everything you have heard about this movie is true.

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

Oscar Wilde's bizarre story is brought vividly to life in this film of the same name, "The Picture of Dorian Gray." Hurd Hatfield is the man in question who wishes to retain his young looks while his portrait ages. While making his wish in the artist's house, a small statue of an ancient Egyptian cat with supposed supernatural powers close by him grants his wish. The forthcoming plot shows how Hurd goes through life affecting those around him negatively and how it changes his inner soul, all the while it is being reflected in the portrait. George Sanders is an acquaintance of Dorian's and the artist and is there while the wish is granted. George is all the time making generalizations about life, love, and women (witticisms when George Sanders say them) and in doing so displays his brusque cynicism; in short, he's a cad, and Sanders is in his element, stealing all the scenes he's in. But this film is exquisite in style, storytelling, and in capturing the time and place. Angela Lansbury costars and gives a very moving and memorable performance. Peter Lawford and Donna Reed also star, but they are given very little to do. No matter, because this is another example of how they just don't make movies like they used to. Winner of a cinematography Oscar, "The Picture of Dorian Gray" is an involved, intricate and intelligent film movie experience. Not to be dismissed as just a horror classic, this is a film classic for all those who enjoy good old-fashioned films.

THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY (1945) A Review by JP July 20, 2016"Each of us has Heaven & Hell in him." –Oscar Wilde Youth. Pride. Vanity. Morality. Mortality.Each & Every moment spoken in this dark, macabre cautionary tale is quote-worthy, thought-provoking, and piercingly-existential. Adapted from playwright Oscar Wilde's only novel & reminiscent of "The Monkey's Paw", "The Picture of Dorian Gray" weaves the wicked web of a young man inspired to sell his soul to never grow old upon viewing a portrait painted of himself which perfectly-captured the innocence & beauty of his youth. The cliché "be careful what you wish for" would be an understatement in this story, which still holds significance today as we are still a vain, self-damning species.Hurd Hatfield (El Cid, King of Kings) plays Dorian Gray with steely eyes and a level of intensity comparable to Anthony Perkins in "Psycho" (1960). Narrated by the great George Sanders (Rebecca, All About Eve), as Wilde's counterpart Lord Henry Wooten, the pivotal supporting role inadvertently-responsible for the title character's ill-fated decision & subsequent downward spiral – brings a witty cynicism to the bleak, shadowy gloom despite his old-fashioned chauvinistic ways. A cherubic Angela Landsbury (Bedknobs & Broomsticks, Murder, She Wrote), archetypal golden era maiden Donna Reed (It's a Wonderful Life, From Here to Eternity), and, surprisingly-non-Rat Pack Peter Lawford (Ocean's 11, Exodus) add style & grace to this elegantly-crafted, Oscar-winning hidden gem which deserves much more than a mere Warner Archive release (Hint, Hint Criterion).A notable aspect, which I'm sure was quite a feat at the time, was the decision to have the film in black & white with the exception of the portrait twice, once for the initial reveal & last for the most hideous deterioration."Was it true that one could never change? He longed for the unstained purity of his youth, before he had prayed in a monstrous moment of pride & passion that the painting should bear the burden of the years & of his corruptions." – Oscar Wilde

A corrupt young man (Hurd Hatfield) somehow keeps his youthful beauty, but a special painting gradually reveals his inner ugliness to all.As with all classic literature, numerous version of the Dorian Gray story exist. And also like classic literature, the best versions seem to have arrived early on. Much like David Lean's versions of Dickens, this 1945 version of Dorian Gray could probably never be equaled. It just has the look about it that only films of the day could have.Quite interestingly, the lead is played by Hurd Hatfield, whom I had never heard of before. One of the stars is Angela Lansbury, who in hindsight is probably the biggest name associated with the film. We are blessed that she offered her thoughts to an audio commentary.

"The Picture of Dorian Gray" 1945 is the best embodiment of the Oscar Wilde's novel , which the movie kept its name. During the first 25 minutes the enormous amount of literary and intellectual humbles you to the point that you feel as if you were a child learning the alphabet, which makes you feel a sense of awe in case you decide to stay on the student chair in front of the genius of Oscar Wilde. As for cinematic ,you feel integration happening between the image and the word, which makes you forget to judge the performance more accurately, in spite of that, the exact performance of the character of Lord Henry by the actor George Sanders and great performance of Seibel by actress Angela Ansbera will certainly catch your attention. But perhaps because the character of Lord Henry was the strange logic of Oscar in its novel, it is imperative that we sense it's mad genius.