The story is familiar - Oscar Wilde's Dorian Gray wishes his painting would grow old whilst he remain young. The sets, direction, and photography are beautiful. Through no fault of their own, the actors' characters falter - for example; Angela Lansbury is strikingly beautiful and terrific, but annoyingly sings "Goodbye Little Yellow Bird" (foreshadowing?), and Hurd Hatfield grows into the role, but annoyingly stabs a table (more foreshadowing?). Mr. Hatfield ends up impressing, but the film's early going makes it difficult. George Sanders is delicious, as usual. More often than not, the script is way too subtle. Why couldn't the frequent narration help explain things more mysterious, instead of things more obvious? AND, the switching from "black and white" to "color" is a gimmick that almost worked the first time.
***** The Picture of Dorian Gray (3/1/45) Albert Lewin ~ Hurd Hatfield, George Sanders, Donna Reed, Angela Lansbury
***** The Picture of Dorian Gray (3/1/45) Albert Lewin ~ Hurd Hatfield, George Sanders, Donna Reed, Angela Lansbury