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DramaMysteryThrillerRomance

Portrait from Life

- A psychological thriller, a captivating mystery, a tender love story - all brilliantly COMBINED INTO ONE EXCITING MOTION PICTURE

A British army officer becomes fascinated by the portrait of a young woman. He travels to Germany to find her, only to discover that she is suffering from amnesia.

Release Date : 1948-12-01

Language :GermanEnglishFrench

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Gainsborough Pictures

Production Country : United Kingdom

Alternative Titles : Lost Daughter

Cast

Mai Zetterling

Character Name : Lidia

Original Name : Mai Zetterling

Gender : Female

Robert Beatty

Character Name : Campbell Reid

Original Name : Robert Beatty

Gender : Male

Guy Rolfe

Character Name : Major Lawrence

Original Name : Guy Rolfe

Gender : Male

Herbert Lom

Character Name : Fritz Kottler Hendlemann

Original Name : Herbert Lom

Gender : Male

Patrick Holt

Character Name : Ferguson

Original Name : Patrick Holt

Gender : Male

Arnold Marlé

Character Name : Professor Franz Menzel

Original Name : Arnold Marlé

Gender : Male

Sybille Binder

Character Name : Eitel Hendlemann

Original Name : Sybille Binder

Gender : Female

Thora Hird

Character Name : Mrs. Skinner

Original Name : Thora Hird

Gender : Female

Gerard Heinz

Character Name : Heine

Original Name : Gerard Heinz

Gender : Male

Yvonne Owen

Character Name : Helen

Original Name : Yvonne Owen

Gender : Female

George Thorpe

Character Name : Brigadier

Original Name : George Thorpe

Gender : Male

Philo Hauser

Character Name : Hans Ackermann

Original Name : Philo Hauser

Gender : Male

John Blythe

Character Name : Johnnie

Original Name : John Blythe

Gender : Male

Cyril Chamberlain

Character Name : Supervisor

Original Name : Cyril Chamberlain

Gender : Male

Betty Lynne

Character Name : Interpreter

Original Name : Betty Lynne

Gender : Female

Nelly Arno

Character Name : Anna Skutetsky

Original Name : Nelly Arno

Gender : Male

Richard Molinas

Character Name : Man in Crowd with Anna

Original Name : Richard Molinas

Gender : Male

Donald Sinden

Character Name : Minor Role

Original Name : Donald Sinden

Gender : Male

Hugo Schuster

Character Name : Interpreter

Original Name : Hugo Schuster

Gender : Male

Eric Messiter

Character Name : Coroner

Original Name : Eric Messiter

Gender : Male

Dorothea Glade

Character Name : Hildegard Schmidt

Original Name : Dorothea Glade

Gender : Male

Michael Hordern

Character Name : Johnson

Original Name : Michael Hordern

Gender : Male

Pete Murray

Character Name : Lieutenant Keith

Original Name : Pete Murray

Gender : Male

Gordon Bell

Character Name : Captain Roberts

Original Name : Gordon Bell

Gender : Male

Sam Kydd

Character Name : Army Truck Driver

Original Name : Sam Kydd

Gender : Male

Eric Pohlmann

Character Name : Search Group Leader

Original Name : Eric Pohlmann

Gender : Male

Anthony Steel

Character Name : Bridegroom

Original Name : Anthony Steel

Gender : Male

Arthur Hambling

Character Name : Coroner's Officer (uncredited)

Original Name : Arthur Hambling

Gender : Male

Paul Hansard

Character Name : Fritz (uncredited)

Original Name : Paul Hansard

Gender : Male

Dennis Harkin

Character Name : Richard (uncredited)

Original Name : Dennis Harkin

Gender : Male

Charles Rolfe

Character Name : Art Gallery Attendant (uncredited)

Original Name : Charles Rolfe

Gender : Male

Dennis Vance

Character Name : Orderly, Officer's Mess (uncredited)

Original Name : Dennis Vance

Gender : Male

Arthur Young

Character Name : Club Pianist (uncredited)

Original Name : Arthur Young

Gender : Male

Reviews

C

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2022-07-09

Guy Rolfe is "Major Lawrence" (another one), who sees a portrait of a young girl at a London art gallery and is enthralled. On further investigation he discovers from her refugee father - who recognises his long lost child from her picture - that she is a Jewish lady and is probably still in a post-war settlement camp somewhere in Germany. He sets off to track her down, discovering when he does find her that she "Hildegarde" (Mai Zetterling) has amnesia and can remember little. Not only that, but she has been "adopted" by Herbert Lom ("Hendlemann") whom she genuinely considers to be her real father. Further digging by "Lawrence" reveals that the painter "Reid" (Robert Beatty) and her may have had some sort of relationship and that her pseudo-father has a pretty big secret of his own. Terence Fisher does well to get anything out of the usually wooden Messrs. Rolfe and Beatty, but Lom is super as is the gorgeous, sylphlike Zetterling who portrays her character with considerable delicacy and skill, especially when things turn a bit more perilous for her as Lom realises that her amnesia may be easing and that his secret might not be as secure as he had thought. It's an unusual film, this - the story is gentle and poignant, and the pace is more measured than slow, with a good score from Benjamin Frankel to help build to quite a surprising denouement. Rarely seen nowadays, but well worth 90 minutes of your time if you encounter it.