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Bella Donna

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.

Top Cast

  • Mary Ellis

    Mary Ellis

    Mary Chepstow Amine

  • John Stuart

    John Stuart

    Nigel Armine

  • Cedric Hardwicke

    Cedric Hardwicke

    Dr. Meyer Isaacson

  • Conrad Veidt

    Conrad Veidt

    Mahmoud Baroudi

  • Jeanne Stuart

    Jeanne Stuart

    Lady Zoe Harwich

  • Rodney Millington

    Rodney Millington

    Ibrahim Achmed

  • Eve South

    Eve South

    The Dancing Girl

  • Michael Shepley

    Michael Shepley

    Dr. Baring-Hartley

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.

Rating

3.8 / 10
4 Reviews
0 Popular

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