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By
NICK ZEGARAC
"Portrait of Jennie" is the
embodiment of ethereal supernatural melodrama at
its very best. The film stars Joseph Cotton as
disgruntled artist Eben Adams. Disgusted at his
inability to make inroads into the artistic
community, Adams artistic sensibilities are
castrated by gallery owner Miss Spinney (Ethel
Barrymore) who points out that there is no passion
in his work. Disillusioned once more, Adams is all
set to toss his fledgling career in the ash can
when he suddenly comes in contact with the sprite,
Jennie (Jennifer Jones).
Though she too doesn't have much to say about
Adams work, he suddenly becomes inspired by her
and begins to sketch her portrait in Central Park.
However, before he can finish, Jennie vanishes
into thin air. Taken with the experience, Adams
persists to draw Jennie from memory and
consequently finds his muse.
Throughout the film, Adams will repeatedly come in
contact with the ghostly Jennie; each time she
grows older than during their previous meetings.
Not until Adams confronts an old nun, Mother Mary
of Mercy (Lillian Gish) is the secret of Jennie
finally revealed.
By 1948 David O. Selznick was fighting a losing
war on a double front. His dreams of transforming
his wife, Jennifer Jones, into an actress the
stature of Garbo, had been met with increasing
critical disdain. He was also by this point in his
professional career well into a period of economic
decline from which he and his studio would never
recover. That "Portrait of Jennie" failed to find
its audience at the box office suggests more of a
post war cynicism for films with embellished
romantic subplots -- all of which had been highly
successful and in great demand during Selznick's
'30s tenure.
MGM's DVD is rather impressive. The B&W picture
exhibits a very nicely balanced grayscale with
smooth, solid blacks and very clean whites.
Age-related artifacts are present throughout but
do not distract. Some minor edge enhancement crops
up but pixelization is kept to a minimum. Overall
the picture will surely not disappoint. The audio
is mono but more than adequate for a film of this
vintage. There are no extras. |
