The 1970 screen adaptation of Dorian Gray by Massimo Dallamano is one film version I’ve yet to see. Given that it’s a production of notorious schlock merchants Samuel Z Arkoff and Harry Alan Towers I wouldn’t expect too much although it does have Helmut Berger as the star when he was at the height of his pulchritude. And I really like this Klimt-esque poster, a typical piece of Seventies design with an illustration that resembles many of the trendier European comic strips of the period. I’ve no idea who the artist was despite there being a scrawled signature. If anyone has a clue, please leave a comment.
Update: The artist is Ted Coconis.
• A lengthy review at Cinebeats
Elsewhere on { feuilleton }
• The Oscar Wilde archive
Hi John,
I couldn’t find this film anywhere but on Amazon on VHS, so I bought it for about $8, as well as the poster. I love the poster, but the film is unsatisfying. The queer subtext becomes quite overt, and some of the costumes of the latter half are provocative, but by the end I just wanted to get it over with. Berger is handsome, no doubt, but he doesn’t redeem the film.
Hi Evan and thanks, I won’t be in a real hurry to see it! A shame as the poster is great. I only belatedly realised that the director was the photographer of For a Few Dollars More.
There’s a chance that this poster was illustrated by the Italian Arnaldo Putzu – it looks very much like his style. He signed his work ‘A.Putzu’. Otherwise, possibly Brian Sanders. It really is a stunning piece.