The Picture of Dorian Gray
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Movie Reviews of The Picture of Dorian Gray
Movie Review: terrific acting wonderful story
Summary: 5 Stars
I just loved this movie. I especially loved George Sanders in this film. This story by Wilde is so thought provoking. I have watched it again and again.Movie Review: Let's have some fun with this.
Summary: 4 Stars
The character, Lord Henry (George Sanders) may represent the author, Oscar Wilde. I think he is Satan. Sanders is a personal favorite of mine & he doesn't disappoint here. He insinuates himself with Dorian Gray (Hurd Hatfield) who is getting his portrait done by his best friend Basil. Dorain is convinced that if he beseeches the Cat God "Bastet" he will be granted eternal youth & beauty. Without fully realizing it, he has sold his soul. So begins his life of immorality, leaving misery & death in his wake. Everyone he touches it seems comes to grief. Everyone except Lord Henry who looks on approvingly. The decades pass & Dorain retains his youth. Even Lord Henry seems to age. The portrait having been locked up & hidden is showing Dorian's age. The movie is black & white except for a few specific scenes. We don't see the portrait age of course, that would kill the suspense at the end. Angela Landsbury & Donna Reed have small but important parts as two women in Dorian's life. This is a fine adaptation of Oscar Wilde's only novel.Movie Review: Oscar Wilde's Suspense Classic "The Picture of Dorian Gray"
Summary: 5 Stars
An Aristocratic man, innocently young and handsome Dorian Gray (Hurd Hatfield) becomes enchanted by an Egyptian goddess ("Bastet" the cat god) that supposedly has the power to grant longevity and youth. Dorian has an ideal and decides to have his portrait painted by a close friend. Soon after, under the influence of amoral Lord Henry Wotton (George Sanders), he jilts his fianc?e (a young and very beautiful Angela Lansbury), leading to her suicide. This is the start of a life of increasing debauchery! Gray soon realizes that the outward signs of his sinister new persona are apparent only in the portrait. Eventually the picture, secreted in his childhood playroom, becomes almost hideous to behold. But Gray still has one pure love - Gladys (Donna Reed), the niece of the original painter. Will Gladys' love be strong enough to save Dorian from the curses and immorality that has plagued his life? Is there any purity left in Dorian's heart to give him any chance of redemption or hope of salvation? And how much has the portrait of Dorian Gray actually changed after all of these years of absorbing Dorian's secrets, sins, and lies? It is all exposed in the grand finale as the door to the playroom is finally opened and the portrait of the true Dorian Gray unmasks his youth and beauty!
Oscar Wilde's immortal classic "The Picture of Dorian Gray" is still long overdue for a much-needed DVD release. This viewing of the classic was made possible by a good friend who loaned me his VHS copy, of which I'm most grateful! The entire cast is flawless in this 1945 adaptation of Wilde's novella! George Sanders is phenomenal as Lord Harry Wotton and this is his second best performance, the first being his mastering the screen as acid tongued theatre critic Addison Dewitt in the Bette Davis vs. Anne Baxter classic "All About Eve" (1950). This is in the only film that I recall seeing Hurd Hatfield starring in. With his strong aristocratic good looks and effeminent acting skills, I can't imagine why he wasn't used in more films of the time. Angela Lansbury is so lovely and young here and brings an innocent beauty to the screen as Dorian's fianc?e, Sybil Vane. I have long been a fan of this classic film and highly recommend it to all fans of classic cinema! For those who have yet to see "The Picture of Dorian Gray," and for those who have seen it and would like to add it to their movie libraries, here's hoping that a DVD release is in the very near future!
**UPDATE!!** "The Picture of Dorain Gray" (1945) is coming to DVD OCTOBER 7, 2008!! Hooray!!!!!!!
Movie Review: Elegant and timeless classic...excellent performances...
Summary: 4 Stars
One of my personal favorites of films of the '40s is this visually striking version raising the art of black-and-white photography to new heights. The sets and costumes and deep-focus photography combine to make even more absorbing the story Oscar Wilde tells of the man whose portrait decays as he himself remains forever youthful.
Hurd Hatfield never had a better role and he makes the most of it. George Sanders, Angela Lansbury, Donna Reed, Peter Lawford, Lionel Gilmore, George Sanders, Morton Lowry and many others contribute to the overall excellence of the acting. The period atmosphere of late-Victorian London adds much to the slowly growing horror of the tale.
If you want action and special effects, see a Clint Eastwood or Bruce Willis film--forget this. But as a compelling and psychological study of a man influenced by evil (personified by George Sanders as Lord Henry), this version is better than any of the others made since. It's chilling, the way Wilde intended, and no one could deliver his cynical yet witty observations about human nature better than George Sanders. Hurd Hatfield makes an excellent impression as the youthful Dorian who makes the mistake of getting what he wished for. The handsome portrait of Dorian looks especially fine in the brief Technicolor inserts and the depraved portrait almost jumps off the screen.
By all means, an outstanding film. Should be required viewing as a study of the art of black-and-white cinematography
Movie Review: WHY NOT???????
Summary: 5 Stars
Just tell me WHY this classic film is NOT out on DVD????????????????
It SHOULD BE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!