Rating: 
Summary: HAUNTED MASTERPIECE AN UNDERRATED CLASSIC
Review: "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. However, at the time of its release it did nothing to alleviate Selznick's fiscal crisis.
MGM's DVD is rather impressive. The B&W picture exhibits a very nicely balanced gray scale 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.
Rating: 
Summary: Jennie Appleton (VHS Edition)
Review: 'Portrait of Jennie' was the first film I ever saw which featured the very lovely actress Jennifer Jones, and I consider it as one of my most treasured pictures. In my opinion her performance as Jennie Appleton as a girl and young woman was unforgettable, sparkling and utterly convincing. The part fit her truly like a glove. Joseph Cotten is also superb as the very gifted painter Eben. Their scenes together are beautiful, tender, haunting and poignant. 'Portrait of Jennie' was directed by William Dieterle and based upon the novel by Robert Nathan. A fine, sympathetic and solid support is provided here by Ethel Barrymore, Lillian Gish and Cecil Kellaway, however in my opinion David Wayne's scenes grated upon my nerves and intruded into Jennie's and Eben's story. One of the interesting facts about 'Portrait of Jennie' is, I think, that this film could be interpreted in several ways. Is it a beautiful ghost romance? Or was Jennie entirely an invention of Eben's mind, to develop his true artistic genius? These are but a few of the questions which this picture brought to my mind. Together with 'The Ghost and Mrs. Muir' this picture definitely ranks amongst the greatest and most interesting ghost films ever to be made in Hollywood. Subtle, intelligent, poetic, gentle, wistful, mysterious, hauntingly beautiful and pervaded by a dreamy mood throughout [this is certainly enhanced by the beautiful sound track]. 'Portrait of Jennie' offers an excellent and unforgettable treatment of the themes of love, life, death and art. The superlative performances of Jennifer Jones and Joseph Cotten as Jennie and Eben dominated this film and made it such an extraordinary cinematic and precious experience for this viewer.
Rating:
Summary: Jennie Appleton (VHS Edition)
Review: 'Portrait of Jennie' was the first film I ever saw which featured the very lovely actress Jennifer Jones, and I consider it as one of my most treasured pictures. In my opinion her performance as Jennie Appleton as a girl and young woman was unforgettable, sparkling and utterly convincing. The part fit her truly like a glove. Joseph Cotten is also superb as the very gifted painter Eben. Their scenes together are beautiful, tender, haunting and poignant. 'Portrait of Jennie' was directed by William Dieterle and based upon the novel by Robert Nathan. A fine, sympathetic and solid support is provided here by Ethel Barrymore, Lillian Gish and Cecil Kellaway, however in my opinion David Wayne's scenes grated upon my nerves and intruded into Jennie's and Eben's story. One of the interesting facts about 'Portrait of Jennie' is, I think, that this film could be interpreted in several ways. Is it a beautiful ghost romance? Or was Jennie entirely an invention of Eben's mind, to develop his true artistic genius? These are but a few of the questions which this picture brought to my mind. Together with 'The Ghost and Mrs. Muir' this picture definitely ranks amongst the greatest and most interesting ghost films ever to be made in Hollywood. Subtle, intelligent, poetic, gentle, wistful, mysterious, hauntingly beautiful and pervaded by a dreamy mood throughout [this is certainly enhanced by the beautiful sound track]. 'Portrait of Jennie' offers an excellent and unforgettable treatment of the themes of love, life, death and art. The superlative performances of Jennifer Jones and Joseph Cotten as Jennie and Eben dominated this film and made it such an extraordinary cinematic and precious experience for this viewer.
Rating:
Summary: Eben Adam,s Journey
Review: A one of a kind film that will haunt the viewer for a long time. Eban Adams( Cotten) is a very poor New York artist until one day in the park( locations in NY),he meets "little" Jennie...and as the film proceeds , Jennie grows up in our eyes and in Eban Adams eyes also. What Adams was looking for was inspiration and "Jennie" delivers that in a way and in a metaphor. The film is timneless because it is both real and unreal at the same time.The finale with Jennie,s portrait at last revealed ..BURSTS into color as an exclamation point for Adam,s soul searching. In this world or any other Haunting!
Rating:
Summary: HAUNTINGLY ETHEREAL
Review: A tasteful though eerie love story, this unusual little picture offers one of Joseph Cotten's finest performances as struggling artist Eben Adams who, one day, while glumly sitting on a Central Park bench meets a strange but beautiful young girl who becomes his inspiration and subject for his breakthrough masterpiece painting. As Jennie, Jones manages to be ethereal and otherworldly (although her scenes are albeit all to brief) and her little song is enchanting:"Where I come from nobody knows-and where I'm going everything goes. The wind blows, the sea flows-and nobody knows.............................................
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful film
Review: A wonderful, haunting film that can be seen many times. Jennifer Jones is fantastic as Jennie, a mysterious young lady who inspires artist Eben Adams, excellently played by Joseph Cotton. The score, comprised of music of DeBussy, perfectly fits the drama on the screen. A great cast of supporting players are also at their best here: Lillian Gish, Ethel Barrymore, David Wayne, and Cecil Kellaway. Jennifer Jones is delightful as Jennie, aging from a child to young woman. Joseph Cotton and Jennifer Jones were a wonderful screen team and were at their best in this film and also in Love Letters. Viewers of this film glimpse New York City of decades past and see Central Park and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in glorious black and white. The most haunting and dramatic sequence is the hurricane sequence at the Lighthouse. Another memorable image is the portrait itself, shown in brilliant technicolor.This is one of Selznick's best and is a truly classic movie. It convincingly conveys the message that love is eternal.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating/Flawed Masterpiece
Review: Any movie made by David Selznick during the 40s is a must-see and this is certainly no exception. The great GWTW producer reportedly spent more on "Portrait of Jennie' than he did for Gone With the Wind. He demanded countless takes, re-shoots, at one time starting to refilm the movie in technicolor, then opting for that final, surreal shot of the actual portrait in stunning color. This is a glorious "mood' movie--filmed in lush silvers, shadows, charcoal with a power ambience of the supernatural. Selznick interfered so much in the script writing and revisions that none of the cast knew what was going on story-wise. The uncut version ran as long as GWTW. What's crazy is that "Portrait" was supposed to be a "modest" little film. But like everything Selzick touched after GWTW, it mushroomed out of proportions. Yet, anything made by this genius is a million times more watchable than most of the junk being churned out today==i.e., American Pie, Austin Powers, yuccck!
Rating:
Summary: A Gothic Tale of Time and Remembrance
Review: As what happens in life a failing artist is given assurance and money not so much based on his own art but on a charm or charisma imposed on a matronly art dealer. This act triggers artist Eben Adams on the voyage of his life. Adams encounter with a young girl in central park is mystical because each time he sees her she seems to grow into an adult . Accordingly,each time Adams finds himself falling in love with this surreal girl/woman...so much so that he decides that his ultimate will be indeed a " Portrait of Jennie" The fury of the fianale is punctuated with an explosion of color when "The Portrait of Jennie" is seen by three young girls. END
Rating:
Summary: New York in its splender years.
Review: Buy this movie to see the architectural glory of Art Deco New York City in the 1940's. Filmed almost entirely with panaramic views of the Manhattan skyline from Central Park, bridge vistas, and other stunning NYC locals and vistas. See this film not only for the story line, but for the art direction and photography. Stunning and romantic images of beloved New York.
Rating:
Summary: As hauntingly beautiful as the sun on the last day of summer
Review: Cut out all the lights grab your loved one/or a box of kleenex and watch the most sweeping love story of all time. The film's plot isn't believeable if you were to describe it to someone but do that person a favor and lend the film to them. The film transports you into a world where a young artist sketches a portrait of a demure young girl and gains critical fame for his work only to realize that he needs his muse to maitain this new found level of brilliance. He searches for and finds her to only realize how she seems to have grown into an adult in a very short period of time, and he falls in love with this newly matured beauty. Jennifer Jones as Jennie talks about events in her life as if they happened yesterday and to her they have! Just watch the sparkle in Jones' eyes as she talk to Cotten about her parents when they meet for the first time in Central park. Cotten's character Eben Adams is intrigued by her but the events she describes have taken place years not days ago!! Is this woman real? Will their love endure? I won't give a hint more about the plot but the final scenes will have you crying so hard you can't see the action on screen. Jones was made for this role and Selznick knew it! Cotton is also quite believable. The dialogue is sweeter than powered sugar on top of ice cream with sugar sauce on top! This is old Hollywood turnig out pure magic.
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