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1945: The Picture of Dorian Gray
Topic Started: Jul 19 2010, 09:14 AM (380 Views)
Laughing Gravy
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The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945) Dir. Albert Lewin
ITB Shock Theatre #129

From its inception in the mid-1920s through the breakup of the studio system in the 1950s, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer was undoubtedly the Cadillac of movie studios, with the finest craftsmen, biggest stars, most glistening production values, and best brand name – if the film you were about to see began with a roaring lion, you knew you were in for a quality couple hours at the movies. The studio rarely ventured into the genre of horror, however, following the debacle of Freaks in 1932. Mark of the Vampire (1935) and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941) are high production bores, partially because they were made during the Hays Office era, when the censors clamped down on the content (the MGM Jekyll film is paired on DVD with the 1931 pre-Code Paramount version starring Fredric March; compare the two films for a textbook example of what artistic damage the Motion Picture Code wrought).

It was a real treat, then, to discover that The Picture of Dorian Gray (directed by Albert Lewin from the novel by Oscar Wilde), contains all the necessary horror and shock to make a top-notch genre thriller, despite the necessity of conformance to the Code. Much of the horror and debauchery is only alluded to, and I suspect that the Censors ordered several cuts (Gray’s male friends in this film act VERY strange, and I think that we’re supposed to think that his “debauchery” consists of homosexual liaisons, forbidden of course by the Code).

Dorian Gray is a young aristocrat in Victorian England; he’s sitting for a portrait by a friend, and through the artist he meets Sir Henry, a wiseass, cynical, devilish but witty lout who tells him that “the only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it.” Gray meets a lovely young music hall singer, and following Sir Henry’s advice, puts her love to the test by despoiling her and then throwing her out. She kills herself, and to hide his pain and guilt, Gray decides to become the emotionless, heartless fiend Sir Henry suggests he be. He makes a wish that the portrait should grow old while he himself stays young; thanks to some hokum about a magical Egyptian icon that’s in the room, Gray’s wish is granted – although the painting doesn’t just age, it also reflects Gray’s sins through the years, which include not only debauchery and lechery, but also a rather shocking murder and the deaths of other innocents for which Gray is responsible. Two decades later, when the niece of the portrait’s artist grows up and falls in love with Dorian, he must finally choose between his sins and his soul.

“I sent my soul to the Invisible / Some letter of that afterlife to spell / And by and by my soul return'd to me / And answer'd, 'I myself am heaven and hell.'" - Oscar Wilde.

The “after” portrait of Dorian Gray was published in Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine many times when I was a kid, but I was unprepared for how it’s presented here: when the picture is shown, the screen turns to vivid Technicolor. It’s one of the most shocking things captured on film in the 1940s, with the possible exception of wartime atrocity footage. Angela Lansbury, still in her teens when she made this film (she’s the singer) lights up the screen; George Sanders (as the loathsome Sir Henry) and Donna Reed (as Dorian’s final love interest) are fine as well. If there’s a problem with this film, it’s Hurd Hatfield, who plays Dorian Gray: he goes way too far with his emotionlessness, and seems to be wearing Mr. Sardonicus’ mask (if you don’t know who THAT is, well, you don’t visit In The Balcony very often!). What Donna Reed ever saw in him (besides a childhood crush) is beyond me, although Gray’s rival for her affections is Peter Lawford, and he’s no better, so what the hell.

The Picture of Dorian Gray is available on Blu-ray from Warners Archive, and it looks terrific. The disc includes a pretty good Tom & Jerry cartoon called Quiet Please!; a bulldog is trying to take a nap and threatens to kill Tom if he wakes him up, so Jerry makes as much noise as possible. An excellent 1945 “Passing Parade” short, Stairway to Light, rounds out the program. Both the short and the cartoon were Oscar winners that year, and for that matter, so was Dorian Gray: Best Cinematography, B&W. Miss Lansbury and the Art Direction were also nominees that year. I listened to about half the commentary track, which includes a very charming and enthusiastic Miss Lansberry discussing the film, her co-stars, and her career.
Edited by Laughing Gravy, Aug 29 2015, 04:26 PM.
"I'm glad that this question came up, because there are so many ways to answer it that one of them is bound to be right." - Robert Benchley
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The Batman
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I happpened to watch this a couple of weeks ago and agree, great stuff, though Dorian himself was a little stiff.

However, I cannot agree with your assessment of FREAKS, which I find to be a chilling tale.

Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman!
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Laughing Gravy
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Well, just to clarify... I like Freaks a lot. By 'debacle' I was referring to MGM's horrified reaction to the picture; they barely released it, sold it off to some other company for re-release in the 1950s, and the film was all but ignored until it was "rediscovered" in the 1970s for stoned college students to enjoy.
"I'm glad that this question came up, because there are so many ways to answer it that one of them is bound to be right." - Robert Benchley
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Oh...in that case, I do agree with your assessment. Hey, that was easy!
Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman!
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CliffClaven
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I hope you get around to the commentary. Besides the visual gloss, the adaptation was very carefully worked out, and not just to appease the code.

Also: Is it just me, or does Dorian remind you of Buster Keaton? That would be a story -- a forever-young Buster basking in permanent stardom, while the portrait in the attic looks like the Railrodder.
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Thanks, Cliff, I will add that to my commentary must-listen list.

Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman!
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Laughing Gravy
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I watched the Blu-ray, updated the review, and enjoyed the film even more. It's a great one.
"I'm glad that this question came up, because there are so many ways to answer it that one of them is bound to be right." - Robert Benchley
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