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Joseph Cotten, Jennifer Jones, Ethel Barrymore, David Wayne, Lillian Gish ... see more see more... , Florence Bates , Cecil Kellaway , Esther Somers , Albert Sharpe , John Farrell , Felix Bressart , Maude Simmons , Clem Bevans , Robert Dudley , Henry Hull , Anne Francis , Brian Keith

In Portrait of Jennie, Joseph Cotten plays an artist, Eben Adams, who is unable to bring any true feeling to his work. While painting in Central Park one morning, Eben makes the acquaintance of a scho... read more read more...olgirl named Jennie (Jennifer Jones), who prattles on about things that happened years ago. Intrigued at her thorough knowledge of the past, Eben is about to converse with her further, but Jennie has vanished. Over the next few months, Eben meets Jennie again and again -- and each time she seems to have aged by several years. He paints her portrait, which turns out to be more full of expression and emotion than anything he's previously done. His curiosity peaked by Jennie's enigmatic nature, Eben uncovers evidence that he has been conversing -- and falling in love -- with the ghost of a girl who died years earlier in a hurricane. On the eve of the hurricane's anniversary, Eben rushes to meet Jennie at the site where she was supposedly killed. As a new storm rages, Jennie vanishes for good, but not before declaring that the love she and Eben have shared will live forever. Rescued from the storm, Eben convinces himself that Jennie was a mere figment of his imagination. Then he notices that he stills clutches her scarf in his hand. He looks at his portrait of Jennie (the only Technicolor shot in this otherwise black-and-white film) and understands what she meant when she said that their love would endure throughout eternity; it will do so through Cotten's art, both the portrait at hand and all future portraits. Based on the novel by Robert Nathan, Portrait of Jennie is one of the most beautifully assembled fantasies ever presented onscreen. Producer David O. Selznick's unerring eye for "rightness" enabled him to select the perfect stars, supporting cast (Lillian Gish, Ethel Barrymore, David Wayne, Cecil Kellaway, et al.), director, cinematographer (Joseph August), and composer (Dimitri Tiomkin, who based his themes on the works of Debussy), and blend everything into one ideally balanced package. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

80% liked it

1,837 ratings

Critics

91% liked it

11 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 26 min.

Directed by: William Dieterle

Release Date: January 1, 2002

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DVD Release Date: November 28, 2000

Stats: 151 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (151)

  • brooklynspo
    January 31, 2008
    brooklynspo
    Killer. So damn romantic. Like a black and white Vertigo meets Stairway To Heaven in depression era New York but without any crimes or trials. The theme even sounds like Vertigo's. Go Selznick!
  • rubystevens
    January 4, 2012
    rubystevens
    wonderful cinematography, overbearing tiomkin score, silly melodrama with supernatural elements that requires huge suspension of disbelief, then works like gangbusters. soo selznick...
  • ajv2688
    October 24, 2010
    ajv2688
    A painter somehow contacts the spirit of a young girl who died and falls in love with her? It's a strange story, but it makes for an interesting movie.
  • matertenebraum
    March 29, 2010
    matertenebraum
    I had only seen this film only the once,until recently and I recall it was on a rainy Sunday afternoon. I only started watching this film has there was not much else on, however when it had finished, i wanted to watch it again,and stayed up late so that i could watch the repeat s... read morehowing.what make this stand out was the other world feeling of it,the photography,the feel of New York in a bygone era, and the music,Debussey, which is haunting adds to the overall ambiance,It is in essence a love story which transcends time and , is told with tenderness and beauty. It's mood lingers in the heart and its planes challenge the mind. It always leaves a void when the film ends and i can truly feel Ebans pain at losing Jennie. You can read into a lot of metaphorical stuff in the film and the book - cleverly done. The ending is both heartening yet crucifying,emotionally a story of two star crossed lovers, The overall realisation that through the barrier of time love is enduring and never ending, a wonderful film which is a must for all romantics out there. Highly recommended.
  • keith222
    November 18, 2008
    keith222
    A mysterious romantic tale of two people deeply in love. I have never seem a romantic film with so many Noir aspects. The last 10 minutes of the film had me surprised. I was not expecting a visual twist like that. The heart of this story though is about the artist inspiration a ... read moremuse can give a person.
  • codyfranklin2
    February 18, 2008
    codyfranklin2
    Nice romantic movie and visually stunning. Dieterle's work has always been innovated and this film is no exception. Very entertaing.
  • moviegirl50
    September 27, 2007
    moviegirl50
    I forgot all about this movie and just came across it--I need to watch it again, it's been so long. I remember it was mysterious--I liked it.
  • mveltre847
    May 21, 2007
    mveltre847
    Great film noir. Jennifer Jones is great as the supposed dead woman and Joseph Cotten is good as the man who falls in love with her.

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Critic Reviews

Steve Crum
September 30, 2006
Steve Crum, Dispatch-Tribune Newspapers

Fine period melodrama starring Jennifer Jones and Joseph Cotten.

Dennis Schwartz
October 23, 2005
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Honest-to-goodness romantic ghost story. Full Review

James Sanford
November 12, 2004
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette

Wonderful romantic mystery, sure to haunt your memory

Ken Hanke
October 22, 2002
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Quite possibly the most utterly romantic movie ever made. Full Review

Ed Gonzalez
June 27, 2001
Ed Gonzalez, Slant Magazine

William Dieterle's 1948 masterpiece Portrait of Jennie is not only an unabashedly romantic melodrama but also a fascinating ghost story. Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson
February 13, 2001
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

Directed by William Dieterle, the film has a wistful, dreamy quality (which may be why Bunuel was drawn to it) and even its overabundance of music doesn't spoil this mood. Full Review

September 24, 2008
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Bosley Crowther
March 25, 2006
Bosley Crowther, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Emanuel Levy
June 19, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Frank Swietek
December 2, 2003
Frank Swietek, One Guy's Opinion

No review available.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Portrait of Jennie Trivia

  • What is one of the ingredients of faith [ one is truth] in Portrait Of Jennie ?  Answer »
  • What scares Jennie in Portrait Of Jennie ?  Answer »
  • What did Eben bring to sell [ at first]to the art gallery in Portrait Of Jennie ?  Answer »
  • What did Jennie do as her and Eben walked in Portrait Of Jennie ?  Answer »
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