The Portrait (1948)
People are afraid of the usurer Chazaj and are convinced that he is the bearer of evil. One day Chazaj pays a visit to the poor artist Simon Jordán and asks him to paint his portrait. Simon agrees but as he progresses with the work his mind conjures up terrible thoughts and in the end he commits suicide. The portrait looks lifelike and Chazaj is content with the results. After Chazaj's death the picture changes hands and brings misfortune to all who own it. The last victim is the young painter Roman who buys Chazaj's portrait in a bazaar. He finds a treasure in the frame and begins to live well off it. The comfortable life suits him so well that he rejects his original artistic aims and becomes a painter of fashionable kitsch.
Cast
- Otomar Krejča - Simon Jordán / Stepán Jordán
- Luba Skořepová - Martina Jordánová
- Vladimír Šmeral - Painter Roman
- Ladislav Kulhánek - Professor Mikulás
- Karel Dostal - Extortioner Chazaj
- Rudolf Deyl - Jáchym
- Felix le Breux - Marcel Bernard
- Růžena Šlemrová - Mrs. Viktorová
- Ludmila Píchová - Líza Viktorová
- Emil Bolek - Bussinesman Viktor
Screenplay
- František Vlček (Screenplay)
- Martin Frič (Creative Producer)
- Nikolai Gogol (Short Story)
Keywords
based on short story
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is The Portrait about?
- People are afraid of the usurer Chazaj and are convinced that he is the bearer of evil. One day Chazaj pays a visit to the poor artist Simon Jordán and asks him to paint his portrait. Simon agrees but as he progresses with the work his mind conjures up terrible thoughts and in the end he commits suicide. The portrait looks lifelike and Chazaj is content with the results. After Chazaj's death the picture changes hands and brings misfortune to all who own it. The last victim is the young painter Roman who buys Chazaj's portrait in a bazaar. He finds a treasure in the frame and begins to live well off it. The comfortable life suits him so well that he rejects his original artistic aims and becomes a painter of fashionable kitsch.
- Who directed The Portrait?
- The Portrait was directed by Jiří Slavíček.
- Who stars in The Portrait?
- The Portrait stars Otomar Krejča, Luba Skořepová, Vladimír Šmeral, Ladislav Kulhánek, Karel Dostal, Rudolf Deyl.
- How long is The Portrait?
- The Portrait has a runtime of 1h 27m (87 minutes).
- What genre is The Portrait?
- The Portrait is a Fantasy, Horror film.
- Where was The Portrait produced?
- The Portrait was produced in Czechoslovakia.