Svengali (1955)
- Starring:
- Hildegarde Neff, Donald Wolfit, (more)
- Director(s):
- Noel Langley
Synopsis of Svengali
In Svengali, the 1955 adaptation of George DuMaurier's classic novel Trilby, Donald Wolfit achieves the near-impossible: he out-hams John Barrymore, who'd played Svengali in the 1931 version. A last-minute replacement for the equally flamboyant Robert Newton, Wolfit pulls out all the stops as the scroungy, sinister musician/mesmerist who hypnotizes lovely artist's model Trilby (Hildegarde Neff) and transforms her into a world-famous singer. While under Svengali's spell, Trilby forgets all about "Little" Billy (Terence Morgan) the starving artist who loves her fervently. But Billy doesn't forget, and follows Svengali and Trilby all over the world. The film's best moment is the celebrated Covent Garden climax, wherein Svengali finally, and fatally, relaxes his hold on Trilby. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Complete Cast of Svengali
- Hildegarde Neff - Trilby O'Ferrall
- Terence Morgan - Billy Bagot
- Paul Rogers - Taffy
- Hubert Gregg - Durien
- Alfie Bass - Carrell
- Peter Illing - Police Inspector
- Hugh Cross - Dubose
- Richard Pearson - Lambert
- Neville Phillips
- Joan Heal
- Martin Boddey
- Donald Wolfit - Svengali
- Derek Bond - The Laird
- David Kossoff - Gecko
- Noel Purcell - Patrick O'Ferrall
- Harry Secombe - Barizel
- Joan Haythorne - Mrs. Bagot
- David Oxley - Dodor
- Arnold Bell
- Cyril Smith
- Marne Maitland
- Michael Craig - Zouzou
- Director(s):
- Noel Langley
- Writer(s):
- Noel Langley
- Producer(s):
- George Minter
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