One of the first films I remember from these weekly screenings was my grandmother's favourite, 'The Picture of Dorian Gray.' I loved finding out about her lifelong crush on Hurd Hatfield, who portrayed Dorian perfectly. Angela Lansbury's performance is stunning. She plays Sybil Vane, and the scene where she and Dorian first see each other is lovely. Sybil Vane singing 'Goodbye, Little Yellow Bird' was a warning to avoid him, but she didn't listen to her own words. He trapped her in a cage of gold, which ultimately led to her demise. This particular section of the book and the film was very haunting. When Sybil leaves Dorian for the last time, Sybil's expression is so heartbreaking. It's still hard to watch this scene. Dorian's initial panic after seeing the mouth on the portrait change ever so slightly is short-lived. His continuation of abhorrent treatment isn't deterred by the expression, and eventually the rest of the painting, changing and taking on a decayed appearance. The rest of the film is equally as haunting and well acted. The portraits you see throughout the film are stunning and at times frightening.
My sister and I were close, but these evenings helped us to become closer. Fighting between the two of us lessened as the weekend approached. We still had our issues with each other, but maybe seeing what we did when we viewed horror movies was a cathartic experience for both of us. I won't get into the divorce, but it was hard on all of us. My sister and I connected through horror, and we still do. She's also continuing the tradition, as my middle nephew has a particular penchant for zombies.
Thanks for being my favourite horror fan, Susan. I love you very much. Happy late birthday. <3
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