Bella Donna

A slow-burning, exotic melodrama of manipulation and poison, tense and darkly romantic, with a theatrical, old-fashioned air.

Directed by

Robert Milton

Genres

Drama

Starring

Mary Ellis, John Stuart, Cedric Hardwicke

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.

How it feels

Dark, melancholic, tense and romantic. Measured and needs your attention.

About

Betrayal, obsession, deception, love

Content

Mild violence and sexual content. No gore or swearing.

Note

Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

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