Portrait of Jennie

Dir. William Dieterle. 1948, 86 mins. 35mm. With Jennifer Jones, Joseph Cotten, Ethel Barrymore, Lillian Gish. A hidden Hollywood treasure, the supernatural romantic melodrama Portrait of Jennie has gained an intense cult following over the years. A masterpiece of mood and atmosphere, the film begins in Depression-era New York, where a struggling painter (Cotten) befriends an eccentric, otherworldly child (Jones)—who seems to age at a startling rate. As she becomes his muse, he sets out to unlock Jennie’s mystery, leading to an extravagant denouement that earned the film an Academy Award for best special effects.

Tickets are included with paid Museum admission on a first-come, first-served basis. Museum members may reserve tickets in advance. View the Museum’s ticketing policy here. For more information on membership and to join online, visit our membership page.