The Picture of Dorian Gray II

dorian_film.jpg

Oscar Wilde’s novel was filmed by Albert Lewin in 1945, a great adaptation with Hurd Hatfield playing Dorian, George Sanders as the aphoristic Lord Henry and Angela Lansbury as Sybil Vane. Lewin made a number of respectably arty films during the Forties and Fifties but Dorian Gray has always seemed the best to me, even if I am biased towards the story.

dorianbefore.jpg

The film was shot in black and white but views of the painting were shown in colour. For the final view of Dorian’s decayed portrait he commissioned the hyper-real artist Ivan Albright (1897–1983) whose shockingly grotesque picture (below) provides a memorable climax to the film. That painting now resides in the Art Institute of Chicago.

albright.jpg

Update: added a “before” view of the painting.

Update 2: added a link to a recent Wikipedia copy of the “after” picture that’s larger than previously available versions.

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• The Oscar Wilde archive

23 thoughts on “The Picture of Dorian Gray II”

  4. Hmm, $10 for an mpeg download sounds like a lot when you could probably find a DVD for the same price.

    BTW, I have no idea why this meagre post is so popular unless people keep clicking it to find out why it’s at the top of the list.

  6. Hallo

    I’ve discovered your site while looking for a good pic of Dorian Gray to accompany a story I am posting tonight….. now I’m writing to seek your permission to use the one you are using.

    We are a not-for-profit organisation established in Sydney (now also Melbourne) to explore the future and to help others do the same. In the expectation of your approval, I’ll post the pic tonight (I won’t have another chance for a week or so) but can remove it instantly if you tell me you’d like me to do that.

    Given your interest in Dorian, you might enjoy my story on longevity….

    Best wishes – Jan

    PS: By coincidence I found myself exploring the word “feuilleton” recently after it cropped up at a conference at Melk Abbey in Austria. See http://www.waldzell.org for more, if it interets you. Strong flavours of Hermann Hesse.

  7. Hi Jan,

    As with many (most?) blogs, the images on these postings are often taken from prior sources so I don’t have any control over their copyright. Fair use rules in copyright generally allow you to repost things (espcially small images) if you’re not being exploitative but then I’m not a lawyer and different countries have different rules.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_use

  8. Greetings. I just wanted to say that I love all of this work on Dorian Grey. I’m currently working on my own rendition for school, I’m 16, it’s a mixed media class. We have an option to do a “Free.” Painting, meaning no guidelines, no structure. I was so excited when I got this project, I knew right away what I wanted to do. I have researched the story before, but I just decided to get on and look at the rendidtion or the “Before” shot so that I could put myself a bit closer to it. See, I’ve only been around 16 years, so my painting shouldn’t be nearly as horrible. My teacher says that I’m very talented, and if she expected anyone to pull something like this off, it would be me. Thanks to whomever posted these things, great help!!!

  11. Hi Noel, and thanks.

    I’d guess that the “before” picture was one of those portrait jobs produced by the studio art department. A prop in other words, and no doubt gone the way of most other prop paintings, either sold off or destroyed in a clearance. Would be good to hear it was still around, however.

    I also recommend the BBC adaptation by John Osborne. Not as lavish as Lewin’s version but it covers aspects of the story which Hollywood missed.

  12. It would certainly make for good detective work if indeed the “before” portrait was sold off.

    Thanks for the link. It will be interesting to compare the two adaptations. I’m guessing the BBC adaptation is more faithful to the book.

    Just for interest some photos by LIFE magazine of the artists Ivan and Malvin Albright at work on the ‘decaying’ Dorian portraits for the movie. I note that they used mannequins.
    http://www.life.com/image/50611792
    http://www.life.com/image/50490080
    I initially thought the Albrights did both portraits, however when looking at the second photo of the ‘before’ portrait, it doesn’t resemble the portrait in the movie, so you may well be correct that a studio portrait was made.

  13. The BBC version is more faithful in places although both adaptations necessarily skate through some of the story.

    Thanks for the LIFE links, those are fascinating and probably worth a post of their own. Going back to the film I realised I’d been rather hasty in assuming the “before” picture to be a studio job, it’s credited in the opening as being the work of a genuine portrait artist of the period, one Henrique Medina.

  14. You are certainly more observant that I am! I never would have thought to have a look at the opening credits.

    Well so far, we know the painting was by Henrique Medina. Following on from that. I encountered a book called ‘Hollywood Cauldron’ by Gregory Mank (thanks to google books) which mentioned the “before” portrait during the making of the movie. The portrait was subsequently sold to a private collector at the MGM auction for $25,000. (pg 305). (I assume this to be the great MGM Auction of 1970). Anything beyond that is a mystery.

    At least I know now it was sold off and not destroyed.

    Thank you again John, much appreciated!

  15. The before picture of Dorian Gray was purchased by a friend of Hurd Hatfield’s and was given to him as a gift. Hurd Hatfield passed away in Ireland in 1998 where he had lived since the 70’s on land that he purchased near long time friend Angela Lansbury. I would imagine that the painting was willed to a relative.

  17. Cheers John. I posted more info. in that thread as well. We will find that painting eventually. I am sure it is in someone’s attic. :-) Seriously , I am sure they are proudly displaying it. As they should.

  20. I am the new owner of Ballinterry House. I don’t quite understand the last comment from Rodd Wayne 5/2/2012. ‘ Modernised the cottage’ and ruined what historical charm……. explain please !?? Have you been to the house recently and are you qualified to comment ?

  21. Just looked at your link Mr Wayne. According to the Irish Georgian Society Ballinterry House has been one of the most faithfully and sympathetically restored historical houses they have seen in recent years. The Conservation Department of Cork County Council has applauded our restoration. When we bought the house in 2007 the house it was on the point of dereliction and the ‘historical charm; you mention was purely superficial – behind the scenes the house was crumbling and indeed dangerouse. Again I would ask if you have visited our house since we purchased it and if not then I would ask that you refrain from commenting on something you clearly know nothing about. Incidentally one would hardly refer to a 6,000 square foot house as a ‘cottage’. Feel free to contact me if you would like to visit – we would be more than happy to show you the house. Regards.

  22. Thank you for your posting Ms. O’Sullivan. I am never too old to be corrected. My comments were hasty and based on but a few snaps of Ballinterry House. Indeed it is much more than a cottage as you say. Your new website shows so much more of the building and what you have done with it. I thought it was taken over by townies and didn’t realize the extensive care and thoughtful restoration that had taken place. Please accept my sincerest apologies. The only qualifications I had were my own personal opinions and even they were based on little information and outdated snaps. You have kept the historical charm and lovingly brought the old dear back to life. I look forward to the day that I can visit and receive my tongue thrashing followed by a good cup of tea. :-) Blessings on you and your household.
    Sincerely,
    Rodd Wayne Moffett

  23. Rodd thank you for your recent posting and I am very happy to accept you apology – perhaps I was somewhat ‘touchy’ about your comments, but we are so proud of our work here and have grown to love this beautiful house very much. I would be very happy to welcome you here – forget the ‘tongue thrashing’ – to share tea and take a tour of the house !! Ann O’Sullivan

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