The Picture of Dorian Gray (TV 1973)

In late Victorian London, a beautiful young man is given a portrait of himself by an admiring artist. Soon after this he treats a young woman cruelly and then notices that his portrait ... See full summary »

Director:

Glenn Jordan

Writers:

John Tomerlin, Oscar Wilde (novel)

Stars:

Charles Aidman, William Beckley, Shane Briant

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Charles Aidman	...	Basil Hallward
William Beckley	...	Syme
Shane Briant	...	Dorian Gray
Nigel Davenport	...	Sir Harry Wotton
Brendan Dillon	...	Victor
Fionnula Flanagan	...	Felicia (as Fionnuala Flanagan)
Vanessa Howard	...	Sybil Vane
John Karlen	...	Alan Campbell
Linda Kelsey	...	Beatrice Hallward
Dixie Marquis	...	Madame de Ferrol
Hedley Mattingly	...	Parker
Tom McCorrey	...	James Vane (as Tom McCorry)
Kim Richards	...	Beatrice as a Child
Patricia Tidy	...	Charwoman
Ben Wrigley	...	Driver

Storyline

In late Victorian London, a beautiful young man is given a portrait of himself by an admiring artist. Soon after this he treats a young woman cruelly and then notices that his portrait seems to look meaner than it used to. Eventually he cannot endure the portrait and hides it in the attic. As the years pass, he becomes ever more unscrupulous and dissolute. His friends remark how he is as handsome as ever and never seems to age. But up in the attic his picture becomes uglier and uglier.

---

Plot Keywords:

innocence lost | macabre | gothic horror | deal with the devil | eternal youth | 

---

Genres:

Drama | Horror

---

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 April 1973 (USA)

Also Known As:

Das Bildnis des Dorian Gray

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dan Curtis Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Did You Know?

Quotes

Dorian Gray: [as he observes his portrait] How sad...
Lord Harry Wotton: What? What do you mean?
Dorian Gray: How sad it is... That I shall grow old, but this picture will remain always young. My hair will turn gray, my skin will wrinkle, and my teeth will rot. While my picture remains exactly as it is now. If only it were the other way...
Lord Harry Wotton: Dorian...
Dorian Gray: If it were I who would remain always young and the picture would grow old. For that, I would give everything...
Lord Harry Wotton: Dorian...
Dorian Gray: Yes, everything! For that... I would even give my soul.
Basil Hallward: [...]

---

Connections

Version of Take Off (1978)

User Reviews

Excellent TV Drama

This was originally broadcast in the early 1970s, by ABC Circle Films, I think, and it was a great drama for its time and it still holds up well today. Dan Curtis, who directed this also has a big collection of the Dark Shadows series and he has a good feel for the gothic aspects of the 19th century story. Nigel Davenport really steals the show as Dorian's older mentor/corrupting influence. Also, the homosexual aspects are handled extraordinarily well, by saying what they need to say, without saying anything, just a look, or a suggestion, nothing overt. Altho it follows the old MGM story, this one has a lot sharper edge to it and is more realistic, especially about Dorian's depravity. Davenport does really carry the show with his all-knowing, cynical observations that lead the way for Dorian's destruction and doom . . . but it is Dorian who makes the decisions, not Davenport.