The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945)

The studio system has often been criticized as a film factory producing movies by assembly line but in spite of that the system regularly turned out superb films which stood the test of time.This is one such movie. The story is from the pen of Oscar Wilde and is far too well-known to need rehearsal here. A glorious cast includes the inimitable George Sanders, Hurd Hatfield in his first and last great role and Angela Lansbury proving just how good an actress she was when young. (It's touching that Lansbury and Hatfield formed a friendship during the making of the film that lasted the rest of their lives.) Sanders, as always, is perfect, throwing off cynical witticisms with the air of a practised roué. But for me the most moving and finely acted part of the movie is the scene when Gray, reluctantly taking up Lord Wotton's suggestion, decides to test Sybil Vane's virtue. It is wonderful and heartbreaking to watch the scene, probably the best acting either performer ever produced.In short don't miss this film. Even if you're one of those who hate anything in B&W or made before the 70s break a habit and watch this. You might find that it's the introduction to a whole era of Hollywood that you've neglected till now.

A young and innocent man named "Dorian Gray" (Hurd Hatfield) is having his portrait taken by an artist by the name of "Basil Hailward" (Lowell Gilmore) when he happens to make the acquaintance of an aristocrat named "Lord Harry Wotton" (George Sanders). Unfortunately for Dorian, Lord Harry turns out to be an extremely bad influence upon him from the very start and it is during this time that Dorian wishes aloud that his portrait would age instead of himself. Unknown to him, an Egyptian statue of a cat which is supposed to be one of the 73 great gods of Egypt is in the room and it grants Dorian's wish in exchange for his soul. In due time Dorian changes—for the worse. Yet as he changes his portrait proceeds to capture his age and wickedness while he continues to look young and innocent through the years. Now, although this movie was produced in 1945 it still manages to retain much of its horror and intrigue. In that regard I thought both Hurd Hatfield and Lowell Gilmore performed in an excellent manner. On that same note I should probably also mention that Angela Lansbury (as "Sylvia Vane") won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe in a fine supporting role. In short, unlike the portrait, this movie ages quite well and I give it an above average rating.

The Picture of Dorian Gray is directed by Albert Lewin, and he also adapts the screenplay from the novel written by Oscar Wilde. It stars Hurd Hatfield, George Sanders, Angela Lansbury, Donna Reed, Peter Lawford, Lowell Gilmore, Richard Fraser and Douglas Walton. Music is by Herbert Stothart and cinematography by Harry Stradling Sr. Dorian Gray of Mayfair and Selby.Oscar Wilde's Faustian tale about a young Victorian gentleman who sells his soul to retain his youth, is given a magnificent make-over by MGM. Pumping into it a budget reputedly of $2 million, the look and feel is perfect for this macabre observation of vanity, greed and self destruction. In many ways it's still an under valued movie, mainly because there will always be Wilde purists who think it lacks the writer's poetic spikiness. While horror fans quite often venture into the picture expecting some sort of violent classic ripe with sex, drugs and debauchery unbound.Lewin crafts his film in understated manner, never allowing the themes in the source material to become overblown just for dramatic purpose. He cloaks it all with an atmosphere of eeriness, keeping the debasing nature of Dorian Gray subdued. The horror aspects here mostly are implied or discussed in elegantly stated conversations, the horror in fact is purely in the characterisation of Dorian himself, we really don't need to see actual things on screen, we are urged to be chilled to the marrow by his mere presence, which works because Lewin has personalised us into this man's sinful descent by way of careful pacing and character formation.There are some jolt moments of course, notably the famous inserts of Technicolor into the black and white film, the impact of such bringing the portrait of the title thundering into our conscious, but this is not about thrill rides and titillation, the film, like its source, is intellectual. Lewin is aided considerably by Stradling's beautiful photography, which in turn either vividly realises the opulent abodes or darkens the dens of iniquities, just like Lewin, Stradling and the art department work wonders and prove to be fine purveyors of their craft. Hatfield is wonderful, it's an inspired piece of casting, with his angular features and cold dead eyes, he effortlessly suggests the black heart now beating where once there was a soul. Yet even he, and the rest of the impressive cast, is trumped by Sanders as Lord Henry. Cynical, brutal yet rich with witticisms, in Sanders' excellent hands Lord Henry becomes the smiling, devil like mentor perched on Dorian's shoulder. Dorian and Lord Henry are movie monsters, proof positive that not all monsters need to be seen hacking off limbs or drinking blood. In this case, the decaying of the soul is far more terrifying.Fascinating, eloquent, intelligent and frightening, a true classic in fact. 9/10

In 1886, in the Victorian London, the corrupt Lord Henry Wotton (George Sanders) meets the pure Dorian Gray (Hurd Hatfield) posing for talented painter Basil Hallward (Lowell Gilmoure). Basil paints Dorian's portrait and gives the beautiful painting and an Egyptian sculpture of a cat to him while Henry corrupts his mind and soul telling that Dorian should seek pleasure in life. Dorian wishes that his portrait could age instead of him.Dorian goes to a side show in the Two Turtles in the poor neighborhood of London and he falls in love with the singer Sibyl Vane (Angela Lansbury). Dorian decides to get married with her and tells to Lord Henry that convinces him to test the honor of Sibyl. Dorian Gray leaves Sibyl and travels abroad, and when he returns to London, Lord Henry tells him that Sibyl committed suicide for love. Along the years, Dorian's friends age while he is still the same, but his picture discloses his evilness and corruptive life. Can he still have salvation or is his soul trapped in the doomed painting?"The Picture of Dorian Gray" is a wonderful and timeless adaptation of Oscar Wilde's novel. The film has magnificent cinematography in black and white and art direction, great acting and a good screenplay. My vote is eight. Title (Brazil): "O Retrato de Dorian Gray" ("The Picture of Dorian Gray")