Svengali

Two of the greatest - playing together. They are doing it so good, that I can remember THEM; not especially the plot in the movie; but Toole and Forster WAUW! Their emotions became so real!

Made for TV, the 1983 version of "Svengali" tells the tale of Zoe Alexander (Jodie Foster) being discovered singing at a night club in New York City. The talent scout invests in her by giving her free singing lessons with Anton Bosnyak, a top-of-the-line singing coach (Peter O'Toole). He's difficult and demanding, but he's the best at what he does and Zoe eventually experiences success, but she also falls for her singing coach, even though he's 28 years older than her! The ages of the characters pretty much match the ages of the actors, since Jodie (Zoe) was 20 and O'Toole (Anton) was 50 at the time of filming.

Some people criticize this film as unintentionally funny because Jodie does her own singing and it doesn't really change that much over the course of the film (in fact, she sounds best at the beginning with the bar band) and also because of O'Toole's over-the-top performance. It didn't strike me as funny, however, because it's all about the characters, the story and the acting, not how good Jodie sings or how eccentric Anton is. Besides, it's a made-for-TV movie for crying out loud.

I'm not a big fan of either Foster or O'Toole -- I can take 'em or leave 'em -- but who can deny their acting skills? These are acting giants and here they pull off two very tough roles. With difficult parts like these everything has to be right; if the written dialogue is bad the actors won't be able to make their characters believable, but I found both Zoe and Anton believable. In fact, Anton's a great offbeat character. What's more, I enjoyed Anton & Zoe's relationship arc and I didn't think what ultimately happens was going to happen. So the film's not predictable, which is always good.

On the downside, Zoe's hit and the style of music her band plays are too bland to be believable. So what else is new? (In other words, if the songs/music were really that awesome they wouldn't be using them for a TV movie; they'd be real-life hits).

BOTTOM LINE: This 1983 version of "Svengali" is a solid drama and better than similarly-themed theatrical releases like "The Rose." Foster and O'Toole pull off two tough roles and make their characters come alive. O'Toole in particular is outstanding. Plus, the topic of falling for a too-young woman or too-old man is always a fascinating subject.

The film was shot in New York City and runs 100 minutes.

GRADE: B

Peter O'Toole has played Henry Higgins in TV's version of Pygmalion (My fair lady). Svengali is almost exactly the same story, except that instead of teaching "Eliza" how to speak, he teaches "Zoe" how to sing. O'Toole displays a lot of the brilliance he has as an actor but the performance is no way close to the one in Lawrence of Arabia -- but then again, there was David Lean directing LOA. O'Toole is an excellent character Actor. The music in the film too is quite good, except that Jodie Foster's song that brings her fame in the movie is too overplayed. In the beginning it's a nice tune and her voice is even dare I say pretty good! Worth seeing once at least.

There are few things more entertaining then an unintentionally funny film. Very few. Fewer still are films that fall into this category. If a film is trying to be funny it is not unintentional now is it? This was supposed to be serious. This starred Peter O'toole and of course Ms. Foster. The two of them were still reeling from Calligula and Hinkley respectively and therefore were in no position to turn down work, at least that is what I keep telling myself. Svengali is the story of a singer, a female singer in a band called, get this "The restless nights." A talent scout is in the audience with the big time singing instructor (Otoole) when the nights come on, fronted by Jodie Foster, in all her glory. She sings. She really sings. No really...it's her...not someone else, she is belting out a number that must be heard to be believed, I will spare you the gory details of the lyrics, it suffices to say they were far from great. O'toole takes on the challenge of teaching the little songbird to sing. He works and works and finally says "tell the whole city" they run to the roof of the building and Foster sings on the roof. I am not making this up. She sings. EXACTLY THE SAME WAY SHE HAS BEEN SINGING THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE OF THE FILM!!! Not one note has changed, but never mind that. Oh god..she hits number one...she starts an affair with Peter O'toole, her X boyfriend quips "I didn't know you were into wrinkles" AAAAAARRRRGHHHH!!!!! I am giving this film 10 stars, just like Showgirls. Foster is the greatest film actress ever. Ever Ever. This is one of the greatest bad films ever.....Ever....Ever....You just gotta see this...ya just gotta. PS look for Holly Hunter in this, if you can spot her E-mail me, you need to get a life.

Most of the people that have seen it, will not have anything bad to say about the performances of the leading actors. Yet, it is obvious that Foster cannot sing, and that O'Toole is being Bela Lugosi, the star of the early Dracula films.

Nevertheless, it is not their fault if in the late seventies they were asked to star in such a tremendously average and weak movie about a young rock star in the making whose mentor is a tough Hungarian and former musical star. Eventually, the 50 year old becomes romantically involved with the 22 year old, and I hate the way in all these movies in the end they actually do 'make it' as they say in the film, but there is never just a strong admiration or platonic love. It would have kept O'Toole's character interesting, before it too crumbles down and becomes a sad little human being.

Anyways, it's free on youtube somewhere so check it out there, though mind you, you could be bored to hell with, particularly every time O'Toole is away from the action.