Top 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsMost Popular Video GamesMost Popular Music VideosMost Popular Podcasts
    Release CalendarBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Portrait of Jennie

  • 19481948
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 26m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
7.1K
YOUR RATING
Portrait of Jennie (1948)
Eben is a talented but struggling artist in Depression era NY. One day, after he finally finds someone to buy a painting from him, a pretty but odd young girl named Jennie Appleton appears and strikes up an unusual friendship with Eben.
Play trailer1:44
1 Video
30 Photos
DramaFantasyMystery
Eben is a talented but struggling artist in Depression era NY. One day, after he finally finds someone to buy a painting from him, a pretty but odd young girl named Jennie Appleton appears a... Read allEben is a talented but struggling artist in Depression era NY. One day, after he finally finds someone to buy a painting from him, a pretty but odd young girl named Jennie Appleton appears and strikes up an unusual friendship with Eben.Eben is a talented but struggling artist in Depression era NY. One day, after he finally finds someone to buy a painting from him, a pretty but odd young girl named Jennie Appleton appears and strikes up an unusual friendship with Eben.
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
7.1K
YOUR RATING
    • William Dieterle
  • Writers
    • Robert Nathan(from the book by)
    • Paul Osborn(screen play)
    • Peter Berneis(screen play)
  • Stars
    • Jennifer Jones
    • Joseph Cotten
    • Ethel Barrymore
    • William Dieterle
  • Writers
    • Robert Nathan(from the book by)
    • Paul Osborn(screen play)
    • Peter Berneis(screen play)
  • Stars
    • Jennifer Jones
    • Joseph Cotten
    • Ethel Barrymore
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 137User reviews
    • 51Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:44
    Watch Trailer

    Photos30

    Joseph Cotten and Jennifer Jones in Portrait of Jennie (1948)
    Joseph Cotten and Jennifer Jones in Portrait of Jennie (1948)
    Joseph Cotten and Jennifer Jones in Portrait of Jennie (1948)
    Joseph Cotten and Jennifer Jones in Portrait of Jennie (1948)
    Joseph Cotten and Jennifer Jones in Portrait of Jennie (1948)
    Joseph Cotten and Jennifer Jones in Portrait of Jennie (1948)
    Joseph Cotten and Jennifer Jones in Portrait of Jennie (1948)
    Joseph Cotten and Jennifer Jones in Portrait of Jennie (1948)
    Portrait of Jennie (1948)
    Joseph Cotten and Jennifer Jones in Portrait of Jennie (1948)
    Jennifer Jones in Portrait of Jennie (1948)
    Joseph Cotten, Albert Sharpe, and David Wayne in Portrait of Jennie (1948)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jennifer Jones
    Jennifer Jones
    • Jennie Appleton
    Joseph Cotten
    Joseph Cotten
    • Eben Adams
    Ethel Barrymore
    Ethel Barrymore
    • Miss Spinney
    Lillian Gish
    Lillian Gish
    • Mother Mary of Mercy
    Cecil Kellaway
    Cecil Kellaway
    • Matthews
    David Wayne
    David Wayne
    • Gus O'Toole
    Albert Sharpe
    Albert Sharpe
    • Moore
    Henry Hull
    Henry Hull
    • Eke
    Florence Bates
    Florence Bates
    • Mrs. Jekes (landlady)
    Felix Bressart
    Felix Bressart
    • Pete
    Clem Bevans
    Clem Bevans
    • Capt. Cobb
    Maude Simmons
    • Clara Morgan
    Robin Bryant
    • Woman
    • (uncredited)
    Robert Dudley
    Robert Dudley
    • Another Old Mariner
    • (uncredited)
    John Farrell
    • Policeman
    • (uncredited)
    Anne Francis
    Anne Francis
    • Teenager in Art Gallery
    • (uncredited)
    Brian Keith
    Brian Keith
    • Ice-Skating Extra
    • (uncredited)
    Nancy Olson
    Nancy Olson
    • Teenager in Art Gallery
    • (uncredited)
      • William Dieterle
    • Writers
      • Robert Nathan(from the book by)
      • Paul Osborn(screen play)
      • Peter Berneis(screen play)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Love Letters
    7.1
    Love Letters
    Since You Went Away
    7.5
    Since You Went Away
    Duel in the Sun
    6.8
    Duel in the Sun
    Goodbye Charlie
    6.1
    Goodbye Charlie
    Phone Call from a Stranger
    7.0
    Phone Call from a Stranger
    A Letter to Three Wives
    7.7
    A Letter to Three Wives
    Cluny Brown
    7.4
    Cluny Brown
    Bad Sister
    6.2
    Bad Sister
    Peter Ibbetson
    6.9
    Peter Ibbetson
    The Song of Bernadette
    7.6
    The Song of Bernadette
    Johnny Stool Pigeon
    6.6
    Johnny Stool Pigeon
    The Razor's Edge
    7.3
    The Razor's Edge

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Producer David O. Selznick initially considered filming this movie over a period of several years, casting a young actress in the role of Jennie and shooting portions of the film over time as the actress grew older in real life. (Shirley Temple, then under contract to Selznick, was reportedly intended for the role, had the movie been filmed that way.) In the end, however, Selznick abandoned the idea as too risky and difficult to film properly.
    • Goofs
      During Eben's conversation with Pete, it becomes clear that Pete's moustache is fake when it starts to come away from his face.
    • Quotes

      Jennie Appleton: There is no life, my darling, until you love and have been loved. And then there is no death.

    • Crazy credits
      No credits at all are shown at the beginning except for the studio logo, not even the title of the film. Instead, we hear a narrator speaking the prologue, and then announcing, "And now, 'Portrait of Jennie'". The credits are saved for the end of the picture.
    • Alternate versions
      Originally, all television prints were completely in black-and-white, but by the 1980s the shot of the portrait at the very end was again shown in color. More recently, though, the greenish tint used in the storm scene (lasting about ten minutes) was also restored. Numerous sources, most notably "Leonard Maltin's Movie and Video Guide," have stated that the final reel, save for that color shot, was green, but it was the storm sequence alone, regardless of where it falls on the reels. While the 1990 CBS/Fox VHS release returned to black-and-white for the two scenes between the storm sequence and the painting-shot, the version currently shown on Turner Classic Movies has them in sepia tint. Which accurately reflects the original theatrical prints is undetermined, but both have the end titles in sepia.
    • Connections
      Featured in Hollywood: The Selznick Years (1969)
    • Soundtracks
      Nuages
      (uncredited)

      Music by Claude Debussy

      Adapted by Dimitri Tiomkin

      Heard over opening narration

    User reviews137

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    Romance and fantasy in this sensational classic movie from the 40s
    The picture starts with two poems of famous writers ¨Who knoeth if to die be but to live..and that called life by mortals be but death?¨ by Euripides and ¨Beauty is truth , truth beauty , that is all ye know on earth and all ye need to know¨ by Keats . When a penniless painter (Joseph Cotten) is walking in N.Y city during the great depression , he meets a mysterious girl named Jennie Appleton (Jennifer Jones) . The otherworldly Jennie inspires to the failed artist , but , previously , he has never been able to encounter the inspiration and now he's painting wonderful paintings . Meanwhile , he meets an old spinster (Ethel Barrymore) and a painting merchant (Cecil Kallaway) . But the strange Jennie disappears and he asks for her at a convent where Mother Mary (Lilian Gish) knew her long time ago .

    It is an enjoyable and fantastic romance story where protagonist duo are awesome . The script relies heavily on the relationship between the two starring , but it doesn't cause boring . It's a brilliant romantic tale and though is slow-moving , isn't tiring . Jennifer Jones (producer David O'Selznick's wife) is gorgeous with her sweet and attractive countenance . Joseph Cotten is magnificent as the artist looking for inspiration . Sensitive and stirring score , including an attractive musical leitmotiv by Dimitri Tiomkin , adding music from the classic composer Claude Debussy . Lush black and white cinematography by cameraman Joseph Lawrence and the last part tinted in green and ending image about Jennie portrait in Technicolor . The movie won an Academy Award for especial effects . Besides , being produced by the great producer David O'Selznick (Gone with the wind , Duel in the sun , Third man) . The motion picture was excellently directed by William Dieterle , author of several cinema classics (Hunchback of Notre Dame , Blockade) and autobiography specialist (Juarez , Emile Zola , Reuter , Louis Pasteur , Dr.Erlich) . The movie will appeal to romantic movies fans . Rating : 7.5/10 . Above average.
    helpful•40
    2
    • ma-cortes
    • Feb 26, 2007

    FAQ10

    • What is 'Portrait of Jennie' about?
    • Is 'Portrait of Jennie' based on a book?
    • In what year is the movie set?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 22, 1949 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • The Cloisters Museum, West 193rd Street, Fort Tryon Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • The Selznick Studio
      • Vanguard Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 26 minutes

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Portrait of Jennie (1948)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Portrait of Jennie (1948) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2023 by IMDb.com, Inc.