''The Picture of Dorian Gray'' (1945)

By Crusader1307

Title character from British Writer Oscar Wilde (written in 1890), The Picture of Dorian Gray is another story which serves as a warning. Dorian is a young and handsome man (quite wealthy by means of an inheritance). He is somewhat vain and self-centered. While posing one day for a portrait, he muses with the Painter about wishing to remain young and attractive forever. This, Dorian feels  is a youth's primary goal in life (for pleasure, wealth and the finer things in life are wasted on the Older set of Society). This view is a total reversal on the process of wasted youth, a common view in the 19th Century. Dorian's wish is answered by some unknown malevolent force. Dorian begins to notice that he has stopped aging and further feels little or no remorse or guilt for anything he does (or doesn't do). As time goes forward, Dorian notices that his portrait is taking on a more harsher and older appearance. The more excess Dorian indulges in the worse the painting appears. Open sores and disease begin to appear on the portrait (as if by magic). Dorian suspects that his evil nature is beginning to manifest itself through his painting. He locks it up to keep it save.

Years go on. Still Dorian does not age. He has a reputation as a cruel man. He lives a sinful and heartless life. Dorian checks his painting through the years (which now resembles an aged demon-like  horrid face). Yet, Dorian remains young and handsome. He even commits murder (with all the guilt and horror of the act going into his painting). Eventually, Dorian begins to see the evil of his ways, and becomes remorseful (having finally fallen in true love - but wishing to free himself of his curse). Going to his painting, Dorian see's the image of him in his portrait as a monster. Taking a knife and stabbing the portrait, Dorian screams and falls dead. Servants burst into his study to find an aged and demonic shriveled figure lying dead on the floor. The picture of Dorian Gray hangs on the wall, now young and handsome again. This story was a very popular tale. Made into a movie at least 10 times since 1915, the 1945 version with British Actor Hurd Hatfield is probably the best known. Often adapted with a Faustian overtone, some versions have featured a more supernatural approach to this Gothic take on the most terrifying monster Man can encounter -  Himself!