Portrait of Jennie
Film
Portrait of Jennie
1949United States
Vanguard Films, Inc.
Production company
Selznick Releasing Organization
Distribution company
Vanguard Films, Inc.
Production company
Selznick Releasing Organization
Distribution company
35mm nitrate master positive
Gift of Selznick Properties, Ltd.
2002.0801.0001
TextAbout the print
This print features a mix of variable area and variable density sound tracks, along with a variety of color processes in the final reel. A rare occurrence in the sound era, this release print utilizes tinting, toning, and a single shot of three-strip Technicolor to round out its narrative. All reels in the copy presented here are printed on 1948 Kodak stock, except for the last reel, struck on 1949 stock. Shrinkage rate: 0.83%.
About the film
“Many women will accept its strange story in the name of romanticism, but realists (whether male or female) may scoff at the story idea. At any rate, while ‘Portrait of Jennie’ may be somewhat weird and depressing (or beautiful and romantic, depending on the spectator) there is no denying the fact that it has been well done in all departments. . . . Special credit must also go to Joseph August for his unusual assortment of eye-pleasing photographic angles; to Clarence Slifer for his splendid special effects, and Paul Eagler for his process and miniature photography which emerges in the impressive storm sequence at the end, for which a wide screen and added sound equipment were employed at the Hollywood preview.”
—Showmen’s Trade Review, January 1, 1949
“The portentous dialogue, the apocalyptic cloud masses, the disemboweled violins (music courtesy of Debussy) make it as brashly irritating as a bright young boy dazzling the world with his first paradox. . . . New York is a much better film background than you would suspect from the solemn photography in this picture, and the famous New England hurricane, during which the couple’s timemobiles finally pass each other, looks like a storm in a washing machine.”
—Robert Hatch, The New Republic, April 11, 1949
Nitrate Picture Show program notes, May 2015
This print features a mix of variable area and variable density sound tracks, along with a variety of color processes in the final reel. A rare occurrence in the sound era, this release print utilizes tinting, toning, and a single shot of three-strip Technicolor to round out its narrative. All reels in the copy presented here are printed on 1948 Kodak stock, except for the last reel, struck on 1949 stock. Shrinkage rate: 0.83%.
About the film
“Many women will accept its strange story in the name of romanticism, but realists (whether male or female) may scoff at the story idea. At any rate, while ‘Portrait of Jennie’ may be somewhat weird and depressing (or beautiful and romantic, depending on the spectator) there is no denying the fact that it has been well done in all departments. . . . Special credit must also go to Joseph August for his unusual assortment of eye-pleasing photographic angles; to Clarence Slifer for his splendid special effects, and Paul Eagler for his process and miniature photography which emerges in the impressive storm sequence at the end, for which a wide screen and added sound equipment were employed at the Hollywood preview.”
—Showmen’s Trade Review, January 1, 1949
“The portentous dialogue, the apocalyptic cloud masses, the disemboweled violins (music courtesy of Debussy) make it as brashly irritating as a bright young boy dazzling the world with his first paradox. . . . New York is a much better film background than you would suspect from the solemn photography in this picture, and the famous New England hurricane, during which the couple’s timemobiles finally pass each other, looks like a storm in a washing machine.”
—Robert Hatch, The New Republic, April 11, 1949
Nitrate Picture Show program notes, May 2015
