Portrait of Jennie (1948)
Portrait of Jennie Photos
Movie Info
Cast
as Eben Adams
as Jennie Appleton
as Miss Spinney
as Matthews
as Gus O'Toole
as Mr. Moore
as Mrs. Jekes the Landlady
as Mother Mary of Mercy
as Eke
as Mrs. Bunce
as Clara Morgan
as Doorman
as Policeman
as Capt. Caleb Cobb
as Old Mariner
as Teenager
as Ice-skating extra
Critic Reviews for Portrait of Jennie
All Critics (11) | Fresh (10) | Rotten (1) | DVD (2)
Fine period melodrama starring Jennifer Jones and Joseph Cotten.
Honest-to-goodness romantic ghost story.
Wonderful romantic mystery, sure to haunt your memory
Quite possibly the most utterly romantic movie ever made.
William Dieterle's 1948 masterpiece Portrait of Jennie is not only an unabashedly romantic melodrama but also a fascinating ghost story.
Directed by William Dieterle, the film has a wistful, dreamy quality (which may be why Bunuel was drawn to it) and even its overabundance of music doesn't spoil this mood.
Audience Reviews for Portrait of Jennie
wonderful cinematography, overbearing tiomkin score, silly melodrama with supernatural elements that requires huge suspension of disbelief, then works like gangbusters. soo selznick...
Super Reviewer
A painter somehow contacts the spirit of a young girl who died and falls in love with her? It's a strange story, but it makes for an interesting movie.
Super Reviewer
I had only seen this film only the once,until recently and I recall it was on a rainy Sunday afternoon. I only started watching this film has there was not much else on, however when it had finished, i wanted to watch it again,and stayed up late so that i could watch the repeat showing.what make this stand out was the other world feeling of it,the photography,the feel of New York in a bygone era, and the music,Debussey, which is haunting adds to the overall ambiance,It is in essence a love story which transcends time and , is told with tenderness and beauty. It's mood lingers in the heart and its planes challenge the mind. It always leaves a void when the film ends and i can truly feel Ebans pain at losing Jennie. You can read into a lot of metaphorical stuff in the film and the book - cleverly done. The ending is both heartening yet crucifying,emotionally a story of two star crossed lovers, The overall realisation that through the barrier of time love is enduring and never ending, a wonderful film which is a must for all romantics out there. Highly recommended.
Super Reviewer
Portrait of Jennie Quotes
| Jennie Appleton: | Eben . . . I want always to sit and watch you paint. |
| Jennie Appleton: | Eben... I want always to sit and watch you paint. |
| Eben Adams: | Now that I've found the perfect model, I'll paint her again and again. |
| Jennie Appleton: | No, I . . . I didn't mean that . . . I mean I want you to paint all the beautiful things in the world. |
| Jennie Appleton: | No, I... I didn't mean that... I mean I want you to paint all the beautiful things in the world. |
| Eben Adams: | [smiles, holds her tight.] You're the most beautiful thing in the world. |
| Miss Spinney: | Don't be soft, Matthews. I'm an old maid, and nobody knows more about love than an old maid. |
| Jennie Appleton: | I wish that you would wait for me to grow up so that we could always be together. |