Movie review - "Svengali" (1931) **

John Barrymore hams his arse off as the famous impresario who dazzles a young woman and makes her an opera star. Carmel Myers is the first one - but she rejects him when she won't give him money. So then he goes for Marian Marsh, with whom he falls in love - although he falls for super wet Bramwell Fletcher (who ironically would marry Barrymore's daughter Diana). It's like a vampire movie in many regards - I think we're meant to hope that Marsh goes for Fletcher but he's just as possessive in his own way. Barrymore barnstorms his way around. There's surprisingly little opera singing and some stiff direction.