern

Character Name : Billy's Uncle

Original Name : Michael Hordern

Gender : Male

Elisabeth Schwarzkopf

Character Name : Trilby O'Ferrall (singing voice)

Original Name : Elisabeth Schwarzkopf

Gender : Female

Reviews

C

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2022-11-21

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.