The Picture Of Dorian Gray

Albert Lewin, USA 1945, 107 minutes

The film The Picture of Dorian Gray is an adaptation of a short story by Oscar Wilde (a famous and controversial playwright, poet and writer in the nineteenth century, for those who just might not know). Wilde was fascinated by beauty and the art of behaviour, the main themes running through this film.

When Dorian Gray (Hurd Hatfield: El Cid, Her Alibi), an eloquent, handsome young man, has his portrait painted by his friend Basil Hallward (Lowell Gilmore: King Solomon's Mines, Lone Star), he is struck by the timeless and unchanging beauty of the art. A cynical old acquaintance, Lord Henry Wotton (George Sanders: The Jungle Book, Rebecca), reminds Dorian that he will not appear youthful forever and warns him to enjoy his youth and beauty while he can. The carefree Mr Gray becomes suddenly jealous of the portrait, solemnly wishing it could grown old while he stays forever young: "I would sell my very soul".

Dorian Gray's wish is granted. As the years pass, Mr Gray's appearance remains youthful and distinctly innocent, while the portrait ages. Meanwhile, he has begun a decline into the ruthless pursuit of pleasure. His first crime is the heartless treatment of his lover, Sybil Vane (played by a young Angela Lansbury of TV's `Murder She Wrote'). From there on, his conscience is abstracted in visual form in the portrait.

Years of bad deeds and misbehaviour manifest themselves as contortions and blood stains on the canvas, which Dorian Gray watches with a kind of disgusted curiosity. Always afraid someone will ask to look at it, he locks the picture away and becomes obsessed with hiding his secret. Those Dorian Gray double-crosses hate and disrespect him, though his friends refuse to believe any rumours about their charming, delightful friend; his face has such child-like innocence.

The Picture of Dorian Gray traces the deterioration of Gray's soul from youthful, innocent and beautiful to corrupt, ancient and ugly. The film is shot in black and white but the occasional glimpses of the portrait are in colour, helping to emphasise the grotesque quality the art takes on.

This is a simple story, well crafted and acted. The change in Gray's character is frightening and the film succeeds in appalling its audience. The film techniques however, are always subtle. Dorian Gray's despicable acts are never relayed in gory detail. The skill of this film lies in its ability to play on the mind of the viewer.

The Picture of Dorian Gray is a must-see - it will make you look at paintings and pretty faces in a very different light.

Review by Sophie Cruickshank
Taken from EUFS Programme 1997-98