Bella Donna (1934) + Temptation (1946) DVD-R

Get the original film, Bella Donna (1934), and the remake, Temptation (1946), for 20% off their individual prices!

BELLA DONNA (1934)

Starring Mary Ellis, John Stuart, Cedric Hardwicke, Conrad Veidt, Jeanne
Stuart
Directed by Robert Milton

Print: black/white
Runtime: 91 min.
Genre: drama
Print Quality: B

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.

TEMPTATION (1946)

Starring Merle Oberon, George Brent, Charles Korvin, Paul Lukas, Lenore
Ulric
Directed by Irving Pichel

Print: black/white
Runtime: 98 min.
Genre: drama
Print Quality: B

Temptation is an appropriately moody romantic melodrama, providing a
golden opportunity for some memorable histrionics by star Merle Oberon.
Set in Egypt (courtesy of the Universal backlot), the film casts Oberon as
Ruby, the new wife of wealthy archaeologist Nigel (George Brent).
Unbeknownst to her husband, Ruby has had quite a checkered past,
involving several divorces and gosh only knows how many extramarital
affairs. While Nigel is out digging up an ancient mummy, Ruby takes up
with Baroudi (Charles Korvin), a slick but impoverished Egyptian
opportunist. When Baroudi threatens to leave Ruby unless she puts her
husband out of the way, she methodically begins to poison the unwitting
Nigel. Only in the last few minutes does Ruby realize that she's throwing
her life away — not to mention her husband's — for a no-good heel,
setting the stage for a spectacular revenge-and-retribution finale.
Temptation was International Pictures' final production before its merger
with Universal.