Rating: 
Summary: Romance a la Selznick
Review: David O. Selznick was obsessed with his second wife Jennifer Jones, and he found a lovely vehicle for her in "Portrait of Jennie", an otherworldly romance pairing her once again with Joseph Cotten. One wonders whether Selznick saw himself somehow in Cotten, since he and Jennifer Jones appeared so often together in his movies.Cotten plays a disgruntled artist, Eben Adams, who can't make a sale because, as gallery owner Ethel Barrymore points out to him, there is no love in his work, and he must learn to love something. Right on cue, he encounters an elfin child in Central Park who tells him her name is Jennie. She too tells him his work is not good, but suggests he draw her before seeming to vanish. Taken with the experience, Adams does draw the child, and is on his way towards better work. The rest of the movie concerns itself with his continued sightings of the bewitching Jennie, who is always older than she was last time, even though only a few weeks have passed. She is at last the muse his artwork has needed, but like so many inspirations, she seems always to elude him. Not until Adams confronts a nun played by Lillian Gish does the secret of Jennie finally burst upon him, and the result is a climax with a standout special effect at Cape Cod. Like this special effect at Cape Cod, there is some really interesting photography in "Portrait of Jennie". For one thing, whenever Cotten is about to meet Jones again, the scene is overlaid with something to make it appear like a painted canvas, which is very effective. The lighting on Jennifer Jones when Cotten paints her gives her an unearthly beauty as well.Jennifer Jones does a good job as Jennie: the early characterization reminds one of her Bernadette, while she matures into an alluring woman by the film's conclusion. It was also fun for a New Yorker like me to see how many scenes were filmed in Central Park, and how even the convent school where Jennie went to school turned out to be Fort Tryon's The Cloisters Museum. The last scene, the technicolor debut of the "Portrait of Jennie" is appropriately enough in the upstairs hall of the uncredited Metropolitan Museum of Art. Drawbacks? Cut out David Wayne and his sham Irish brogue. His scenes are quite unnecessary. Both I and my sister-in-law felt something else was going to happen with the Ethel Barrymore character, since she got such prominent attention. She seems to be on the verge of disclosing a secret, but it comes to naught. However, these are small complaints about a very good picture. If you are ever in the mood for a love story with supernatural elements, then "Portrait of Jennie" is right up your alley.
Rating: 
Summary: JONES AT HER MOST ETHEREAL!!
Review: First of all, the DVD transfer is excellent!! Glorious black and white and the technicolor sequences are enthralling!! No extras aside from subtitles are included.
Now, "Portrait of Jennie" is, indeed, something from another world largely due to Jones' excellent performance. Her ethereal beauty was never more evident than in this picture (including The Song of Bernadette). There is pure magic between her and Joseph Cotten, the poor, lonely artist who captures the magic on canvas. The ending shot of the portrait is haunting...as is the picture itself. Jones was perfect casting for Jennie and unlike many of her other portrayals, her facial expressions and contortions during the overly dramatic scenes are not evident here making this portrayal one of her best. This is a great picture to watch on a rainy Sunday afternoon. If you happen to live by the sea, you'll really get a taste of what this movie is about. Romantic love, timeless as the ages, and as real and eternal as the wind ever blowing! A classic!
Rating:
Summary: great loved the movie
Review: greatest movie i have ever watched great for any age everyone nedds to watch.
Rating:
Summary: Unique Supernatural Fantasy
Review: Haunting, exquisite, dreamlike film, which brought out my hidden-deep-inside emotions, myself not being a very emotional or demonstrative person, making it a definitely one-of-a-kind experience for me, just like "I'll Never Forget You" (1951), a remake of Leslie Howard's "Berkeley Square" (1933), starring Tyrone Power and Ann Blyth, made a likewise impression when I was just a child. Although, it must be said, "Portrait of Jennie" is a superior film. There's something with these people-meeting-from-different-times-theme-based films, that have this special, strange & weird effect on me, being this movie (in my opinion) the definite masterpiece of its kind. For those who are interested, besides the mentioned above, you can try both versions of "Smilin' Through" (1932 & 1941), "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir" (1947), "Somewhere in Time" (1980), and although not strictly of the kind, "Peter Ibbetson" (1935). Jennifer Jones does a very fine job in the difficult part of the ethereal Jennie, giving credibility at the character's different stages of her life. Joseph Cotten, a very fine actor, is absolutely believable as the obsessed artist, who learns (unknowingly) that until one really loves somebody, one hasn't really lived. Ethel Barrymore, grand dame of the American Theater and an occasional character film actress, gives a great performance in a part worthy of her talent, as the owner of an Art Gallery who befriends Cotten, becoming sort of her mentor. Others in the exceptional supporting cast: Cecil Kellaway (as Barrymore's partner), sweet grand lady of the silent screen, the legendary Lillian Gish (as a Nun) and funny and very human David Wayne (as Cotten's pal). Trust me, if you're a sensitive person, this movie will linger in your mind for several days after watching it, and it won't end there, you will want to "experience" it again and again. Since I bought this dvd, and I've got a big video and dvd collection, I have watched it at least four times, not counting all the times I had previously seen it on TV's late night showings. The dvd edition quality is very good and it gives one the special opportunity of watching the film in the original way it was intended to be seen, most of it in black and white, then switching to green shading (for the storm sequence), then to sepia tone and the final shot in full Technicolor, a special treat. The dvd has no bonuses, except for the film's original trailer and, believe me, this picture does not need anything else!! Jennifer Jones & Joseph Cotten starred in three other excellent pictures prior to this final pairing: "Since You Went Away" (1944), "Love Letters" (1945) and "Duel in the Sun", all of them produced by David O. Selznick, Jones' second husband.
Rating:
Summary: Classic !
Review: I discovered this movie at 3am. I'm not usually a fan of these types of movies but the story and cinema effects captured me.Stephen King could have wrote this, The ending is classic New England cliche.It is one of my favorite movies now. I love it
Rating:
Summary: Portrait of Jennie Spins Web of Fantasy!!!
Review: I first fell in love with "Portrait of Jennie" in the 1970's, when it was on television, probably as a "late late show". Although I wish in a way it was filmed in color, you do get a hazy, magical effect with the black & white film. And that's what the creators of this film wanted. The beautiful music of Debussy is flowing and reminds us of water. In fact, that's one of the main lines of this movie--- the ocean!!! Central Park is beautifully imaged in this film, and I love the Victorian touches. We must not forget the great Ethel Barrymore, who has such faith in Eben Adams (Joseph Cotten's character) I had originally thought she was Jennie!!!Quite a few great stars in this movie, which will always be my favorite. I even cry at the end, when they show "Portrait of Jennie" in color. I wonder if Jennifer Jones knows where that portrait of her went. It was lovely.
Rating: 
Summary: Great cinematography and supporting cast, but...
Review: I had high hopes for this film since I love Selznick films generally, but I was disappointed. I don't think Jennifer Jones is a very good actress, or even all that pretty -- I found her particularly grating when she played Jennie as a young girl. And most of the script was frankly sappy and dumb. But the cinematography is great, esp. the shots of old New York, and I liked the final sequence of the terrible storm which was shot with the green film. I also loved Ethel Barrymore and Lillian Gish. But this film is not REMOTELY in the same class with Selznick's "Rebecca," to which some people have compared it.
Rating:
Summary: A young Joeseph Cotton is delightful.
Review: I recommended this film to many friends and all have loved it. The two reviews above are correct. The lighthouse scene at the end is the best lighthouse/storm climax, better then any modern special fx. Back then they knew how to act.
Rating:
Summary: This movie stays with you! Thanks for the tip L.
Review: I watch "Portrait of Jennie" after it was so highly recommended by a wonderful lady I met on a train in July. The movie keeps coming back to me. I find myself wondering if Jennie will continue to visit the artist for the rest of his life. It was no mystery that she came from a time long gone, therefore the event at the end of the movie doesn't necessarily end their relationship. I don't like to think such love could be denied. Great acting by all, especially Jennifer Jones who is quite convincing at all ages she portrays.
Thanks for the tip L.
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Summary: Read the book ISBN: 0899663567 ... watch the movie
Review: I watched the movie several times. Even bought the video. Then I read the book. I suggest that you do it the other way around. Both have their strong points. The feel is the same. However the book allowed other people to see and interact with Jennie. In the movie only Eben sees Jennie. The portrait in the bar is different; it is probably some adjustment for the time of the movie. And the ending is different. I am not sure which ending I like best. One interesting notation on the movie, it was shot with a filter that made the movie have a texture that looks like a portrait. Any way I do not want to describe the plot. So I will tell you that it was nicer to get the Hardcover Buccaneer book, than some old yellowing thing from a secondhand store that costs just as much. I have it next to the video and still re-read it periodically.
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