Bella Donna (1934)

  • NR
  • 12/11/1934 (US)
  • Drama
  • 1h 31m

Overview

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.

Robert Milton

Director

Vera Allinson

Writer

H. Fowler Mear

Writer

James B. Fagan

Writer

Cast

Mary Ellis's headshot

Mary Ellis

Mary Chepstow Amine
John Stuart's headshot

John Stuart

Nigel Armine
Cedric Hardwicke's headshot

Cedric Hardwicke

Dr. Meyer Isaacson
Conrad Veidt's headshot

Conrad Veidt

Mahmoud Baroudi
Jeanne Stuart's headshot

Jeanne Stuart

Lady Zoe Harwich
Rodney Millington's headshot

Rodney Millington

Ibrahim Achmed
Eve South's headshot

Eve South

The Dancing Girl
Michael Shepley's headshot

Michael Shepley

Dr. Baring-Hartley

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