Bella Donna (1934): cast, story & where to watch
1934 · Film · ★ 3.5
Released in 1934, Bella Donna is a drama film directed by Robert Milton, running about 91 minutes.
What it’s about. 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.
Who’s in it. Bella Donna stars Mary Ellis as Mary Chepstow Amine, John Stuart as Nigel Armine, Cedric Hardwicke as Dr. Meyer Isaacson and Conrad Veidt as Mahmoud Baroudi, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 3.5/10, Bella Donna has proved divisive with audiences.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Bella Donna page.
If you liked it. Fans of Bella Donna tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Bella Donna (1934)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for Bella Donna change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is Bella Donna worth watching?
- Bella Donna holds an audience score of 3.5 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Bella Donna?
- Bella Donna stars Mary Ellis, John Stuart, Cedric Hardwicke, Conrad Veidt and Jeanne Stuart.
- When was Bella Donna released?
- Bella Donna was released in 1934, with a runtime of about 91 minutes.