Svengali (1983 film)

Last updated
Svengali
GenreDrama
Romance
Based on Trilby
1894 novel
by George du Maurier
Written byFrank Cucci
Charles Dennis
George du Maurier
Directed by Anthony Harvey
Starring Peter O'Toole
Jodie Foster
Music by John Barry
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producerRobert A. Halmi
Producer Robert Halmi Sr.
Production location New York City
CinematographyLarry Pizer
EditorNorman Gay
Running time100 minutes
Production companyRobert Halmi
Budget$2 million [1]
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseMarch 9, 1983 (1983-03-09)

Svengali is a 1983 American television film based on the 1894 novel Trilby by George du Maurier. [2] [3]

Contents

Plot

Cast

Production

Mitchell Galin helped develop the film. He was working for the producer, read the script, felt it was promising but that it needed a rewrite. He received $10,000 for a new writer and hired Frank Cucci. Galin told Cucci to write the role for Peter O'Toole and that who wound up being cast. [4]

Filming took place over 20 days. Shortly after filming, director Anthony Harvey had a near-fatal car crash. "I hadn't been in hospital but a week," he says, "when CBS started cutting the movie, seriously harming it. All the more fragile moments are gone and so are the exterior scenes that opened up the story." [1]

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References

  1. 1 2 NY CLIPS It isn't all fun in videoland O'Toole, Lawrence. The Globe and Mail 4 Mar 1983: E.3.
  2. O, John J. (1983-03-09). "TV MOVIE". The New York Times . Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  3. "Svengali". cinephilia. Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  4. "Bonus Episode: Interview with Mitchell Galin, Producer of CREEPSHOW 2". New World Pictures Podcast. 21 April 2022.