The Secret of Dorian Gray (1970)

[dfordoom]

The Secret of Dorian Gray (also released as simply Dorian Gray) is a 1971 eurotrash updating of Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray. The plot adheres fairly closely to Wilde’s 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

Comments

[dfordoom]

Not that I have a problem with eurosleaze for the sake of it! I suspect (from comments I've read about the film) that the uncut version may have had rather a lot of sex, which may be why it's not more highly thought of. Some people just can't cope with the idea of a serious movie with lots of sex.

I fear that a lot of their films are going to be heavily censored versions, since (sadly) in many cases such as Blood and Roses that's probably all they can obtain. So in future I'll be checking to make sure that what I buy really is an uncut version. But I have to admit that both The Secret of Dorian Gray and Blood and Roses are such good movies that it's better to see them cut than not get to see them at all.

I'm now sorely tempted by the Jose Bénézeraf film they have advertised. I'm determined to see movies by all the directors mentioned by Pete Tombs and Cathal Tohill in their fantastic book mmoral Tales: European Sex and Horror Movies 1956-1984.

[rakehell]

Sounds fascinating. Thanks for the review.

[wytchcroft]

it's interesteing that when bowie began visually referencing this movie
for his 'look' (personal image/photo shoots) during his Hours phase
nobody got it.

[dfordoom]

The twist in the TV film is that Dorian's a female. Ridiculous.

There's a story, which can be found here, that Greta Garbo wanted to play Dorian in the 1945 film.