Svengali (1931)

Svengali (John Barrymore) is a singing teacher, pianist and general music impresario living in Paris. He has special talents: he is able to mesmerize others through his music and through his strong hypnotic powers. He uses these talents specifically to seduce his female students for his own evil monetary gains. He discards them just as easily when they are no longer of use to him. After he hears her sing (she isn't the greatest) and sees her, Svengali becomes infatuated with young model Trilby O'Farrell (Marian Marsh) whom he meets in the studio of some artist colleagues. One of those artists, young Brit Billie (Bramwell Fletcher), and Trilby fall in love and plan to marry. But after Billie and Trilby have a falling-out of sorts, Trilby runs away apparently to commit suicide. Concurrently, Svengali disappears. He resurfaces five years later, married to his singing protegee, who performs with him in concerts. Billie learns that Madame Svengali is Trilby and vows to follow the pair to save Trilby from whatever special power Svengali holds over her. Knowing that Billie is after them, Svengali has his own plans for his and Trilby's eternity.