Bella Donna (1934)

Bella Donna (1934)

1934-12-11 91 Min. PG-13
3.5 2 votes

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.

Cast

Mary Ellis is Mary Chepstow Amine
Mary Chepstow Amine
John Stuart is Nigel Armine
Nigel Armine
Cedric Hardwicke is Dr. Meyer Isaacson
Dr. Meyer Isaacson
Conrad Veidt is Mahmoud Baroudi
Mahmoud Baroudi
Jeanne Stuart is Lady Zoe Harwich
Lady Zoe Harwich
Rodney Millington is Ibrahim Achmed
Ibrahim Achmed
Eve South is The Dancing Girl
The Dancing Girl
Michael Shepley is Dr. Baring-Hartley
Dr. Baring-Hartley