"BBC Play of the Month" The Picture of Dorian Gray (1976)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

John Gorrie

Writers:

John Osborne (adaptation)
Oscar Wilde (novel)

TV Series:

"BBC Play of the Month" (1965)

Original Air Date:

19 September 1976 (Season 12, Episode 1)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Based On Novel | Character Name In Title

Cast

John Gielgud	...	Lord Henry Wotton
Jeremy Brett	...	Basil Hallward
Peter Firth	...	Dorian Gray
Gwen Ffrangcon Davies	...	Lady Agatha
Nan Munro	...	Duchess of Harley
Mark Dignam	...	Lord Fermor
Michael Barrington	...	Mr. Erskine
Judi Bowker	...	Sibyl Vane
Gillian Raine	...	Mrs. Vane
Nicholas Ball	...	James Vane
Lawrence Davidson	...	Victor
Reginald Barratt	...	Mr. Hubbard
Paul Greenhalgh	...	Francis
Nicholas Clay	...	Alan Campbell

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Quotes:

Lord Fermor: Why can't American women stay in their own country? They keep telling us it's a woman's paradise.
Lord Henry Wotton: It appears to be. That is why, like Eve, they are so anxious to get out of it.

Movie Connections:

Version of The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945)

Brilliant Acting Highlights This Production.

Onstage John Osborne's adaptation of "Picture of Dorian Gray" is a fine tribute to Oscar Wilde's talents as both novelist and playwright.On screen with some editing it becomes a bit sloppy due to the cutting of 3 crucial scenes from the play (one being an important scene between Basil and Henry showing that time has passed.)The acting however is brilliant. Sir john Gielgud return's to his Wilde roots as lord Henry,and although about a decade too old for the role,he totally becomes the enigmatic,life loving cad and cynic that Wilde brought to life so meticulously in his novella. Jeremy Brett is also strong,offering a touching portrait of the anguished artist Basil Hallward.Peter Firth,while not originally my vision of Dorian, handles the role with style and grace...and later with a convincing strain of cruelty. The supporting cast is equally fine, Gielgud's former 'Importance Of Being Earnest" co-star Gwen Francon-Davies plays his philanthropic Aunt Agatha with dignity and Judi Bowker makes a touching Sybil Vane. The wit,pathos and tension of Wilde's work have been remarkably transferred to the screen. My only other qualm is with the hair styles. Many of them seemed out of place,looking more like 1970's versions of Victorian hairdos rather than the actual style. Overall however,the acting and writing elevates this production to a high level of small screen excellence.