Svengali
“He hypnotizes! He thrills...! Any woman caught in his spell must obey.”
Synopsis
A music maestro uses hypnotism on a young model he meets in Paris to make her both his muse and wife.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Svengali (1931) Classic Cult Horror Trailer with John Barrymore & Marian Marsh
Type: Clip • Published 2023-07-03
Top Cast
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John Barrymore
Svengali
Marian Marsh
Trilby O'Farrell
Donald Crisp
The Laird
Bramwell Fletcher
Billee
Carmel Myers
Madame Honorine
Luis Alberni
Gecko
Lumsden Hare
Monsieur Taffy
Paul Porcasi
Bonelli
Ferike Boros
Marta (uncredited)
Adrienne D'Ambricourt
Mme. Vinard (uncredited)
Yola d'Avril
Maid (uncredited)
Rose Dione
Trilby's Mother (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
May 22, 1931
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Archie Mayo
- Screenplay & Story
- J. Grubb Alexander
- Original Score
- David Mendoza
- Original Title
- Svengali
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- German, French, Italian, English
- Runtime
- 1h 21m
- Production Studios
- Warner Bros. Pictures, The Vitaphone Corporation
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Archie Mayo
J. Grubb Alexander, George du Maurier
David Mendoza
Barney McGill
William Holmes
Department Leadership Roster
Archie Mayo
Director
J. Grubb Alexander
Screenplay
Barney McGill
Director of Photography
Earl Luick
Costume Design
David Mendoza
Original Music Composer
William Holmes
Editor
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Svengali.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Svengali.
Mind Games
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Psychological-Thriller
Pre-Code Hollywood
Pre-Code Hollywood films, 1929 to 1934.
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Oscar Best Cinematography Nominees
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Frequently Asked Questions About Svengali
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Svengali about?
A music maestro uses hypnotism on a young model he meets in Paris to make her both his muse and wife.
Who directed Svengali?
Svengali was directed by Archie Mayo.
Who stars in Svengali?
The principal cast of Svengali includes John Barrymore, Marian Marsh, Donald Crisp, Bramwell Fletcher, Carmel Myers.
When was Svengali released and how long is it?
Svengali was released in 1931 with a total runtime of 1h 21m.
Who composed the musical score for Svengali?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Svengali was composed by David Mendoza.
Is Svengali based on a book or true story?
Svengali is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "George du Maurier".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Svengali?
Svengali holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).