Dorian Gray (1970 film)
Dorian Gray (Italian: Il dio chiamato Dorian, lit. 'The god called Dorian') a.k.a. The Sins of Dorian Gray is a 1970 film adaptation of Oscar Wilde's 1890 novel The Picture of Dorian Gray starring Helmut Berger.
Dorian Gray | |
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Theatrical release poster by Ted Coconis | |
Il dio chiamato Dorian Das Bildnis des Dorian Gray | |
Directed by | Massimo Dallamano |
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Music by | Peppino De Luca |
Cinematography | Otello Spila |
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Distributed by | Constantin Film |
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Language | English |
Directed by Massimo Dallamano and produced by Harry Alan Towers, the film stresses the decadence and eroticism of the story and changes the setting to early 1970s London. The sexual liberation of the late 1960s and early 1970s provides a fitting backdrop for Dorian's escapades in this version, and also the general clothing and fashion style of the era is extrapolated into a 1970s version of the aesthetic, decadent world of the 1890s novel.
Critical opinion of the film is decidedly mixed. On the one hand, some consider the film trash and sexploitation,[1] while others point out that the film was shot at a unique time in the 20th century when a new openness about sexuality and its depiction on film allowed showing scenes only vaguely hinted at in the novel and earlier (and also later) movie adaptations.[2]
A marked difference between this version and the novel is the final scene. Instead of Dorian slicing the painting with the knife (thereby inadvertently killing himself), he is seen committing suicide with the knife deliberately.
Cast
- Helmut Berger as Dorian Gray
- Richard Todd as Basil Hallward
- Herbert Lom as Henry Wotton
- Marie Liljedahl as Sibyl Vane
- Margaret Lee as Gwendolyn
- Isa Miranda as Mrs. Ruxton
- Eleonora Rossi Drago as Mrs. Clouston
- Maria Rohm as Alice Campbell
- Stewart Black as Jim
- Beryl Cunningham as Adrienne
References
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 7 January 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 26 February 2010. Retrieved 12 April 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)