"An artist paints a beautiful young man called Dorian Gray. When Dorian sees the picture, he decides to give his soul to keep his beautiful face. He lives a bad life, and he is bad to many people, but his face never changes. However, in a room upstairs, the portrait gets older and uglier.

Dorian Gray is an innocent young man who has his portrait painted by a close friend. Soon after he falls under the influence of amoral Lord Henry Wotton. Dorian soon jilts his fiancee, which leads to her suicide. This is the start of a life of increasing debauchery. Dorian realizes that the outward signs of this are apparent only in the portrait. Eventually the picture, secreted in his childhood playroom, becomes almost hideous to behold. But Dorian still has one pure love - Gladys, the niece of the original painter.

Sir Harry Wotton introduces young Dorian Gray to Victorian London's society circuit and a decadent world of self-indulgience. As Sir Harry's influence over him grows, Dorian sinks further into a cruel, hedonistic existence. Although Dorian's appearance remains youthful, his portrait ages, taking on hideous features reflecting his sinful ways.