Through hypnotism and telepathic mind control, a sinister music maestro (John Barrymore) controls the singing voice, but not the heart, of Trilby O'Farrell, (Marian Marsh) the woman he loves.
Amazingly, this film was nominated for two Academy Awards, one for Best Art Direction by Polish-born Anton Grot, and one for Best Cinematography by Barney "Chick" McGill (who worked at Warner Brothers from 1927 to 1933 before dying prematurely at age 51). That is pretty impressive for what is basically a horror film. And while it has been remade many times, it seems the original has more or less been forgotten -- it deserves a deluxe release!
Director Archie Mayo was quite prolific from the 1920s through the 1940s, and this has to be one of his better films, though "A Night in Casablanca" (1946) with the Marx Brothers is worth singling out.
Barrymore is incredible, his Svengali being a very Rasputinesque figure that uses hypnotism for mind control... but he mixes obsession and love with a dangerous twist. I can see how this man has become a legend and his family has stayed at the top of Hollywood for generations.
Amazingly, this film was nominated for two Academy Awards, one for Best Art Direction by Polish-born Anton Grot, and one for Best Cinematography by Barney "Chick" McGill (who worked at Warner Brothers from 1927 to 1933 before dying prematurely at age 51). That is pretty impressive for what is basically a horror film. And while it has been remade many times, it seems the original has more or less been forgotten -- it deserves a deluxe release!
Director Archie Mayo was quite prolific from the 1920s through the 1940s, and this has to be one of his better films, though "A Night in Casablanca" (1946) with the Marx Brothers is worth singling out.
Barrymore is incredible, his Svengali being a very Rasputinesque figure that uses hypnotism for mind control... but he mixes obsession and love with a dangerous twist. I can see how this man has become a legend and his family has stayed at the top of Hollywood for generations.