Das Bildnis des Dorian Gray

Massimo Dallamano's film of Oscar Wilde's work places the story to the London of the 1960s. Even though many reviews obviously didn't like this and wrote rather negative about the film, I think the story works surprisingly well.

Helmut Berger is excellent and undeniably gorgeous as the (in the end tragic) title character, but also the other actors deliver their best. Especially Herbert Lom as Henry Wotton acts absolutely great, and most of the women are not only very pretty, but also deliver convincing performances.

All in all, "Dorian Gray" surely is the most unusual film version of the writing, it is rather drama than horror, but that's what Oscar Wilde's work is too, isn't it? I guess that Oscar Wilde would have liked this.

Massimo Dallamano's Dorian Gray is a REALLY kitsch version of Oscar Wilde's classic tale, set in 'swinging' London, with funky music, gaudy fashion, and decadent sexually-liberated characters of all persuasions. Helmut Berger is the beautiful young Gray, who sells his soul so that his portrait will age and decay while he himself stays eternally youthful; Richard Todd is artist Basil, who captures the likeness of Gray so perfectly that his subject becomes obsessed with his own attractiveness; and Herbert Lom is influential art dealer Henry Watton, who leads Gray astray by telling him to make the most of his youth and yield to temptation. Marie Liljedahl plays stage actress Sybil, who falls for Dorian, but finds herself abandoned once Gray gets a taste of the high life.

Dallamano keeps the film moving at a decent pace, and his cast all put in entertaining performances, with Lom being particularly fun as the corruptor of youth, providing the film's funniest moment (unintentionally so) when he pops up in Dorian's shower, bar of soap in hand. Isa Miranda is also a hoot as ageing millionairess Mrs. Ruxton, who Dorian reluctantly treats to a spot of back-door sex in a stable. Perhaps the best thing about the film is the hideous '70s clothing, especially Berger's wardrobe: his blue velvet shirt and shorts two piece is quite the fashion statement, but it pales in comparison to the zebra stripe coat, brown flares, foppish hat and cravat ensemble that he opts for in the final act. Talking of zebra stripes, they must have been popular back then - Dorian's apartment is adorned with zebra pattern curtains, and not one, but two zebra skin rugs. Other animal-based decorations include a lion skin rug (you can never have too many dead animal skins to lounge on) and an elephant tusk picture frame. How tasteful!

7.5/10, rounded up to 8 for Liljedahl, who is gorgeous (and not averse to taking her clothes off), and for the hilarious pair of mincing queens outside the Black Cock nightclub (I kid you not!).

In the late 60's in London, the model Dorian Gray (Helmut Berger) meets the aspirant actress Sybil Vane (Marie Liljedahl) and they fall in love for each other. Meanwhile, his friend Basil Hallward (Richard Todd) concludes his painting, and Dorian Gray, fascinated with the picture, proposes the devil to exchange his soul per a permanent youth and beauty. From this moment on, the character and behavior of the former sweet Dorian changes and he becomes a corrupt and amoral man, sex driven and capable of destroying many lives inclusive Sibyl's. While his friends grow older, Dorian remains young never aging, but his painting discloses his innermost ugliness, fruit of his despicable social conduct.

"Dorian Gray" is a good contemporary adaptation of the famous Oscar Wilde's classic novel "The Picture of Dorian Gray", which I believe is one of the books most read, or at least known, worldwide. Everybody is familiarized with this dramatic and evil story. The handsome Helmut Berger fits perfectly to the role and I really liked this underrated movie. Massimo Dallamano's version is original, attractive and has a good international cast. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "O Retrato de Dorian Gray" ("The Picture of Dorian Gray")

Note: On 14 July 2022, I saw this film again.

Once you see DORIAN GRAY you can't forget it. It's an updated version of the famous story, updated for the swinging 60s/70s which today is now outdated, which only adds to its many memorable aspects.

There's no point of giving a brief synopsis of the story as we all know it's about a man who remains perpetually young while a painting of himself ages in the attic. But what's really "new" or different here is the tone. It's trashy or should I say Eurotrashy. Helmut Berger plays Dorian Gray as a bisexual jet-setter who likes to mingle with beautiful young women but also with men on the side. The moral of the story is that Dorian has no morals and Helmut is perfectly cast as Dorian.

The one big problem with this version is that it was made a bit too early in the 70s. Had this been made in the mid to late 70s, there would have been a bit more sex or violence. It was sorta ahead of its times with the lurid update of the Dorian Gray story but it could have used a bit more explicitness to make it more true to its intentions. As it is, it hints at things it almost never shows and it's just a big tease of sorts. With a bit more sex it could have enjoyed a wider success like the Emmanuelle films.

But the main reason to watch DORIAN GRAY is for Helmut. It's one of his few starring roles and he shines here as the decadent title character.

Trashy fun!

I was certain that no cinematic representation would do justice to the book. However, the clever idea of making a contemporary film made it interesting and original. Even the focus on Helmut Berger looks is not faulty, since this is the spirit of the book. Thankfully, all the girls were also very pretty. Although it's no masterpiece on its own right, Oscar Wilde would have liked it.