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1948 • Drama / Mystery • 90m

Portrait from Life

"A psychological thriller, a captivating mystery, a tender love story - all brilliantly COMBINED INTO ONE EXCITING MOTION PICTURE"

63

CINESCORE

FRESH

9 critic reviews

65%

POPCORN METER

AUDIENCE

Verified ratings

A British army officer becomes fascinated by the portrait of a young woman. He travels to Germany to find her, only to discover that she is suffering from amnesia.

IMDb

Top Cast

Mai Zetterling
Mai Zetterling
Lidia
Robert Beatty
Robert Beatty
Campbell Reid
Guy Rolfe
Guy Rolfe
Major Lawrence
Herbert Lom
Herbert Lom
Fritz Kottler Hendlemann
Patrick Holt
Patrick Holt
Ferguson
Arnold Marlé
Arnold Marlé
Professor Franz Menzel
Sybille Binder
Sybille Binder
Eitel Hendlemann
Thora Hird
Thora Hird
Mrs. Skinner
Gerard Heinz
Gerard Heinz
Heine
Yvonne Owen
Yvonne Owen
Helen
Philo Hauser
Philo Hauser
Hans Ackermann
John Blythe
John Blythe
Johnnie
Cyril Chamberlain
Cyril Chamberlain
Supervisor
Betty Lynne
Betty Lynne
Interpreter
Donald Sinden
Donald Sinden
Minor Role
Michael Hordern
Michael Hordern
Johnson
Sam Kydd
Sam Kydd
Army Truck Driver
Eric Pohlmann
Eric Pohlmann
Search Group Leader
Director: Terence FisherWriter: David EvansProducer: Antony DarnboroughProducer: J. Arthur RankWriter: Sydney BoxWriter: Muriel BoxWriter: Frank Harvey

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Reviews

CinemaSerf
2022-07-09
70%

Guy Rolfe is "Major Lawrence" (another one), who sees a portrait of a young girl at a London art gallery and is enthralled. On further investigation he discovers from her refugee father - who recognises his long lost child from her picture - that she is a Jewish lady and is probably still in a post-war settlement camp somewhere in Germany. He sets off to track her down, discovering when he does find her that she "Hildegarde" (Mai Zetterling) has amnesia and can remember little. Not only that, but she has been "adopted" by Herbert Lom ("Hendlemann") whom she genuinely considers to be her real father. Further digging by "Lawrence" reveals that the painter "Reid" (Robert Beatty) and her may have had some sort of relationship and that her pseudo-father has a pretty big secret of his own. Terence Fisher does well to get anything out of the usually wooden Messrs. Rolfe and Beatty, but Lom is super as is the gorgeous, sylphlike Zetterling who portrays her character with considerable delicacy and skill, especially when things turn a bit more perilous for her as Lom realises that her amnesia may be easing and that his secret might not be as secure as he had thought. It's an unusual film, this - the story is gentle and poignant, and the pace is more measured than slow, with a good score from Benjamin Frankel to help build to quite a surprising denouement. Rarely seen nowadays, but well worth 90 minutes of your time if you encounter it.

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Keywords

Details

Status
Released
Origin
GB
Languages
German, English, French
Studios
Gainsborough Pictures, J. Arthur Rank Organisation
Budget
$535,000
Box Office
$1,108,592

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