The film premiered in Budapest January 21, 1918 and was described as an "almost unprecedented success" in local Budapest press.[3] It received a positive review in Pesti Napló.
Az élet királya was based on Oscar Wilde's novel The Picture of Dorian Gray (1891). In the film, Norbert Dán plays Dorian Gray while Bela Lugosi portrayed Lord Harry Watton, known in the novel as Lord Henry Wotton.[1]
Az élet királya was previewed at the Uránia in Budapest on October 23, 1917. It was officially released on January 21, 1918, at Budapest's Corso Theater.[4][5] The film was described as an "almost unprecedented success" in local Budapest press.[3]
In some ads, the film was referred to as simple Élet királya.[6] The film was released in Germany as Die Spur seiner Sünden.[7] Outside of Hungary it was also known as Dorian Gray Arckepe.[2] As of 2022, as with nearly all of Lugosi's Hungarian film productions, no copy of the film is known to exist.[8]
In the Hungarian newspaper Pesti Napló, a critic declared the film "a great psychological drama" and declared it an interesting comparison with the German film Das Bildnis des Dorian GraybyRichard Oswald.[9] Other reviews praised the work of Bela Lugosi, who performed in the film under the name Arisztid Olt.[4] A critic in Mozihét Kino-Woche stated Lugis played Lord Watton "with an artfulness of the highest quality"[4][10] while another called his acting "most noble."[4][11]
Rhodes, Gary Don (2006) [1997]. Lugosi. His Life in Films, on Stage, and in the Hearts of Horror Lovers. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. ISBN978-0-78640257-1.
Rhodes, Gary D.; Kaffenberger, Bill (2021). Becoming Dracula - The Early Years of Bela Lugosi (Kindle ed.). BearManor Media.
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