What Changes Did The Picture Of Dorian Gray Film Make?

I've been chasing film versions of classic books for years, and when people ask about 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' my immediate thought goes to the iconic Hollywood take that really put the story on the silver screen for most modern viewers. That film was released in 1945 — directed by Albert Lewin and starring Hurd Hatfield as Dorian, with George Sanders and a young Angela Lansbury in supporting roles. Its moody black-and-white cinematography and the way it translated Oscar Wilde's wit and horror to cinema left a big impression on me the first time I watched it late one night with too much coffee and popcorn gone cold. There are older and newer versions, too: a silent film adaptation exists from 1915, and filmmakers have revisited the tale several times since 1945 in different formats. If you’re hunting for the classic studio-era atmosphere and that particular cast and performance mix, though, look for the 1945 release. It’s the one that most people refer to when they talk about the film version of Wilde’s novel, and it still feels strange and beautiful in a way that keeps me recommending it to friends who like gothic dramas.

Whenever I get into debates about which film version of 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' people should watch first, I bring up the 1945 classic directed by Albert Lewin. That one is the version that made the story feel like high Gothic cinema to me — moody lighting, theatrical flourishes, and a really eerie focus on the portrait itself. I first saw it on a late-night movie block and sat there scribbling notes on how they used art and shadow to sell decadence; Hurd Hatfield’s porcelain face as Dorian and George Sanders’ perfectly-occupied cynicism as Lord Henry stuck with me. But the title is slippery: there’s also a modern take called 'Dorian Gray' from 2009, directed by Oliver Parker and starring Ben Barnes. It leans harder into contemporary pacing and explicitness, reshaping some scenes to fit a modern cinematic language. I often suggest watching both back-to-back — the 1945 Lewin film to see how to do atmosphere and implication, and the 2009 Parker version if you want sharper edges and a fresher visual gloss. Beyond those two, adaptations pop up in silent-era films, TV movies, and even stagey indie retellings, so if someone asks me “who directed the film?” I ask which version they mean. For classic film vibes: Albert Lewin. For a newer, glossy retelling: Oliver Parker. Either way I love spotting what each director chooses to emphasize.

Growing up obsessed with old films, I got really into the classic 1945 version of 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' long before I dug into the novel. That movie feels like pure studio magic to me: almost every shadowy corridor and the creepy portrait scene are clearly crafted on soundstages. From everything I've read and the way the sets look, that production was primarily filmed at MGM’s studios in Culver City, California, where they built elaborate interiors and controlled lighting to get that moody, gothic look. The painting effect and tight, theatrical framing scream studio work rather than wide, on-location shooting. I’ll admit I like picturing the art department fussing over every brushstroke and fabric swatch on the lot. There may have been some exterior unit photography around L.A. or nearby estates for brief outdoor scenes, but the heart of the film—the portrait room, the ornate drawing rooms, and those chiaroscuro corridors—was studio-based. If you’re curious about how different adaptations treat the same material, check the credits or restoration notes: the 1945 film’s production design is a great lesson in how a studio can create an entire Victorian world under controlled lights. It makes me want to rewatch it with a cup of tea and pay extra attention to the set details.

Oh, this question always gets me reaching for my DVD shelf and streaming apps at the same time — there are a few film versions, so the cast depends on which one you mean. The most famous classic adaptation is the 1945 film 'The Picture of Dorian Gray', and its principal players are Hurd Hatfield as Dorian Gray, George Sanders as Lord Henry Wotton, Angela Lansbury as Sibyl Vane, Lowell Gilmore as Basil Hallward, and Donna Reed in a supporting role. That version is deliciously stylized and worth watching for the performances and cinematography alone. If you were thinking of the modern take, then the 2009 movie titled 'Dorian Gray' stars Ben Barnes in the title role, Colin Firth as Lord Henry, Ben Chaplin as Basil Hallward, and Rachel Hurd-Wood as Sibyl Vane. Both films handle Oscar Wilde’s themes differently — the 1945 one leans into gothic mood and restraint, while the 2009 version plays up sensuality and a contemporary cinematic gloss. There are older silent versions and TV adaptations too, so if you have a particular year in mind I can list the full cast for that one. Personally, I bounce between the 1945 mood pieces and the 2009’s prettier visuals depending on whether I want classic noir or a slick modern period piece.

I get a little giddy talking about restorations, because one small grading choice can totally change how you feel about a film. For me the best restoration of 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' is the one that treats the 1945 film like a period piece rather than a faded TV show — meaning preserved film grain, careful contrast, and a neutral black-and-white grade that honors shadows instead of crushing them. The version I keep coming back to is the most recent high-definition transfer that came out on Blu-ray from a reputable cinephile label — it keeps Hurd Hatfield’s porcelain-like face and the portrait’s texture crisp, while the audio has been cleaned up without being over-processed. Extras like a good commentary or archival interviews are a bonus because they contextualise the choices behind the restoration. If you hunt around, look for keywords like '2K remaster' or 'restored from original negative' and check the publisher: boutique labels (BFI, Kino Lorber, Arrow, Olive Films, or Warner Archive on certain titles) often do careful work. Avoid versions that look overly smoothed or unnaturally bright — the film’s eerie atmosphere depends on shadows and midtones. And honestly, pairing the restored film with a restored scan of the portrait itself (if included as an extra) is pure catnip for anyone who loves film craft.

Wilde’s novel is mostly a book of voice—those razor-sharp epigrams, the social satire, and that slow moral rot happening inside a soul rather than as a sequence of jump-scare moments. When I watch a film version of 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' I always notice how that internal voice gets translated into visuals and dialogue, and that’s where faithfulness usually cracks. Most adaptations keep the skeleton: Dorian stays young while his portrait ages, Lord Henry’s influence warps him, Basil paints the portrait, and tragedy follows. But they chop, condense, and often turn Wilde’s social parody into gothic horror or a melodrama about decadence. Take the mid-century studio version versus more modern takes: older films had to sanitize a lot—subtle homoerotic undertones and some of Wilde’s more scandalous implications were downplayed or coded because of censorship. Newer versions lean hard into style and mood; they’ll show the depravity in lurid visuals but lose the charm of Wilde’s voice. Characters can be flattened, conversations shortened, and epigrams either jazzed up into one-liners or dropped entirely. Scenes that feel long and revelatory on the page—Dorian’s slow realization, the portrait’s grotesque changes—either get rushed or visually exaggerated. So is a film faithful? It depends which fidelity you mean. If you want the plot beats, yes—most films hit them. If you want Wilde’s language, the social criticism, and the queasy moral irony done in full, you’ll find most films lacking. I love both mediums, so my ritual is to read the novel for the voice and watch a strong adaptation for atmosphere; together they feel like the whole experience.

Diving into the old reviews of 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' is like sifting through a pile of slightly yellowed film mags with cigarette smoke still lingering—critics at the time were intrigued, impressed by the look, but a little wary of the morality on screen. When the 1945 film hit, reviewers often praised its lush, atmospheric visuals and the director's bold use of art and shadow to evoke Oscar Wilde's tone. People liked the performances—some critics singled out the charismatic, corrosive charm of the Lord Henry figure and the unnerving stillness of Dorian—but others felt parts of it were stagey or too theatrical for cinema. There was also noise about how the Production Code and censorship squeezed certain themes; reviewers noted that the film had to trim or suggest what the novel states more bluntly, and that created mixed feelings about its faithfulness and daring. Over the decades that followed, the initial reception softened into more consistent admiration: film scholars and fans now often praise the movie's design, its use of paintings as a storytelling device, and the way it captures Wilde's decadence even within the era's constraints. I still enjoy reading those early takes—it's fascinating to see what made contemporary critics cheer or cringe, and how time reshaped the movie's reputation.

Film adaptations of 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' almost always keep the portrait's role, but how literal the "curse" is can vary a lot. In the original novel the portrait literally absorbs Dorian's age and sins while he stays young and beautiful — and many films lean into that supernatural horror because it's such a striking visual. The classic 1945 version goes full-on with the grotesque portrait transformation, which really sells the moral decay on screen. That said, some adaptations treat the portrait as a psychological or symbolic device rather than a creepy, body-horror painting. Directors sometimes downplay the obvious supernatural effect when they want to emphasize themes like vanity, hedonism, or the social masks people wear. So if you're hunting for the gruesome portrait reveal, check reviews or clips first — older horror-leaning versions and the 2009 'Dorian Gray' tend to show it, while more metaphorical takes might keep it implied. If you're in a mood for eerie makeup and a slow corruption reveal, start with the older film and then watch a modern take to compare how differently the "curse" can be framed.