Bella Donna (1934)
1h 31m
Running Time
December 11, 1934Release Date
Plot.
That old theatrical war-horse Bella Donna (previously filmed in America by Alla Nazimova) was resurrected by Britain's Twickenham Studios in 1934. Conrad Veidt stars as sinister Egyptian Mahmoud Baroundi, who even before the film gets under way has left a long trail of ruined women behind him. His latest victim is American girl Mona Chepstow (Mary Ellis), whom Baroundi treats like dirt and makes her like it. The plot centers around a murder by poison, as evidenced by the film's deliberately exotic title. Critics in 1934 praised newcomer Mary Ellis for underplaying her role, but many film fans preferred Nazimova's arm-waving histrionics in the earlier version.
Where to Watch.
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This Movie Is About.
Cast & Crew.
Mary Ellis
Mary Chepstow Amine
John Stuart
Nigel Armine
Cedric Hardwicke
Dr. Meyer Isaacson
Jeanne Stuart
Lady Zoe Harwich
Conrad Veidt
Mahmoud Baroudi
Rodney Millington
Ibrahim Achmed
Robert Milton
Director
Vera Allinson
Writer
Details.
Wiki.
Bella Donna is a 1934 British drama film directed by Robert Milton and starring Conrad Veidt, Mary Ellis and Cedric Hardwicke. The film is based on the 1909 novel Bella Donna by Robert Hichens which had previously been made into a 1923 American silent film Bella Donna starring Pola Negri. A further American adaptation Temptation starring Merle Oberon was produced in 1946.
The film's art direction was by James A. Carter. It was made at Twickenham Studios. It is still extant unlike a number of Twickenham's productions from the decade.