The Sins of Dorian Gray (1983)

In this version of Oscar Wilde's tale, Dorian Gray is an actress who, desperate to become a worldwide star, makes a deal that switches her soul to her image on film, then proceeds to sleep ... See full summary »

Director:

Tony Maylam

Writers:

Kenneth August (as Ken August), Peter Lawrence

Stars:

Anthony Perkins, Belinda Bauer, Joseph Bottoms

Cast

Credited cast:
Anthony Perkins	...	Henry Lord
Belinda Bauer	...	Dorian Gray
Joseph Bottoms	...	Stuart Vane
Olga Karlatos	...	Sofia Lord
Michael Ironside	...	Alan Campbell
Caroline Yeager	...	Angela Vane
Patsy Rahn	...	Tracy
Roxanne Moffitt	...	Marie-Rose
Jeff Braunstein	...	Parker
Roy Wordsworth	...	Vicotr
Peter Hanlon	...	Christian
Carol Robinson	...	Secretary
Mark Dufty	...	Elevator Man
Trudy Weiss	...	TV Studio Person
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Hrant Alianak	...	Nightclub Manager

Storyline

In this version of Oscar Wilde's tale, Dorian Gray is an actress who, desperate to become a worldwide star, makes a deal that switches her soul to her image on film, then proceeds to sleep her way to the top, knowing that she will never age.

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Plot Keywords:

fear of aging | reference to the picture of dorian gray the novel | reference to the picture of dorian gray | reference to dorian gray | dorian gray | 

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Genres:

Drama | Horror

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 May 1983 (USA)

Also Known As:

Die Morde der Dorian Gray

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rankin/Bass Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Picture of Dorian Gray explores the fantasy of invincible vice only to discover that, while justice can be dodged, there is no escape from conscience. Written in 1890, the homosexual undertones of the novel were used as evidence in the criminal-libel suit of Wilde vs the Marquess of Queensberry in 1895, who accused the writer of homosexual promiscuity with his son, Lord Alfred Douglas. Wilde was found guilty of gross indecency, and sentenced to two years hard labor - from which he never recovered. He died in poverty and disgrace in 1900. Like his tragic hero, Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde tried to conceal something about himself in art, and in the end was betrayed by art.

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Connections

Version of Das Bildnis des Dorian Gray (1917)

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Soundtracks

"The Sins of Dorian Gray'
Written by Bernard Hoffer & Jules Bass
Performed by Lisa Dalbello (as Lisa Dal Bello)

User Reviews

Beautiful and haunting update of Wilde's classic.

A beautiful modernized version of the Oscar Wilde classic, in which Belinda Bauer gives a moving and poignant performance as the title character, here a female model led astray by the temptations of evil in a sharp allegory of the real-life corruption of celebrity culture and the rich and famous. Anthony Perkins also gives a memorable performance as Henry Lord, the movie's answer to Wilde's legendary Lord Henry Wotton, here a fashion tycoon who takes advantage of Dorian's youthful naivety to seduce her into his corrupt view of life. Despite the modern setting, the storyline's structure is surprisingly close to Wilde's original novel with almost every character, major and minor, given a modern-day equivalent in the narrative. Dorian's gradual descent into total corruption and malevolence is depicted perfectly, as is the eventual destruction of the world and people around her.

A haunting, eerie and dreamlike atmosphere prevails throughout the movie, and the film's answer to the novel's portrait- a screen test on a gigantic screen that grows more repulsive with each sin Dorian commits- is genuinely creepy and disturbing. The beautiful and haunting theme song, sung exquisitely by Lisa D'Albello, is truly stunning and enhances the film's captivating atmosphere perfectly. As each cast member turns in an excellent performance, the film should have the viewer literally on the edge of their seat as it approaches its destructive climax, ending of course on a tragic note that strangely leaves us feeling somehow more sorry for the debased Dorian, and even for Henry (who seems to have mellowed from his corrupt ways after witnessing Dorian's decline), than in the novel.

While some viewers may naturally object to the radical shift in style from Wilde's classic, along with the feminization and thus heterosexualization of the lead character, and of course the absence of Wilde's legendary quotes, this should not dissuade anyone from viewing the film, which is executed as perfectly as could have been possible. Although the film was made for the big screen, it was unfortunately only ever shown on TV due to lack of interest and is virtually unknown to this day. This is a shame, for The Sins of Dorian Gray is a truly beautiful, moving and haunting film that ranks easily among the best ever filmic interpretations of Wilde's novel. A true overlooked work of beauty that should not be missed.