A corrupt young man somehow keeps his youthful beauty, but a special painting gradually reveals his inner ugliness to all.
Directed by John Gorrie
IMDB
N/A
Letterboxd
3.6 / 5
Cast
John Gielgud
Lord Henry Wotton
Peter Firth
Dorian Gray
Jeremy Brett
Basil Hallward
Judi Bowker
Sibyl Vane
Gwen Ffrangcon Davies
Lady Agatha
Mark Dignam
Lord Fermor
Gillian Raine
Mrs. Vane
Nicholas Ball
James Vane
Nicholas Clay
Alan Campbell
Crew
Oscar Wilde
Original Story
Popular Reviews
11 reviews
Carl
i could not have asked for a better adaptation, this narrative was certainly beyond great and close to the book.
i could not have asked for a better adaptation, this narrative was certainly beyond great and close to the book.
1
nebs
9.0★ · 05/25/26
I am jealous of everything whose beauty does not die.
It took me a rewatch and a few other movie adaptations to appreciate this film, at least more than I did at first. Dorian Gray was near identical to how I pictured a Victorian era Dorian Gray when I read the books. There are... too many dark haired Dorian Grays out there which has always irked me considered most of the plot revolves around his beauty and glamour. The blonde haired Adonis finally being casted as, well, a blonde haired Adonis?? Jeremy Brett was SUCH an amazing Basil Hallward, I'm stunned
I initially disliked how true the script of this was to the novel because I expected more creative liberties taken but now I loved the loyalty to the original text considering how most adaptations change some parts of the story (mostly how Dorian and Sybil separated). None of the text was dampened or cut out, none of the subtle and implied relationship between Basil and Dorian was erased and the acting was surprisingly good for a film from the 70s?? I don't mean to be rude but most films I've seen from the 80s and older doesn't have such natural and fluid acting as most modern films. Their acting felt real and almost lifelike.
I'd almost say this is the best Picture of Dorian Gray adaptation but it's all a matter of preference at the end of the day, isn't it
I am jealous of everything whose beauty does not die.
It took me a rewatch and a few other movie adaptations to appreciate this film, at least more than I did at first. Dorian Gray was near identical to how I pictured a Victorian era Dorian Gray when I read the books. There are... too many dark haired Dorian Grays out there which has always irked me considered most of the plot revolves around his beauty and glamour. The blonde haired Adonis finally being casted as, well, a blonde haired Adonis?? Jeremy Brett was SUCH an amazing Basil Hallward, I'm stunned
I initially disliked how true the script of this was to the novel because I expected more creative liberties taken but now I loved the loyalty to the original text considering how most adaptations change some parts of the story (mostly how Dorian and Sybil separated). None of the text was dampened or cut out, none of the subtle and implied relationship between Basil and Dorian was erased and the acting was surprisingly good for a film from the 70s?? I don't mean to be rude but most films I've seen from the 80s and older doesn't have such natural and fluid acting as most modern films. Their acting felt real and almost lifelike.
I'd almost say this is the best Picture of Dorian Gray adaptation but it's all a matter of preference at the end of the day, isn't it
irene
4.0★ · 02/13/26
why couldn’t we watch the ben barnes adaptation? at least i would’ve had a bit of fun watching this as an introduction to the novel in english class…
why couldn’t we watch the ben barnes adaptation? at least i would’ve had a bit of fun watching this as an introduction to the novel in english class…
yakov
8.0★ · 01/15/25
Very good adaptation, doesn't erase the gayness of the original, the performances are on point and I love Jeremy Brett as Basil
Very good adaptation, doesn't erase the gayness of the original, the performances are on point and I love Jeremy Brett as Basil
