Portrait of Jennie
|
List Price: Our Price: $6.97 You Save: $8.01 (53%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of Portrait of Jennie
Movie Review: One of the Best
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one of the all time classics, a great movie!Movie Review: Fans of Ghost and Mrs. Muir and Somewhere in Time will adore Portrait of Jennie
Summary: 4 Stars
Jennifer Jones (The Song of Bernadette) and Joseph Cotten star in Portrait of Jennie, a 1948 film that revolved around a painter's obsession with a beautiful, mysterious girl who seems to live more in the past than the present. Eben Adams (Cotten) is a washed-up painter on hard times and lacks inspiration until he meets Jennie (Jones) in a New York park. Jennie has an unusual way of speaking about past events as though they are current (referring to Germany's kaiser, and to theaters that had been demolished). Her fresh-faced beauty appeals to Adams, and Jennie makes the wish that he wait for her to grow up so that they can be together.
Jennie's sporadic appearances allow time for Eben to work on other commissions, and to research Jennie more carefully by interviewing people who had worked with her parents (famous high-wire circus performers). Inevitably, dark truths are uncovered that disturb Eben's "painting-perfect" romance with the soft-spoken, beautiful Jennie. His portrait of her is a testament to his love and brings him artistic fame. Eben is also introduced to Miss Spinney (Ethel Barrymore), a headstrong old maid who deals in paintings and who wants to see Eben produce something more spiritual. Other notable names include Lillian Gish as Mother Mary of Mercy, Cecil Kellaway as Matthews, and a young Nancy Davis Reagan in the art gallery.
Joseph Cotten is an engaging narrator, and his growing dependence on Jennie and his depression over Jennie's long absences is utterly believable (if a bit melodramatic). Jennifer Jones has more to work with here than in her first Oscar-winning role as Bernadette, although seeing a well-proportioned twentysomething trying to portray prepubescent innocence was a little bit creepy (see: Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz (Two-Disc Special Edition)). Her character ages rapidly both physically and psychologically, so Jones was able to display a range of emotions, from a childhood crush to deeper musings on the nature of love and faith. Some of the secondary characters suffer from disappearing Irish accents; others shamelessly (sometimes woodenly) overact.
The film follows several conventions of its time, and appears dated. The "special effects" are pretty standard; several scale models are used and a green tint is used for the final scenes. There are some beautifully dreamy shots of New York City, and the fabulous effect of having shots appear as though they were painted on canvas. The DVD transfer features some artifacts and print flaws. There are no extras to speak of. However, fans of time-travel romances The Ghost and Mrs. Muirand Somewhere in Time (Collector's Edition) will enjoy Portrait of Jennie, although the strongest film of this genre is undoubtedly The Ghost and Mrs. Muir. Despite its shortcomings, Portrait of Jennie is a pretty decent love story.
Movie Review: HAUNTED MASTERPIECE AN UNDERRATED CLASSIC
Summary: 4 Stars
"Portrait of Jennie" is the embodiment of ethereal supernatural melodrama at its very best. The film stars Joseph Cotton as disgruntled artist, Eben Adams. Disgusted at his inability to make inroads into the artistic community, Adams artistic sensibilities are castrated by gallery owner, Miss Spinney (Ethel Barrymore) who points out that there is no passion in his work. Disillusioned once more, Adams is all set to toss his fledgling career in the ash can when he suddenly comes in contact with the sprite, Jennie (Jennifer Jones). Though she too doesn't have much to say about Adams work, he suddenly becomes inspired by her and begins to sketch her portrait in Central Park. However, before he can finish, Jennie vanishes into thin air. Taken with the experience, Adams persists to draw Jennie from memory and consequently finds his muse. Throughout the film, Adams will repeatedly come in contact with the ghostly Jennie; each time she grows older than during their previous meetings. Not until Adams confronts an old nun, Mother Mary of Mercy (Lillian Gish) is the secret of Jennie finally revealed.
By 1948 David O. Selznick was fighting a losing war on a double front. His dreams of transforming his wife, Jennifer Jones into an actress, the stature of Garbo, had been met with increasing critical disdain. He was also by this point in his professional career well into a period of economic decline from which he and his studio would never recover. That "Portrait of Jennie" failed to find its audience at the box office suggests more of a post war cynicism for films with embellished romantic subplots - all of which had been highly successful and in great demand during Selznick's 30s tenure. However, at the time of its release it did nothing to alleviate Selznick's fiscal crisis.
MGM's DVD is rather impressive. The B&W picture exhibits a very nicely balanced gray scale with smooth, solid blacks and very clean whites. Age related artifacts are present throughout but do not distract. Some minor edge enhancement crops up but pixelization is kept to a minimum. Overall the picture will surely not disappoint. The audio is mono but more than adequate for a film of this vintage. There are no extras.
Movie Review: one of the most hauntingly beautiful romances
Summary: 4 Stars
"Where I come from nobody knows and where I am going everything goes. The wind blows, the sea flows, God knows. And where I am going, nobody knows..."
PORTRAIT OF JENNIE (filmed in 1949), is one of the most memorable Hollywood romances, boasting strong performances and a surprise twist ending. Based on the novel by Robert Nathan, it almost plays like a lost episode of "The Twilight Zone".
Eben Adams (Joseph Cotten) is a penniless painter, living hand to mouth in a boarding house and struggling with his inspiration. He finds a valuable ally in gallery owner Miss Spinney (Ethel Barrymore); but it's not until he meets a mysterious girl called Jennie Appleton (Jennifer Jones) that he begins to achieve true success. Painting Jennie's portrait becomes his main goal, but the situation becomes complicated as Jennie seems to get older each time she visits. Their friendship turns into love, but will Eben ever accept that Jennie's fate is already sealed?
This otherwordly romance, with it's time-traveling themes and delicate performances, is totally captivating viewing. Cotten and Jones are absolute perfection in the leads. The support cast includes Cecil Kellaway, David Wayne, Albert Sharpe, Lillian Gish, Florence Bates and Maude Simmons. The haunting, swirling musical score by Dimitri Tiomkin lifts themes from Debussy.
Watching this film again on DVD, I was reminded of one of Jennifer Jones' lines - "I hate for it to stop, because when will we ever have it again?". Fans of this delightful gem know that we'll always have Jennie...forever on DVD.
(Single-sided, single-layer disc)
Movie Review: Moody and distinctive
Summary: 4 Stars
I read the book when I was about 13 and fell in love with it - it was everything my fevered, romantic 13-year-old imagination hungered for. Having seen the movie for the first time quite a few years later, I have to say it doesn't seem as romantic as the book. There is not a lot of chemistry between Jennifer Jones and Joseph Cotten - she's too quirky, he's too much of a tortured artist. However, I love the mood of this film - very noir. The limited use of color is very - interesting, like they put a filter on the camera and washed the entire shot in the same color. In addition you have the fabulous Ethel Barrymore in a critical role. Next step is to reread the book and then maybe watch the movie again. They sure don't make 'em like this any more, and I mean that as a compliment.