Friday, November 7, 2025
Favorite Pic of the Day for November 8th
This summary is not available. Please
click here to view the post.
I Would Give My Soul For That
'Youth is the only thing worth having. When I find that I am growing old, I shall kill myself.'
Oscar Wilde
Today's theme was a long time coming. Like so many, I've long been a fan of Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray. I also love spotlighting a famous character, and researching all of the actors, models, dancers and performers who have stepped into the role. A few weeks ago, inspired by a series from JBDI Photography, I thought it was finally time to take a deep dive into Dorian.
The themes of the novel are haunting, with the pursuit of youth and pleasure at the expense of one's soul and morality. Of course, with those stake, things can't help but lead to self-destruction. The novel shows that a life of unchecked vanity and indulgence ultimately corrupts a person, with the consequences of their actions manifesting not on their physical body, but on their mind, and on their soul.
It's an intertest contrast to the focus of FH. For models, actors and performances, their bodies and faces, as with all of us, ultimately change and age. Their photos and films however, freeze them at them at the moment they were taken. There's a reason so many are fascinated by celebrities who die young, keeping them and their films and images, forever young.
Despite being written in the 1800's, the themes are as relevant today than ever before. The money, time and energy some put into maintaining their youth is seen everywhere we look. A few manage to delay aging, but none can stop it completely. Most, end up actually speeding the process on, with surgeries and procedures exposing not only their aging, but their insecurities and the ultimate sacrifice with their souls.
Artwork by ihonolulu on DeviantArt
Soul Crushers
'Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing..'
Oscar Wilde
A Noise Within Theatre 
Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray was first published as a short story in the July 1890 issue of Lippincott's Monthly Magazine. Dearing the content was indecent, the editors ended up removing about five hundred words without Wilde's knowledge before it was published. Wilde went on to revise and expand his story, (adding 12 additional chapters) for the book which was printed the following year in 1891. Even with these changes, the homoeroticism was watered down in by some publishers with future printings.
Contemporary Dance: Kings Theatre, Edinburgh International Festival
Like so many great stories, and iconic works of fiction, there have been hundreds of adaptations of Wilde's story staged and films. There were hundreds of stage versions, musicals, operas, ballets, and of course, the requisite gay porn parody. There were over a dozen film versions, one the most notable, the 1945 film starring Burt Hatfield as Dorian. This version also co-starred Angela Lansbury, who was nominated for an Oscar for her role as Sibyl Vane.
Hurd Hatfield 1945 film
Later, Helmut Berger inhabited the role in 1970's Dorian Gray, aka The Secrets of Dorian Gray and The Evils of Dorian Gray. The first actor to play Gray on big screen was Danish silent film star Valdemar Psilander. More recently the role has been played on film by Ethan Erickson in 2004. Ben Barnes in 2009 and actor Fionn Whitehead in the 2021 British adaptation.
Peter Firth, BBC Play, (1976)
As many big screen Dorian Gray's that there are, there are even more versions in television shows and in movies. Actors David Gallagher and Josh Duhamel stared into their portraits in television films, and Duhamel in 2004 and Gallagher in 2007.
The character of Dorian Gray has also been woven into other fantasy and Gothic projects. Stuart Townsend played the role in the 2003 film The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and on television, Reeve Carney played Dorian on Penny Dreadful and Jedidiah Goodacre on The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.
Check out some of my favorite actors in the role including Helmut Berger, (last post on this page) Also check out actors Josh Duhamel, Ethan Erikson, (below left) and Ben Barnes.(below right) on the NEXT PAGE HERE:
Check out actor Jedidiah Goodacre (below right) as well as Dorian's on stage, and in porn parody's on PAGE 3 HERE:
Narcissistic Obsession: Will by JBDI Photography
'I wanted to convey the narcissistic obsession of the Oscar Wilde story.'
I'm guessing longtime FH readers recognize the work, and the singular stile of photographer Jon from JBDI Photography. I've featured Jon's work several times in the past and each series and shoot reflects the dramatic, and often Gothic influences in his work. Jon's images are vividly colorful and visually striking. Whether it be Beau posing under the Ouse Valley Viaduct, (HERE:) or Jack in an old abandoned mill, (HERE:) or studio shoots with Elvis, (HERE:) and Marc. (HERE:)
Jon's visuals always tell compelling stories, for me, evoking so many historical period dramas embedded in my mind. Jon does this through pose, through lighting, props and architecture. He also sometimes encourages his models to inhabit the space, taking on the character, and the characteristics of their surrounds. I originally contacted Jon as I thought he might have a shoot that fit one of the themes I'd chosen for Halloween. Turns out he had, but with a story and theme that for some, is far more frightening than any horror flick.
It began with a planned shoot with Will Twink. Will and his partner were traveling back from a wedding in Edinburg, and planned a stop off to shoot with Jon on his way home to London. The theme, Wilde's 'A Picture of Dorian Gray' was suggested by Will as a way of making use of the many weird and unique props Jon had collected within his studio space. The only prop Jon acquired specifically for the shoot was the mirrored tray he found at a local thrift shop. The only thing Jon added to the tray were the gold leaves he added as a wreath like frame.
'I wanted to convey the narcissistic obsession of the Oscar Wilde story. I was also very interested in the contrast between the view of the model's face compared to the view that looks at us from the mirror. Will perfectly portrayed the decadent English young man and was uninhibited in his poses.'
Given the theme, Jon had the perfect creative collaborator to bring Dorian to life. Will has always been into art and photography, having studied art in college. As for modeling, that to began in school, with friends asking their hot friend to pose for shots for their coursework. Will actually began to build up a following on-line by inhabiting another character from fiction, and one with roots in gothic elements as well. Will's Instagram account really began to build with his Harry Potter content. He's moved beyond Harry however, still loving the character, but not the harmful comments and ignorance from the author.
It was channeling the character however, that initially led to a photographer contacting him about shooting. This lead to things snowballing and Will's modeling to really take off. As for posing nude, Will shares that although always curious, he was always really too nervous and hesitant to do. When Will saw his images, or looked into a mirror, he was always a bit self-conscious about the way his body looked, and saw himself as too scrawny to be in front of the lens. In the end, Will decided to take the risk, and was amazed at well the photographer made him look..
Will first noticed Jon's work on Instagram, and reached out after being drawn to the colour and vibrancy in his visuals. Will shared with Jon that he really wanted to lean into the photographer's style, and the story of Dorian Gray came up during one of the many conversations they had before the shoot. Will had always been interested in the Dorian's story, and knew Jon was the right photographer to help translate and tell the story.
For Will, Jon was the ideal person to work with given the story and themes explored. Will much prefers shoots that have a degree of storytelling through the imagery. Inhabiting a character, comes more naturally that just standing and posing, Will enjoys channeling a characters emotions, leaving the viewers to have their own feelings, and to make their own interpretations of what’s happening.
'There were so many favorite moments, starting with the most adrenaline rushing part, which was the candles. These were really alight and the stand was extremely wobbly I felt they would fall at any moment and we’d go up in a pile of smoke at any moment haha.
My favourite bit of any shoot, and especially with this one, is getting to experiment with something new. I seldom repeat themes, this means each shoot always feels unique in its own way. Jon was extremely welcoming to the ideas and we got on so easily together which always makes for an enjoyable shoot. '
Will too has an OnlyFans, which he saves for his more explicit content. He posts several times a week, as well as creates more personalized content at viewers requests. Will strives to cultivate a community space with interactive chats, polls and live streams. Check it out HERE:
Helmut Berger in Das Bildnis des Dorian Gray
'Eternal youth is the ultimate perversion.'
Many FH readers may recall it took me awhile to gain an appreciation for classic films. I tended to fight watching anything made before the movies of the 1980's and 1990's that I watched as a kid. Everything else seemed ancient, and not bother watching. Thankfully, that has long changed, in large part, for working on this site.
Through working on FH, I began to discover actors and movies I'd never seen or heard of before, and as part of the storytelling, found myself taking a deep dive into classic cinema. Thanks to TCM, and many FH readers who wrote me with suggestions, I now probably watch more films made before I was born than made after.
I still don't often go back beyond the 1940's, but have come to love films from the 60's and 70's, especially 70's horror films. Although the 1970 adaptation of Dorian Gray isn't directly a horror film, for many it's definitely considered one. The Helmut Berger led film was the second version of Oscar Wilde's story that I'd seen, the first was the 2009 adaptation.
From Cinebeats
Massimo Dallamano couldn’t have picked a better actor to play the vain and self absorbed Dorian Gray. Helmut Berger is clearly enjoying himself in the role and it’s easy to believe that women and men of all ages and sexual persuasions are attracted to him. Berger’s erotic persona and fluid sexuality are used to their fullest extent in Dorian Gray and the audience is easily able to project their own fantasies into the movie if they’re willing.
Berger was perfectly cast in the role with his talent and exquisite beauty. For some reason however, I found that Berger looked just a little old. It's odd I know, especially as I'd seen Ben Barnes in the role, who seemed more the right age. Of course, it's Hollywood, and Barnes was actually one year older than Berger was when he played the role. I believer Berger was 26, and Barnes was 27.
Helmut Berger
Dorian Gray
Feature Film: 1970
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)