IMDb RATING
7.5/10
13K
YOUR RATING
A corrupt young man somehow keeps his youthful beauty, but a special painting gradually reveals his inner ugliness to all.A corrupt young man somehow keeps his youthful beauty, but a special painting gradually reveals his inner ugliness to all.A corrupt young man somehow keeps his youthful beauty, but a special painting gradually reveals his inner ugliness to all.
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
13K
YOUR RATING
- Director
- Writers
- Albert Lewin(screen play)
- Oscar Wilde(based upon the novel by)
- Stars
Top credits
- Director
- Writers
- Albert Lewin(screen play)
- Oscar Wilde(based upon the novel by)
- Stars
- Won 1 Oscar
- 3 wins & 4 nominations total
Videos1
Renee Carson
- Young French Womanas Young French Woman
- (as Renie Carson)
Lilian Bond
- Kateas Kate
- (as Lillian Bond)
Devi Dja
- Lead Danceras Lead Dancer
- (as Devi Dja and Her Balinese Dancers)
- Director
- Writers
- Albert Lewin(screen play)
- Oscar Wilde(based upon the novel by)
- All cast & crew
- See more cast details at IMDbPro
Storyline
In 1886, in Victorian London, the corrupt Lord Henry Wotton (George Sanders) meets the pure Dorian Gray (Hurd Hatfield) posing for talented painter Basil Hallward (Lowell Gilmore). 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 him 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 singer Sibyl Vane (Dame Angela Lansbury). Dorian decides to marry her and tells Lord Henry, who 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. Throughout 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? —Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Taglines
- His life was a muddy morass into which he dragged all who knew him! Such was Dorian Gray, the man who wanted eternal youth, and bartered his soul to get it!
- Genres
- Certificate
- K-16
- Parents guide
Did you know
- TriviaOscar Wilde's Dorian was blond-haired, blue-eyed, and highly emotional, but Writer and Director Albert Lewin's conception of Dorian was of an icy, distant character.
- GoofsAt approximately 34:35 into the film, the time on the clock in the room suddenly changes from just after 2 o'clock to 3 o'clock. Then at approximately 37:00 it moves back to 2:05 and then to 2:09 as Dorian continues to play the piano.
- Quotes
Lord Henry Wotton: "If I could get back my youth, I'd do anything in the world except get up early, take exercise or be respectable."
- Alternate versionsSome prints are slightly edited, omitting Dorian's (Hurd Hatfield) prayer and Lord Henry's (George Sanders) line, "Heaven forgive me" in the final scene.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The Cinematographer (1951)
- SoundtracksGood-Bye, Little Yellow Bird
(uncredited)
Lyrics and Music by C.W. Murphy and William Hargreaves
Performed by Angela Lansbury
Top review
Let's Talk About Hurd Hatfield
This film adaptation of Wilde's story is certainly one of the great atmospheric black and white films of the 40's. Reminiscent of Greg Toland's ground breaking deep focus cinematography in "Citizen Kane",the shades of black, greys and whites are sharp and clearly deliniated to produce an unforgettable, somewhat eerie look to the film. There are a couple of short Technicolor shots that will make you jump. Cinematography is the star here but let's talk about Hurd Hatfield. I have seen this film on numerous occasions and have yet to figure out whether Hatfield is a great actor or just a woodenly inanimate object. Whichever is the case, this is the role of a lifetime.....it calls for an unfeeling, blank-faced characterization which is exactly as Hatfield played it. His smooth unlined visage hides many things and his apparent lack of emoting is right on target. Does that mean that he just couldn't act and fell into a role that suited his style or does it mean that he rose to the task and his interpretation was the sign of a great actor, living the part. I don't know....all I do know is that he pulls it off with great panache! He was playing against one of the great scene stealers of all times, George Sanders, who spouts Wilde epigrams with his own inimitable class and Hatfield holds his own. The other players are adequate but I don't know what all the excitement is about Angela Lansbury's acting....she was much better in "Gaslight". All in all, this is a movie that I would recommend but beware....it moves slowly, very slowly. Once you see it maybe you can answer the question about Hurd Hatfield's acting.....or maybe not!!!
helpful•161
- Bucs1960
- Feb 4, 2002
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- The Picture of Dorian Gray
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $3,500,000 (estimated)
- Runtime
- 1h 50min
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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By what name was The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945) officially released in India in English?
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