Watch The Picture of Dorian Gray

The Picture of Dorian Gray is a classic American drama-horror film adaptation of Oscar Wilde's novel of the same name, released in 1945. This film follows the protagonist, Dorian Gray (Hurd Hatfield), who is a handsome and wealthy young man living in London in the late 19th century. He is the subject of a portrait painted by the talented artist Basil Hallward (Lowell Gilmore). Dorian's beauty and youthfulness captivate everyone who comes across him, especially Basil, who becomes enamored with him.

At a party, Dorian meets Lord Henry Wotton (George Sanders), a cynical and hedonistic man who enjoys living life to the fullest. Wotton begins to influence Dorian's outlook on life, convincing him that beauty and pleasure are the only things that matter in life. Dorian becomes obsessed with the idea of staying young and beautiful forever, and expresses his desire to sell his soul to the devil to achieve eternal youth. His wish is granted, and the portrait of him begins to age and show signs of evil within, while Dorian remains young and carefree.

The turning point comes when Dorian falls in love with a singer named Sibyl Vane (Angela Lansbury), but their happiness is short-lived when Dorian ends things with her after seeing her perform poorly in a play. This sets off a chain of events that leads Dorian down a path of debauchery and sin, with his painted portrait bearing the visual evidence of his moral decay.

Wotton is obsessed with Dorian and convince him that all of his sins are justified, including murder. As Dorian's physical appearance remains unchanged, his portrait bears the marks of his corrupt soul, forcing him to keep it locked away in his attic.

As the years go by, Dorian's behavior grows increasingly wicked, causing him to alienate himself from his friends and loved ones. Eventually, he begins to experience paranoia and fear, knowing that his portrait is a constant reminder of the evil he has committed. When Dorian realizes that the painting has begun to cause him physical harm, he tries to destroy it, only to realize that he cannot escape his own wrongdoing.

The Picture of Dorian Gray's themes of beauty, youth, corruption, and the dangers of living a hedonistic lifestyle are timeless and universal. The actors' performances in this film are exceptional, with Hurd Hatfield's portrayal of Dorian capturing the character's descent into madness excellently. George Sanders is fantastic as the manipulative and corrupt Lord Henry Wotton, whose influence on Dorian's life ultimately proves to be toxic. Donna Reed's performance as Gladys Hallward, Basil's loving niece, brings some level of innocence and redemption to the film.

The Picture of Dorian Gray's cinematography is haunting and unique, with shots of the portrait capturing the slow and steady corruption of Dorian's soul in a visually stunning way. The film's score, composed by Herbert Stothart, adds to the dark and ominous atmosphere of the movie.

Overall, The Picture of Dorian Gray is a remarkable work of art, both visually and thematically. The heartbreaking tale of Dorian Gray's descent into madness, as he becomes more and more disconnected from reality, is a cautionary tale that resonates even today. This film is a must-see for anyone looking for a psychological thriller filled with horror and drama, accompanied by excellent acting and a haunting musical score.

The Picture of Dorian Gray is a 1945 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 50 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.5.