The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945 film)

Infobox Film
name = The Picture of Dorian Gray


caption = A promotional film poster for "The Picture of Dorian Gray"
director = Albert Lewin
producer = Pandro S. Berman
writer = Novel:
Oscar Wilde
Screenplay:
Albert Lewin
narrator =
starring = Hurd Hatfield
George Sanders
Donna Reed
Angela Lansbury
Peter Lawford
music = Herbert Stothart
cinematography = Harry Stradling Sr.
editing = Ferris Webster
distributor = Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
released = 1 March 1945 (USA)
runtime = 110 min.
country = USA
language = English
budget = $3,500,000
amg_id = 1:38093
imdb_id = 0037988

"The Picture of Dorian Gray" is an American horror-drama film based on the 1891 novel "The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde, which was the only novel he released. Released in March 1945 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the film is directed by Albert Lewin and stars George Sanders as Lord Henry Wotton and Hurd Hatfield as Dorian Gray. The film was mainly shot in black and white, but featured stunning 3-strip Technicolor inserts for effect (primarily shots of Dorian's portrait in various stages of decay).

Plot

Dorian Gray, wishing to remain young and handsome for eternity, sells his soul in order for a portrait to age instead of him. However, without his soul, he cannot enjoy the life the trade has given him.

Awards

"The Picture of Dorian Gray " won several film awards, including Academy Awards for Best Black and White Cinematography, and a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress for Angela Lansbury.

It was also nominated for an Academy for Best Black and White Art Direction to Hans Peters, Cedric Gibbons, Hugh Hunt, Edwin B. Willis and John Bonar and Best Supporting Actress again for Lansbury.

It won the 1946 Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation.

The painting of Dorian Gray

The painting entitled "Picture of Dorian Gray" [ [http://www.artic.edu/aic/collections/artwork/93798 Information about "Picture of Dorian Gray" in the Art Institute of Chicago] ] used in the film was painted on commission during the makng of the film in 1943-1944 by Ivan Le Lorraine Albright, an American artist who was well-known as a painter of the macabre. Created specifically for use in the film, it is now part of the art collection of The Art Institute of Chicago. Albright had to paint the picture while the movie was being made in order to show Dorian Gray's physical transformation as his evil actions changed him into a horrid image in the painting while his actual physical appearance remained that of a young man. At the film's climax, Gray "killed" the painting by piercing it through its heart with a knife, thus killing himself when his physical appearance changed to that of the painting.

Trivia

Angela Lansbury later sang "Goodbye, Little Yellow Bird" in the "Sing a Song of Murder" episode of "Murder, She Wrote".

References

External links

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* " [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1016302-picture_of_dorian_gray/ The Picture of Dorian Gray] " at Rotten Tomatoes