The Secret of Dorian Gray

Directed by Massimo Dallamano

Release Year: 1970
Running time: 93
Country: U.K., Italy, Germany
Language: Italian and English, w/ English subtitles
Subjects:
$9.99 - Classroom Rights
MSRP: $19.98
$349.00 - With PPR
$499.00 - With DSL
$499.00 - With DSL and PPR
MSRP: $599.00
Directed by: Massimo Dallamano

The Secret of Dorian Gray is a classic, seventies, Italian film restored to its original splendor.

Taking place in London, a wealthy young man, Dorian Gray, is in love with an aspiring actress named Sybil. He is also in the process of getting his portrait painted by his ascot-wearing friend, Basil. When the portrait is finished however, Dorian complains that he will grow old while the painting will never change. On the same night, as if he has sold his soul to the devil, exchanging vanity for morality, he ends it with Sybil, and accepts the seductive offer of a woman whose party he attends. The next day, the painting looks slightly older.

In horror and fascination, Dorian hides it away and continues a life of sexual experimentation. Over time, the portrait shows signs of aging, but he remains youthful as if fueled by his ever-increasing libidinal lifestyle; finally, he and Basil face the painting. The exceptionally groovy score by Giuseppe De Luca enhances the seventies milieu.

Reviews

"Billed as "a modern allegory based on the work of Oscar Wilde...the screenplay makes plenty of room to explore Dorian's exploits... especially the "unveiling" of its homoerotic content.." - DVDBeaver

"The plot adheres fairly closely to Wildes novel. I have no objection in principle to updating classics to modern settings, but this is one of those rare cases where the updating not only works, it works perfectly. - Prince planet movies