View source for The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945 film)


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{{Infobox film
| name           = The Picture of Dorian Gray
| image          = Pictureofdoriangrayposter.jpg
| alt            = 
| caption        = Promotional poster
| director       = [[Albert Lewin]]
| producer       = [[Pandro S. Berman]]
| screenplay     = Albert Lewin
| based_on       = {{Based on|''[[The Picture of Dorian Gray]]''<br>1890 novel|[[Oscar Wilde]]}}
| narrator       = [[Cedric Hardwicke]]
| starring       = [[George Sanders]]<br />[[Hurd Hatfield]]<br />[[Donna Reed]]<br />[[Angela Lansbury]]<br />[[Peter Lawford]]<br />[[Lowell Gilmore]]
| music          = [[Herbert Stothart]]
| cinematography = [[Harry Stradling]]
| editing        = [[Ferris Webster]]
| studio         = [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]]
| distributor    = [[Loews Cineplex Entertainment|Loew's Inc.]]
| released       = {{Film date|1945|03|03|ref1=<ref name="AFI">{{cite web |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/24531-THE-PICTUREOFDORIANGRAY?sid=b839629e-41af-4518-9f6b-9dba86787de3&sr=13.203856&cp=1&pos=1 |title=The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945) |website=[[AFI Catalog of Feature Films]] |access-date=December 27, 2022}}</ref>}}
| runtime        = 110 minutes<!--Theatrical runtime: 109:52--><ref>{{cite web| title=''THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY'' (A)| url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/the-picture-of-dorian-gray-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zmjg3mjg| website=[[British Board of Film Classification]]| date=April 4, 1945| access-date=October 2, 2022}}</ref>
| color_process  = [[Technicolor]]
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| budget         = $1,918,000<ref name="Mannix">{{Citation| title=The Eddie Mannix Ledger| publisher=Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study| place=Los Angeles}}.</ref>
| gross          = $2,975,000<ref name="Mannix"/><ref name="scott">{{cite book| first=Scott| last=Eyman| title=Lion of Hollywood: The Life and Legend of Louis B. Mayer| publisher=Simon & Schuster| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mxtlAAAAMAAJ&q=Dorian+Gray| year=2005| page=337| isbn=978-0-7432-0481-1}}</ref>
}}

'''''The Picture of Dorian Gray''''' is a 1945 American [[supernatural film|supernatural]] [[Horror film|horror]]-[[drama film]] based on [[Oscar Wilde]]'s 1890 novel ''[[The Picture of Dorian Gray]]''. Released in March 1945 by [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]], the film was written and directed by [[Albert Lewin]] and produced by [[Pandro S. Berman]]. It stars [[George Sanders]] as Lord Henry Wotton and [[Hurd Hatfield]] as Dorian Gray, alongside [[Donna Reed]], [[Angela Lansbury]], [[Peter Lawford]], and [[Lowell Gilmore]]. [[Cedric Hardwicke]] narrates.

The film is shot primarily in [[black-and-white]], except four inserts in three-strip [[Technicolor]] of Dorian's portrait ranging from the youthful painting by Henrique Medina and the final, degenerate portrait by [[Ivan Le Lorraine Albright]]. The film was a critical success, winning the [[Academy Award for Best Cinematography]] for [[Harry Stradling]]. Angela Lansbury won the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture|Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress]] and received an [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress|Academy Award nomination]] for her role as Sibyl Vane.

==Plot==
[[File:Hurd Hatfield in The Picture of Dorian Gray trailer.jpg|thumb|Hurd Hatfield plays Dorian Gray.]]
[[File:Angela Lansbury in The Picture of Dorian Gray trailer.jpg|thumb|Angela Lansbury plays Sibyl Vane.]]
[[File:Peter Lawford in The Picture of Dorian Gray trailer.jpg|thumb|Peter Lawford plays David Stone.]]
While posing for a painting by his friend Basil Hallward, handsome young aristocrat Dorian Gray meets Hallward's friend Lord Henry Wotton. Wotton persuades Gray the only worthwhile life is dedicated to pleasure, because "what the gods give they quickly take away." Contemplating this, Gray wishes his portrait could age instead of him. He makes this wish in the presence of an [[Ancient Egyptian art|Egyptian cat statue]] with supposed magical powers.

After callously breaking off his engagement to [[tavern]] singer Sibyl Vane, Gray finds the portrait has begun to change and wonders if his wish may have come true. He has the portrait locked away in his old schoolroom and disguises its location by firing servants who moved the painting, while Gray, after Sibyl's suicide, becomes more dedicated to a sinful and heartless life.

Years later, Dorian is 40 but still looks 22. London society is awestruck at his unchanging appearance. The portrait has remained locked away, with Gray holding the only key. Over the years, the portrait of the young, handsome, Dorian Gray has warped into a hideous, demon-like creature reflecting his many sins. When Hallward sees his painting, Gray murders his friend and seals his body in the school room next to the portrait, then blackmails his friend, Allen Campbell, to dispose of Hallward's body. Campbell, distraught at his role in destroying Hallward's corpse, commits suicide.

Gray starts a romance with Hallward's niece, Gladys. James Vane, Sibyl's brother, follows Gray to his country estate to achieve revenge for Sibyl's death and is shot by accident during a hunting party.

Gray despairs at his impact on others and realises he can spare Gladys from misfortune by leaving her. After sending Gladys a letter breaking their engagement, Gray confronts his portrait and sees a subtle improvement. He stabs the portrait in the heart, seeking to end the spell, but cries out as if he has also been stabbed. His friends, realizing what has happened, burst into the schoolroom to discover Gray dead next to the portrait, his deformed body now reflecting his sins in physical form. The portrait, by contrast, once more shows Dorian Gray as a young, innocent man.

==Cast==
{{Cast listing|
* [[George Sanders]] as Lord Henry Wotton
* [[Hurd Hatfield]] as [[Dorian Gray (character)|Dorian Gray]]
* [[Donna Reed]] as Gladys Hallward
* [[Angela Lansbury]] as Sibyl Vane
* [[Peter Lawford]] as David Stone
* [[Lowell Gilmore]] as Basil Hallward
* [[Richard Fraser (actor)|Richard Fraser]] as James Vane
* [[Douglas Walton (actor)|Douglas Walton]] as Allen Campbell
* [[Morton Lowry]] as Adrian Singleton
* [[Miles Mander]] as Sir Robert Bentley
* [[Lydia Bilbrook]] as Mrs. Vane
* [[Mary Forbes]] as Lady Agatha
* [[Robert Greig]] as Sir Thomas
* [[Moyna Macgill]] as Duchess
* [[Anita Sharp-Bolster]] as Lady Harborough
* [[Billy Bevan]] as Malvolio Jones 
* [[Lilian Bond]] as Kate
* [[Devi Dja]] as Lead Dancer
'''Uncredited Cast'''
* [[Cedric Hardwicke]] as Narrator
* [[Mitchell Lewis (actor)|Mitchell Lewis]] as Waiter
* [[Reginald Owen]] as Lord George Farmour
* Carol Diane Keppler as Gladys Hallward (child)
* Devi Wani as Dancer
* Devi Mima as Dancer
* Devi Tina as Dancer
}}

==Production==
{{expand section|date=October 2022}}

===Book source===
Changes to the original include the romance between Gladys and David and "some censorship restrictions that kept Dorian's unspeakable acts offscreen". In the book, the picture alters in response to Dorian's "good deed", but the alteration is ugly, reflecting his cynicism and self-serving motivation. He stabs the painting to destroy his conscience and eliminate the evidence. In the film, he reads a faint change in the painting as a sign of hope, yet stabs the painting as if he can undo his past. As he is transformed off-screen, he prays for forgiveness.<ref name=tcm>{{cite web |title=The Picture of Dorian Gray |url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/2821/the-picture-of-dorian-gray |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208132339/http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/2821/The-Picture-of-Dorian-Gray/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 8, 2012 |access-date=October 4, 2022 |website=[[Turner Classic Movies]] |language=en}}</ref> Shortly after the discovery of Dorian's body, Lord Henry begs Heaven for his own forgiveness for leading the young man down the path of evil.

===Paintings===
[[File:The Picture of Dorian Gray.jpg|thumb|right|[[Ivan Albright|Albright's]] painting of Dorian Gray is in the film.]]
{{external media | width = 210px | float = right | audio1 = [https://www.artic.edu/artworks/93798/picture-of-dorian-gray Multimedia, Audio stop 728.mp3], [[Art Institute of Chicago]] }}
Two paintings of the character Dorian Gray were used in the film. The painting titled ''Picture of Dorian Gray'' used at the end of the film was painted on commission during the making of the film in 1943–1944 by [[Ivan Albright|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 collection of the [[Art Institute of Chicago]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.artic.edu/aic/collections/artwork/93798| title=Picture of Dorian Gray| website=Art Institute of Chicago| access-date=December 27, 2022}}</ref> Albright painted and altered the picture while the movie was being made to allow it to represent the development of Dorian's character.

The portrait of Dorian Gray seen in the beginning of the film was painted by [[Henrique Medina]], and is titled ''Portrait of Hurd Hatfield as Dorian Gray''. It was originally sold at an MGM auction in 1970 when the contents of the studio were sold at a series of auctions lasting several months. It was then sold in a Butterfield and Butterfield Entertainment Memorabilia auction in 1997 for $17,250,<ref>{{cite news| title=Merger Mania Hits The Auction Circuit| url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1998-05-18-9805180113-story.html| last=Arnet| first=Danielle| newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]| language=en-US| date=May 18, 1998| access-date=December 27, 2022}}</ref> and in 2015 it sold at [[Christie's]], New York, for $149,000 and is believed to be in a private collection.<ref name="Christies">{{cite web |title=Lot 1330 Henrique Medina (1901-1988) Portrait of Hurd Hatfield as Dorian Gray |url=https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/paintings/henrique-medina-portrait-of-hurd-hatfield-5875468-details.aspx |website=Christie's |access-date=November 12, 2018 |date=March 21, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=Henrique Medina, Cindy Sherman {{!}} "Portrait of Hurd Hatfield as Dorian Gray" and "The Evil Twin" (1945 and 2016)| url=https://www.artsy.net/artwork/henrique-medina-portrait-of-hurd-hatfield-as-dorian-gray-and-the-evil-twin| website=[[Artsy (website)|Artsy]]| language=en| access-date=May 13, 2020}}</ref>

===Music===
The first piano piece played by Dorian to Sibyl is [[Frédéric Chopin]]'s [[Preludes (Chopin)|"Prelude No 24 in D minor"]]. Played later in the Blue Gate Field house is [[Ludwig van Beethoven]]'s "[[Piano Sonata No. 14 (Beethoven)|Moonlight Sonata]]".

==Reception==
Since its release, ''The Picture of Dorian Gray'' has received positive reviews, with review aggregate site [[Rotten Tomatoes]] giving a 94% rating based on 16 reviews.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945) |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1016302-picture_of_dorian_gray/reviews |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129180440/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1016302-picture_of_dorian_gray/reviews |archive-date=November 29, 2021 |access-date=July 4, 2025 |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]]}}</ref>

''[[Leslie Halliwell]]'' gave it three of four stars: "Elegant variation on ''Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde'', presented in portentous style which suits the subject admirably."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Halliwell |first1=Leslie |title=Halliwell's Film Guide |edition=13th |year=1987 |publisher=HarperCollins |isbn=978-0-00-638868-5}}</ref>{{page needed|date=July 2025}} [[Leonard Maltin]] gave the film three and a half out of four stars in his ''[[Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide|Movie Guide]]'': "Haunting Oscar Wilde story...Young Lansbury is poignant...Sanders leaves indelible impression as elegant heavy."<ref>{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/leonardmaltinsmo0000unse_r6m5/page/1096/mode/2up |title=Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide |year=2011 |pages=1096 |isbn=978-0-451-46849-9 }}</ref> The [[BBC]] in 2000 declared it, "Among the many film adaptations of Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray", this 1945 MGM version is without a doubt the best. With a reputed budget of $2m, this is a film of handsome veneer under which lurks a macabre tale of greed and destruction." awarding it four out of five stars.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945) |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2000/10/12/picture_of_dorian_gray_1945_review.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070917105920/https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2000/10/12/picture_of_dorian_gray_1945_review.shtml |archive-date=September 17, 2007 |access-date=July 5, 2025 |website=BBC |first=Almar |last=Haflidason |date=October 12, 2000}}</ref>

Film critic and author [[James Agee]] reviewed it in ''[[The Nation (magazine)|The Nation]]'' in 1945, "A good movie might have been made from ''The Picture of Dorian Gray''. Albert Lewin's version is respectful, earnest, and I am afraid, dead."<ref>{{cite book |last=Agee |first=James |title=Agee on Film |volume=1 |year=1958}}</ref> Likewise [[Pauline Kael]] gave it a mixed appraisal: "It has its ludicrous side{{nbsp}}... But the Oscar Wilde story has its compelling gimmick and its cheap thrills, and despite the failing of Albert Lewin as writer and director, he has an appetite for decadence and plushy decor. Neither Hatfield, who tries scrupulously hard, nor George Sanders{{nbsp}}... rises above Lewin's chic gothic conception{{nbsp}}... But as Dorian's victim, gullible Sibyl Vane, the young Angela Lansbury gives her scenes true depth of feeling."<ref>{{cite book |last=Kael |first=Pauline |url=https://archive.org/details/5001-nights-at-the-movies-a-guide-from-a-to-z/mode/2up |title=5001 Nights at the Movies |year=1991 |isbn=0-8050-1366-0 |pages=459–460 |publisher=Henry Holt }}</ref>

===Box office===
According to MGM records, the film earned $1,399,000 in the U.S. and [[Canada]] and $1,576,000 elsewhere, resulting in a loss of $26,000.<ref name="Mannix"/>

===Awards and nominations===
{{more citations needed section|date=November 2016}}
{| class=wikitable 
! Year
! Award
! Result
! Category
! Recipient
|-
| rowspan=4|1946 || rowspan=3|[[Academy Awards|Academy Award]] || {{nom}} || [[Academy Award for Best Production Design|Best Art Direction-Interior Decoration, Black-and-White]] || [[John Bonar (set decorator)|John Bonar]], [[Cedric Gibbons]], [[Hugh Hunt]], [[Hans Peters (art director)|Hans Peters]]<br/>and [[Edwin B. Willis]]
|-
| {{nom}} || [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress|Best Supporting Actress]] || [[Angela Lansbury]]
|-
| {{won}} || [[Academy Award for Best Cinematography|Best Cinematography, Black-and-White]] || [[Harry Stradling]]{{efn|This Oscar win for Cinematography is a rare demonstration of respect for a horror film.<ref name="Vieira117">{{cite book |last1=Vieira |first1=Mark A. |title=Hollywood Horror: From Gothic to Cosmic |year=2003 |publisher=Harry N. Abrams |location=New York |isbn=978-0-8109-4535-7 |page=[https://archive.org/details/hollywoodhorrorf0000viei/page/117 117] |url=https://archive.org/details/hollywoodhorrorf0000viei/page/117 }}</ref>}}
|-
| [[Golden Globe Award]] || {{won}} || [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress&nbsp;– Motion Picture|Best Supporting Actress]] || Angela Lansbury
|-
| 1996|| [[Hugo Award]] || {{won}} ||[[Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation|Best Dramatic Presentation]] || Albert Lewin, [[Oscar Wilde]]
|-
| 2009|| [[Saturn Award]] || {{won}} ||Best DVD Classic Film Release || ''The Picture of Dorian Gray''
|}

* [[AFI's 100 Years...100 Thrills]] – No. 86
* [[AFI's 100 Years...100 Heroes and Villains]]:
** [[Dorian Gray]] — Nominated Villain

==See also==
* [[Adaptations of The Picture of Dorian Gray|Adaptations of ''The Picture of Dorian Gray'']]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title}}
* {{TCMDb title}}
* {{AFI film}}

{{The Picture of Dorian Gray}}
{{Faust navbox}}
{{Retro Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945 film)}}
[[Category:1945 films]]
[[Category:1945 drama films]]
[[Category:1945 horror films]]
[[Category:1940s historical fantasy films]]
[[Category:1940s historical horror films]]
[[Category:1940s supernatural horror films]]
[[Category:American black-and-white films]]
[[Category:American drama films]]
[[Category:American gothic horror films]]
[[Category:American historical films]]
[[Category:American supernatural horror films]]
[[Category:Films based on The Picture of Dorian Gray]]
[[Category:Films directed by Albert Lewin]]
[[Category:Films featuring a Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe–winning performance]]
[[Category:Films produced by Pandro S. Berman]]
[[Category:Films set in London]]
[[Category:Films set in 1886]]
[[Category:Films set in the 1890s]]
[[Category:Films partially in color]]
[[Category:Films whose cinematographer won the Best Cinematography Academy Award]]
[[Category:Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films]]
[[Category:Films scored by Herbert Stothart]]
[[Category:1945 English-language films]]
[[Category:1945 American films]]
[[Category:Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation–winning works]]
[[Category:American horror drama films]]
[[Category:Films about fictional painters]]
[[Category:English-language horror films]]
[[Category:English-language fantasy films]]
[[Category:English-language historical films]]
[[Category:English-language drama films]]
[[Category:1945 fantasy films]]
[[Category:1940s color films]]

{{Wikipedia attribution|original_title=The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945 film)|access_date=2026-03-07}}