The Portrait

The Portrait

1948 · 87 min · ★ 7.7 · Fantasy, Horror

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.

Directed by Jiří Slavíček · Written by František Vlček

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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
František Holar Mr. Zemblovský
Viktor Očásek Merchant Image

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