Bella Donna

Story

Synopsis

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.

Director

Robert Milton

Writers

Vera Allinson, Robert Hichens, H. Fowler Mear

Language

English

Release date

11 December 1934

Ensemble

Cast

• 

  Mary Ellis

  Mary Chepstow Amine

• 

  John Stuart

  Nigel Armine

• 

  Cedric Hardwicke

  Dr. Meyer Isaacson

• 

  Conrad Veidt

  Mahmoud Baroudi

• 

  Jeanne Stuart

  Lady Zoe Harwich

• Rodney Millington

  Ibrahim Achmed

• Eve South

  The Dancing Girl

• 

  Michael Shepley

  Dr. Baring-Hartley