Eben Adams is a talented but struggling artist in Depression era New York who has never been able to find inspiration for a painting. One day, after he finally finds someone to buy a painting from him, a pretty but odd young girl named Jennie Appleton appears and strikes up an unusual friendship with Eben.
The film is notable for Joseph H. August's atmospheric cinematography, capturing the lead character's obsession with Jennie, amongst the environs of a wintry New York. August shot many of the scenes through a canvas, making the scenes look like actual paintings. August, who used many lenses from silent film days, died shortly after completing the film. He was posthumously nominated for an Academy Award for Best Cinematography.
The film does mark a milestone in fantasy film, which really didn't much exist in the earlier years so far as I can recall. The cinematography really does set it apart. The scenes where the background looks like canvas is just a brilliant idea, and has us questioning what is real and what is just a creation. Indeed, even by adding an opening narration, we are left with the impression that this is intended as a story (creation) rather than anything that could be considered reality.
The film is notable for Joseph H. August's atmospheric cinematography, capturing the lead character's obsession with Jennie, amongst the environs of a wintry New York. August shot many of the scenes through a canvas, making the scenes look like actual paintings. August, who used many lenses from silent film days, died shortly after completing the film. He was posthumously nominated for an Academy Award for Best Cinematography.
The film does mark a milestone in fantasy film, which really didn't much exist in the earlier years so far as I can recall. The cinematography really does set it apart. The scenes where the background looks like canvas is just a brilliant idea, and has us questioning what is real and what is just a creation. Indeed, even by adding an opening narration, we are left with the impression that this is intended as a story (creation) rather than anything that could be considered reality.