Films

Portrait in Black (Universal-International 1960)

Lana comforts Anthony Quinn in 1960's "Portrait in Black". Lou Valentino Collection.

Production Dates: Dec 14, 1959-Late January, 1960.

Release Date: July 27, 1960.

Credited Cast and Crew:

Lana Turner, Anthony Quinn, Richard Basehart, Sandra Dee.

Directed by: Michael Gordon

Writing Credits: Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts

Produced by: Ross Hunter

Original Music by: Inez James, Buddy Pepper and Frank Skinner

Cinematography by: Russell Metty

Synopsis: Lana and Anthony Quinn as illicit lovers who plot her husband's murder against the backdrop of San Francisco.

My Review: Anyone who has ever seen The Postman Always Rings Twice will pick up on the plot similarities right away. Anthony Quinn and Lana star as a doctor and the wife of one of his critically ill patients who begin an affair and can't find a way to be together. The obvious solution of course (since he is a doctor) is to kill her husband by injection. The difference between this film and Postman is that where Lana and John Garfield's chemistry is electric and it screams SEX, Lana and Anthony Quinn don't have half the chemistry that she and Garfield did. Also, where there is suspense all throughout the earlier film, Portrait tries too hard to build up to moments that fall flat. For example, in the scene in which Lana drives without ever having drove before, instead of chewing my nails from the suspense, I just felt empty.

More positively, this film (and Lana) are beautifully put together. The exterior scenes in the streets of San Francisco and Lana's face in the attic window are beautifully photographed and would really benefit from a DVD release. Lana herself, at aged forty, with darker, longer, hair and a Jean Louis wardrobe looks radiant throughout. The gal could work it.

Your Review: What are YOUR thoughts on this film? Contact me at Liza@lanaturneronline.com

Highlights and Trivia

*Production on this film had to be shut down for a short time after Anthony Quinn accidentally broke one of Lana's front teeth during a particularly passionate love scene.

*This film was purchased by actress Joan Crawford as a vehicle for herself seven years earlier. When she couldn't get any studio backing for the project she gave up on it and it went unnoticed until producer Ross Hunter purchased it as a vehicle for Lana (who in 1960 was the comeback kid).

 

Photo Gallery

Lana at the top of an incredible staircase in 1960's "Portrait in Black". Lou Valentino Collection    Lana posing in a publicity still for 1960's "Portrait in Black". Lou Valentino Collection    Tony Quinn showers Lana with embraces in 1960's "Portrait in Black".    Lana and Lloyd Nolan in 1960's "Portrait in Black". Lou Valentino Collection.    Sandra Dee and Anthony Quinn give Lana a headache in 1960's "Portrait in Black".    A lobby card for 1960's "Portrait in Black".   

 

 

Please do not take any photographs or content from this site without first asking permission. Site content is copyrighted 2006-2007 by Liza Waldman. All Rights Reserved.