The Picture of Dorian Gray (1973) (TV)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Glenn Jordan

Writers:

John Tomerlin (writer)
Oscar Wilde (novel)

Release Date:

23 April 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror

Plot:

In late Victorian London, a beautiful young man is given a portrait of himself by an admiring artist...

Plot Keywords:

1800s | Macabre | Based On Novel | Character Name In Title

Cast

Shane Briant	...	Dorian Gray
Nigel Davenport	...	Lord Harry Wotton
Charles Aidman	...	Basil Hallward
Fionnula Flanagan	...	Felicia
Linda Kelsey	...	Beatrice
Vanessa Howard	...	Sybil Vane
John Karlen	...	Alan Campbell
Dixie Marquis	...	Madame de Ferrol
Brendan Dillon	...	Victor
Kim Richards	...	Beatrice as a child
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
William Beckley	...	Syme
Hedley Mattingly	...	Parker
Tom McCorrey	...	James Vane (as Tom McCorry)
Patricia Tidy	...	Charwoman
Ben Wrigley	...	Hansom Cab Driver
Diana Wyatt	...	Lady Narborough

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M

Company:

Dan Curtis Productions

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: [smirks and raises his glass] To long life.

Movie Connections:

Version of "BBC Play of the Month: The Picture of Dorian Gray (#12.1)" (1976)

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.