Portrait of Jennie (1948)

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 | Hurricane | Black & White To Color | Ghost | Melodrama

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
Charles L. Freeman	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)
James G. Stewart	....	sound (uncredited)

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

Visual Effects by
Paul Eagler	....	process and miniature photography (uncredited)
Robert Hansard	....	effects projectionist (uncredited)
Harry L. Wolf	....	special effects camera operator (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:

The portrait of Jennie supposedly painted by Joseph Cotten's character, Eben Adams, was in reality created by artist Robert Brackman. Jennifer Jones came in for more than a dozen sittings in Brackman's Connecticut studio.

Goofs:

Continuity: While talking to Eke, Eben is standing on the left of the screen. After a close-up shot of Eke, Eben is on the right.

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:

References Thunder Rock (1942)

Soundtrack:

Nuages

Review on Portrait of Jennie

Portrait Of Jennie is a romance/drama/fantasy. It was produced by David Selznick, who produced most of Jennifer Jones films. Selznick is most remembered for producing one of the most famous films of all time 'Gone With The Wind". This film ranks toward the best producing effort of Selznick's career. This film features phenomenal scenes of 1940s NYC, haunting music, and a storyline that is unmatched for its category. Jennifer Jones and Joseph Cotten get an A+ each for their respective performances. Great supporting cast that includes Ethel Barrymore (who has a fantastic performance), Lilian Gish (popular silent film actress), Cecil Kellaway, and more. Since this review contains no spoilers, I will just say that 'Portrait of Jennie' is in a category of its own when it comes to romance/drama/fantasy films. A must see for all fans of classic films. I rate this film 10/10.