There was this curiosity shown on Talking Pictures TV last night. The full title was Das Bildnis des Dorian Gray (shortened for US release and adapted on translation, presumably to avoid copyright trouble, for the UK market).
The presentation was book-ended by American International Pictures, the independent merchants founded by Samuel Z Arkoff and James H Nicholson and of whom Roger Corman is the most well-known director. However, the film's own credits show that it was a Towers of London production, from a time when Harry Alan Towers was clearly able to acquire funding easily. One wonders under what circumstances AIP acquired the rights.
Updated to the swinging sixties and thereafter in London, the money showed on the screen. It starred Helmut Berger, Richard Todd and Herbert Lom along with names better-known on the continent, including Maria Rohm aka Mrs Towers. The dialogue was stilted, presumably translated from an original German or Italian. However, Herbert Lom rose above it - one suspects by interpolating his own lines in the English version, informed by the Wilde original. Did he also produce the portrait used in the picture? Painting was his main relaxation in later life.
Very tame now, the film was clearly aimed at the exploitation market (something of which Richard Todd claimed he was unaware). There was fairly explicit - or would have been if carefully-placed curtains had not obscured the view - sex scene early on. Another question is: did Marie Liljedahl who made her name in such soft port go on to better things on the stage? Her acting ability, in spite of the dreadful dialogue, was clearly above that of the average schlock nymphet.
Its appeal may well have been of a more homoerotic nature. There was plenty of Berger's flesh on display.
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