Portrait of Jennie (1948)

91% of critics liked it
(11 reviews)
80% of users liked it
(1,837 ratings)

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 schoolgirl named Jennie (Jennifer Jones), who prattles on about things that happened years ago.… More 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 schoolgirl 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

Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 26 min.
Directed By: William Dieterle
Written By: Paul Osborn
Genres: Drama, Romance, Classics, Science Fiction & Fantasy

In Theaters: Jan 1, 2002 Wide
On DVD: Nov 28, 2000

Critic Reviews

Steve Crum, Dispatch-Tribune Newspapers
Fine period melodrama starring Jennifer Jones and Joseph Cotten.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Honest-to-goodness romantic ghost story.
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
Wonderful romantic mystery, sure to haunt your memory
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Quite possibly the most utterly romantic movie ever made.
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.
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.

Read all 6 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Bob S

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!
Stella D

wonderful cinematography, overbearing tiomkin score, silly melodrama with supernatural elements that requires huge suspension of disbelief, then works like gangbusters. soo selznick...
AJ V

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.
Cassandra M

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… More
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 showing.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.
Keith M

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 muse… More
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 muse can give a person.
cody f

Nice romantic movie and visually stunning. Dieterle's work has always been innovated and this film is no exception. Very entertaing.