Richie-67-485852
I like a good story and this is a good story. It has mystery, drama and the supernatural making the viewer bound to the screen to see how it all comes about and what comes next. That's called entertainment. George Sanders does an excellent job as do all supporting players. This is the type of movie that if one spent time and money on the story and directing it would give a good return no problem. The dialog is very sophisticated making one have to pay attention. Back then, a man could devote himself to being what they called a being a gentleman even as a career. Here we see several men doing just that. The point is what do gentleman do? Devote themselves to the arts? Attend dinner parties? Practice high-sounding words to support their chosen field of endeavor? All that is here for you to see it for what it is. It even exists to this day. Rich, famous and powerful people still put on more than one face not having found the one assigned to them. There is a scene where the scripture "what does it profit a man to gain the whole world but to lose his soul" and this is submitted to the viewer to ponder but without the religious under and over tones. Ask yourself the purpose of having excess of everything but enjoying nothing and the folly of it and see if it doesn't speak to you and to people you know. Whoever you are and whatever you do, enjoy it and make sense out of it for you will not be back this way again. That means there is something to this journey that needs to be discovered. This picture might add to that mystery. I ate breakfast while watching. A bowl of fresh Farina with nuts, blueberries, chia seeds and cinnamon which satisfied and filled me up. Vitamins to follow. Enjoy this well-done classic. I did
JLRMovieReviews
Oscar Wilde's bizarre story is brought vividly to life in this film of the same name, "The Picture of Dorian Gray." Hurd Hatfield is the man in question who wishes to retain his young looks while his portrait ages. While making his wish in the artist's house, a small statue of an ancient Egyptian cat with supposed supernatural powers close by him grants his wish. The forthcoming plot shows how Hurd goes through life affecting those around him negatively and how it changes his inner soul, all the while it is being reflected in the portrait. George Sanders is an acquaintance of Dorian's and the artist and is there while the wish is granted. George is all the time making generalizations about life, love, and women (witticisms when George Sanders say them) and in doing so displays his brusque cynicism; in short, he's a cad, and Sanders is in his element, stealing all the scenes he's in. But this film is exquisite in style, storytelling, and in capturing the time and place. Angela Lansbury costars and gives a very moving and memorable performance. Peter Lawford and Donna Reed also star, but they are given very little to do. No matter, because this is another example of how they just don't make movies like they used to. Winner of a cinematography Oscar, "The Picture of Dorian Gray" is an involved, intricate and intelligent film movie experience. Not to be dismissed as just a horror classic, this is a film classic for all those who enjoy good old-fashioned films.
LeonLouisRicci
Even MGM and the Production Code could not Diminish the Power of Oscar Wilde's Controversial and Classic Novel. The Book was Widely Read and Given Wild Criticism in Typical Victorian Dismissal as Decadent and Diminishing. One Critic said Something Like...It will destroy any young mind that it comes in contact with (paraphrasing), the Critic seems to compare the Book to a Venereal Disease.But that was Wilde's Cross to Bare, a Free Spirit Genius with Hedonistic Tendencies Living in an Era of Snobbery and Repression. The Film is a Worthy Mid-Forties Hollywood Production of a Gothic Grotesquery, a Philosophical, Psychological, and Social Rumination that has a Stunning Look and is Well Acted and Presented with Some but not All of the Novel's Explorations of the Soul and Man's Desires, that are not only Hampered by Societal Restraints and Religious Rigor, but by Time Itself.George Sanders Stands out as Lord Henry, but Delivers Wilde's Witticisms at an Accelerated Pace and some of the Profound Proes is Lost in the Hurray. Hurd Hatfield as Dorian Gray is Like a Sculpture (frozen in time) so it may be Somewhat Apropo. Angela Lansbury's Short Part is Given a Lot of Ink and an Oscar Nomination. Donna Reed and Peter Lawford show up but are Unremarkable and Forgettable.The Portrait Itself is a Co-Star and is Infamous and 1940's Audiences must have Shrieked at the Initial Sight of it. The Artwork Hangs in a Museum in Chicago.Note...The prolific and witty Oscar Wilde was a Journalist, Poet, Playwright, and Social Commentator. But this is His only novel and it is for this that He is most remembered. If not for His open Bi-Sexualty and an advocacy to live a life free of conventions.
utgard14
Fantasy-horror film cited by many as being the last hurrah of Hollywood's Golden Age of horror films. It's an atmospheric picture with all of the polish one expects from an MGM production. It's adapted from the Oscar Wilde story about a young man named Dorian Gray (Hurd Hatfield) who wishes that he could stay young forever and a portrait of him painted by a friend would age instead. He gets his wish but something changes about him. Dorian becomes morally corrupt and finds that, while he stays young and handsome, his portrait ages and becomes more ugly with each evil deed he commits.Hurd Hatfield is excellent. This is his only big role. I'm not sure why exactly but I read somewhere Hatfield said he was typecast after this part and no one could see him in other types of roles. Strange. He certainly gives an enigmatic and distinct performance here. Also good is the legendary George Sanders as the wicked Lord Henry Wotton, who is essentially Oscar Wilde in everything but name. A large part of his dialogue consists of pithy Oscar Wilde quotes. A character like this, cynical in the extreme, could easily grate on the nerves were it not for Sanders' charming presence. The leading ladies in this film couldn't be any lovelier -- a cherubic Angela Lansbury and the always stunning Donna Reed. Both play virtuous innocents in danger of being corrupted by Gray and both are perfectly cast.Some complain that there is more tell than show in this film, specifically with regard to Dorian Gray's evil deeds. This was never something that stood out to me, as the picture kept me interested and I accepted through Hatfield's performance that Dorian was, in fact, evil. I didn't need to see him committing acts of depravity to get the point across. But I suppose people sometimes bring expectations with them to adapted works. So just know going in that this is a classy old MGM pic. Use your intelligence and imagination where need be and keep expectations reasonable for the period the movie was made.
AD
