Portrait of Jennie (1948)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

William Dieterle

Writers:

Robert Nathan (novel)
Leonardo Bercovici (adaptation)
(more)

Release Date:

22 April 1949 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | Fantasy | Mystery

Plot:

A mysterious girl inspires a struggling artist.

Plot Keywords:

Artist | Spiral Staircase | Hurricane | Love | Lightning

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Jennifer Jones	...	Jennie Appleton
Joseph Cotten	...	Eben Adams
Ethel Barrymore	...	Miss Spinney
Lillian Gish	...	Mother Mary of Mercy
Cecil Kellaway	...	Matthews
David Wayne	...	Gus O'Toole
Albert Sharpe	...	Moore (as Albert Sharp)
Henry Hull	...	Eke
Florence Bates	...	Mrs. Jekes (landlady)
Felix Bressart	...	Pete
Clem Bevans	...	Capt. Cobb
Maude Simmons	...	Clara Morgan
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Nancy Davis	...	Teenager in art gallery (uncredited)
Robert Dudley	...	Another old mariner (uncredited)
John Farrell	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Anne Francis	...	Teenager in art gallery (uncredited)
Brian Keith	...	Ice-skating extra (uncredited)
Nancy Olson	...	Teenager in art gallery (uncredited)
Esther Somers	...	Mrs. Bunce (uncredited)

Directed by
William Dieterle

Writing credits
Robert Nathan		(novel)
Leonardo Bercovici		(adaptation)
Paul Osborn		(screenplay) and
Peter Berneis		(screenplay)
Ben Hecht		uncredited and
David O. Selznick		uncredited

Produced by
David Hempstead	....	associate producer
David O. Selznick	....	producer

Original Music by
Dimitri Tiomkin

Cinematography by
Joseph H. August		(as Joseph August)
Lee Garmes		(uncredited)

Film Editing by
William Morgan

Production Design by
J. McMillan Johnson

Set Decoration by
Claude E. Carpenter		(as Claude Carpenter)

Costume Design by
Lucinda Ballard

Production Management
Argyle Nelson	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Arthur Fellows	....	assistant director

Art Department
Joseph B. Platt	....	associate production designer

Sound Department
James G. Stewart	....	sound (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Clarence Slifer	....	special effects
Charles L. Freeman	....	special effects (uncredited)
Daniel Hays	....	special effects (uncredited)
Russell Shearman	....	special effects (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Curt Fetters	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Don Malkames	....	cinematographer: Central Park ice skating sequence, second unit (uncredited)
John Miehle	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Morris Rosen	....	grip (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Anna Hill Johnstone	....	assistant costume designer

Music Department
Dimitri Tiomkin	....	music adaptor
Harold Byrns	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Maurice De Packh	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Joseph Dubin	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Manuel Emanuel	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Paul Marquardt	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
George Parrish	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Dimitri Tiomkin	....	conductor (uncredited)

Other crew
Clem Beauchamp	....	staff executive
Mel Berns	....	staff executive
Arthur Fellows	....	staff executive
Larry Germain	....	staff executive
Don McKay	....	staff executive
William Morgan	....	staff executive
Argyle Nelson	....	staff executive
Lydia Schiller	....	staff executive
David O. Selznick	....	presenter
James G. Stewart	....	staff executive
Gerard Wilson	....	staff executive
Charlsie Bryant	....	script supervisor (uncredited)
Paul Eagler	....	staff executive (uncredited)
Paul MacNamara	....	publicity director (uncredited)

Thanks
Robert Brackman	....	acknowledgment
Bernard Herrmann	....	acknowledgment

Production Companies

• Vanguard Films (for)
• Selznick International Pictures

Distributors

• Selznick Releasing Organization (1948) (USA) (theatrical)
• Selznick Releasing Organization (1956) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Suomi-Filmi (1953) (Finland) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1973) (USA) (TV)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Fox Video (video)
• TV3 (1988) (Finland) (TV)
• VTC-Video (1988) (Finland) (VHS)
• Versátil Home Vídeo (2008) (Brazil) (DVD) (Portuguese subtitles)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1966) (Finland) (TV) (TV1)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1984) (Finland) (TV) (TV2)

Other Companies

• Metropolitan Museum of Art  acknowledgement

Also Known As:

Jennie (UK)
Tidal Wave

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo (special stereo mix in final storm scene) | Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Iceland:L | USA:TV-PG | Finland:S | Germany:12 | Sweden:Btl | USA:Approved (PCA #12700) | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Boston Harbor, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Company:

Vanguard Films

Trivia:

This was cinematographer Joseph H. August's last film. He died in late 1947 before the long and tumultuous production was completed, and was posthumously nominated for an Academy Award for Best Black & White Cinematography in 1949.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the scene where Eben first meets Jennie in the park, the snow on the front of her coat comes and goes.

Quotes:

Jennie Appleton: I know we were meant to be together. The strands of our lives are woven together and neither the world nor time can tear them apart.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Biography: Jennifer Jones: Portrait of a Lady" (2001)

Soundtrack:

Jennie's Song

A surprisingly simple and wonderful gift!

Years ago, during Christmas season, "It's A Wonderful Life" (1946) made a huge difference in an otherwise humbug seasonal experience, one all too typical for me. Today, Christmas 1999, "Portrait of Jennie" (1948) gave me the same renewal of spirit and belief in transcendant human values. Similar themes and techniques underlay both films. Hopelessness and a search for meaning and redemption is met in each by a mystical and transforming experience. Black and white photography artfully supports and enhances the plot, especially in "Portrait of Jeannie". Transcendence of monetary woes is another common thread. Unlike the Jimmy Stewart character in "It's A Wonderful Life", Joseph Cotton's struggling artist is doing what he wants to do, not lost in regrets over missed opportunities. Still he is lost, alone and unsatisfied. He finds his salvation in his work, when inspired by a ghostly acquaintance (Jennifer Jones). While there is a nod to traditional religion, the underlying theme of "I believe, if you believe" outweighs any mixed messages. The film unfolds steadily and predictably, but ultimately gives the gifts of hope and joy to any viewer. In my case I would add: despite the viewers original mood. Films like these don't come along too often. Without an ounce of traditional Christmas symbolism this film should be another holiday classic. The transition from humbug to hope is a classic holiday story and gift! As a perennial grouch at Christmas, I am surprised to find another one like it again. Just last night I said humbug to watching "It's a Wonderful Life Again." There must have been something in those post-war years when hope and optimism came rushing back filling the screen, replacing the fear and despair felt by so many. Whatever, give yourself a gift and watch this movie sometime, then pass it along. I'm glad I did!