The Picture of Dorian Gray

The Picture of Dorian Gray Photos

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Cast & Crew

George Sanders
Lord Henry Wotton

Hurd Hatfield
Dorian Gray

Angela Lansbury
Sibyl Vane

Donna Reed
Gladys Hallward

Lowell Gilmore
Basil Hallward

Peter Lawford
David Stone

Richard Fraser
James Vane

Lydia Bilbrook
Mrs. Vane

Morton Lowry
Adrian Singleton

Douglas Walton
Allen Campbell

Mary Forbes
Lady Agatha

Robert Greig
Sir Thomas

Lisa Carpenter
Lady Henry Wotton (uncredited)

Moyna MacGill
Duchess

Billy Bevan
Malvolio Jones

Miles Mander
Sir Robert Bentley

Albert Lewin
Director

Pandro S. Berman
Producer

Albert Lewin
Screenwriter

Herbert Stothart
Original Music

Harry Stradling Sr.
Cinematographer

Ferris Webster
Film Editing

Mel Ballerino
Casting

Cedric Gibbons
Art Director

Hans Peters
Art Director

Edwin B. Willis
Set Decoration

Valles
Costume Design

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Audience Reviews for The Picture of Dorian Gray

• Sep 30, 2013

  This is <i>the</i> film version of Oscar Wilde's classic tale about a man whose physical appearance remains the same despite his depravity. Finally, Wilde's tale is adapted faithfully. In this film version, Dorian is not a magical superhero/villain a la <i>The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen</i> or a horribly corrupt murderer a la <i>Dorian Gray</i>. He is instead appropriately narcissistic and tortured. Within Hurd Hatfield's performance is a healthy conscience that manifests in his eyes but not the rest of his physiognomy. The real improvement comes in the performance of George Sanders who captures Wilde's Lord Henry perfectly. <i>Dorian Gray</i> with Colin Firth posited that depravity was the logical extension of Lord Henry's philosophy, but Sanders's performance correctly captures what Wilde might have said: that fun is the logic extension of Lord Henry's philosophy. There's a big jump between a philosophy that deifies the aesthetic and a philosophy that finds beauty in murder. This seems like an obvious point, but of the adaptations I've seen, only director Albert Lewin seems to understand it. Overall, if you really hate reading but still want to see a version of Oscar Wilde's novel, then see this one.
  Jim H Super Reviewer
• Oct 17, 2011

  A bit dull for horror.
  Cita W Super Reviewer
• Apr 20, 2011

  Oscar Wilde's famous novel is brought to life in this pretty faithful adaptation by director/writer Albert Lewin. Some of the homosexual subtext has been toned down, and Dorian's spiraling descent into depravity is alluded to so vaguely that one could ascribe just about anything to it. I wasn't a fan of the novel, mainly because I found the philosophies and witticisms to be meaningless. For example (and just to pull something off the top of my head), "it's the man who never thirsts whose cup is always full". I just made that up, it means nothing, yet could mean something if someone bothered to think about it. There is a character in the book spouting off such witticisms every third sentence, and it becomes grating after a while. Anyway, while the film was very keen on the superficial aspects of re-creating the story, I don't think it touched on the true heart of the novel, the fear of lost youth or the nihilistic approach to life that Dorian is led to by an evil mentor (all the more evil that he corrupts Dorian just for simple fun, rather than any ulterior motive). I suppose it's a lot to expect from 1940s hollywood. In any event, what we have here is a completely passable version of Dorian Gray.
  Super Reviewer
• Nov 03, 2010

  A solid adaptation of the novel, a bit dated and slugish in it's pacing. Special mention to the fully colored painting the movie wisely uses as the only image of color, truly creepy stuff.
  Tsubaki S Super Reviewer