Svengali
Encyclopedia
Svengali is a fictional character of George du Maurier
's 1894 novel Trilby
. Svengali "would either fawn or bully and could be grossly impertinent. He had a kind of cynical humour that was more offensive than amusing and always laughed at the wrong thing, at the wrong time, in the wrong place. And his laughter was always derisive and full of malice".
In the novel, Svengali transforms Trilby into a great singer by using hypnosis. Unable to perform without Svengali's help, Trilby becomes entranced. The novel is less a discussion of the relationship between Svengali and Trilby than an evocation of "bohemian
" Paris
during the 1850s.
The word "svengali", has come to be used as a common noun referring to a person who, with evil intent, controls another person by persuasion or deceit. The Svengali may use pseudo-kindness to get the other person to do what the Svengali desires. The word is also used frequently for any kind of coach who dominates a performer or for an unaccountable but influential adviser who has control of a politician or candidate.
The character was portrayed by many silent movie versions of the story and by talking movies, played by John Barrymore
in a 1931 movie of the same name
, by Donald Wolfit
in a 1954 version
in Technicolor
, and by Peter O'Toole
in a 1983 made-for-television modernized version, also in colour, co-featuring Jodie Foster
. In the 1983 movie, the names of the characters were changed except for "Svengali", which had become famous.
The story has also been adapted into a ballet, featuring Svengali's protegé as a dancer instead of a singer. Choreographed by Mark Godden for the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, world premiere Oct. 19, 2011.
'Svengali' is also the title and subject of a song by singer-songwriter Steve Taylor, from his album "I Predict 1990".
The name Svengali is used for the Svengali deck, a trick card deck used by card magicians.
George du Maurier
George Louis Palmella Busson du Maurier was a French-born British cartoonist and author, known for his cartoons in Punch and also for his novel Trilby. He was the father of actor Gerald du Maurier and grandfather of the writers Angela du Maurier and Dame Daphne du Maurier...
's 1894 novel Trilby
Trilby (novel)
Trilby is a novel by George du Maurier and one of the most popular novels of its time, perhaps the second best selling novel of the Fin de siècle after Bram Stoker's Dracula. Published serially in Harper's Monthly in 1894, it was published in book form in 1895 and sold 200,000 copies in the United...
. Svengali "would either fawn or bully and could be grossly impertinent. He had a kind of cynical humour that was more offensive than amusing and always laughed at the wrong thing, at the wrong time, in the wrong place. And his laughter was always derisive and full of malice".
In the novel, Svengali transforms Trilby into a great singer by using hypnosis. Unable to perform without Svengali's help, Trilby becomes entranced. The novel is less a discussion of the relationship between Svengali and Trilby than an evocation of "bohemian
Bohemianism
Bohemianism is the practice of an unconventional lifestyle, often in the company of like-minded people, with few permanent ties, involving musical, artistic or literary pursuits...
" Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
during the 1850s.
The word "svengali", has come to be used as a common noun referring to a person who, with evil intent, controls another person by persuasion or deceit. The Svengali may use pseudo-kindness to get the other person to do what the Svengali desires. The word is also used frequently for any kind of coach who dominates a performer or for an unaccountable but influential adviser who has control of a politician or candidate.
The character was portrayed by many silent movie versions of the story and by talking movies, played by John Barrymore
John Barrymore
John Sidney Blyth , better known as John Barrymore, was an acclaimed American actor. He first gained fame as a handsome stage actor in light comedy, then high drama and culminating in groundbreaking portrayals in Shakespearean plays Hamlet and Richard III...
in a 1931 movie of the same name
Svengali (1931 film)
Svengali is a drama/horror film starring John Barrymore, Marian Marsh, and Bramwell Fletcher, directed by Archie Mayo, written by J. Grubb Alexander, and released by Warner Brothers. It is based on the gothic horror novel Trilby by George du Maurier. The film was originally released on May 22, 1931...
, by Donald Wolfit
Donald Wolfit
Sir Donald Wolfit, KBE was a well-known English actor-manager.-Biography:Wolfit, who was "Woolfitt" at birth was born at New Balderton, near Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire and attended the Magnus Grammar School and made his stage début in 1920...
in a 1954 version
Svengali (1954 film)
Svengali is a 1954 British drama film directed by Noel Langley and starring Hildegard Knef, Donald Wolfit and Terence Morgan. A svengali hypnotises an artist's model into becoming a great opera singer, but she struggles to escape from his powers. It was based on a novel by George Du Maurier.-Cast:*...
in Technicolor
Technicolor
Technicolor is a color motion picture process invented in 1916 and improved over several decades.It was the second major process, after Britain's Kinemacolor, and the most widely used color process in Hollywood from 1922 to 1952...
, and by Peter O'Toole
Peter O'Toole
Peter Seamus Lorcan O'Toole is an Irish actor of stage and screen. O'Toole achieved stardom in 1962 playing T. E. Lawrence in Lawrence of Arabia, and then went on to become a highly-honoured film and stage actor. He has been nominated for eight Academy Awards, and holds the record for most...
in a 1983 made-for-television modernized version, also in colour, co-featuring Jodie Foster
Jodie Foster
Alicia Christian "Jodie" Foster is an American actress, film director, producer as well as a former child actress....
. In the 1983 movie, the names of the characters were changed except for "Svengali", which had become famous.
The story has also been adapted into a ballet, featuring Svengali's protegé as a dancer instead of a singer. Choreographed by Mark Godden for the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, world premiere Oct. 19, 2011.
'Svengali' is also the title and subject of a song by singer-songwriter Steve Taylor, from his album "I Predict 1990".
The name Svengali is used for the Svengali deck, a trick card deck used by card magicians.