Lust for Life

9/15/19562h 2m

Theatrical Release (US)

~ He had a lust for life. Sometimes he was brutal, sometimes delicate – always he lived with insatiable passion! ~

Overview:

An intense and imaginative artist, revered Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh possesses undeniable talent, but he is plagued by mental problems and frustrations with failure. Supported by his brother, Theo, the tormented Van Gogh eventually leaves Holland for France, where he meets volatile fellow painter Paul Gauguin and struggles to find greater inspiration.

Director:

Vincente Minnelli

Status:

Released

Language:

English

Buget:

$0.00

Revenue:

$0.00

Key words:

suicide
paris, france
painting
artist
grave
ear
melancholy
painter
biography
historical figure
art
torment
impressionist
19th century
thoughtful
somber
philosophical
serious
dramatic
sentimental
intense
compassionate
tragic

Cast

Kirk Douglas

~ as ~

Vincent van Gogh

Anthony Quinn

~ as ~

Paul Gauguin

James Donald

~ as ~

Theo van Gogh

Pamela Brown

~ as ~

Christine

Everett Sloane

~ as ~

Dr. Gachet

Niall MacGinnis

~ as ~

Roulin

Noel Purcell

~ as ~

Anton Mauve

Henry Daniell

~ as ~

Theodorus van Gogh

Madge Kennedy

~ as ~

Anna Cornelia van Gogh

Jill Bennett

~ as ~

Willemien

View full cast & crew

Reviews (1)

John Chard
Written 5 year(s) ago
9
Violence makes me sick. I have too much inside me, I'm afraid of it.

Lust for Life is a biography film of revered painter Vincent Van Gogh. It is adapted from Irving Stone's fictionalized biography by Norman Corwin and stars Kirk Douglas, Anthony Quinn and James Donald. It's directed by Vincente Minnelli, cinematography is by Freddie Young and Russel Harlan and music is scored by Miklos Roza.

This shines bright as a beacon in how Hollywood used to make a biopic the right way. Not a big commercial success as such, it has however gained critical praise the older it gets. Technically it's hard to fault, the colour lenses in CinemaScope, Roza's beautiful mood accompaniment score, and the direction and acting - with Douglas inhabiting Van Gogh and likewise Quinn for Paul Gauguin (Oscar Winner Best Supporting Actor) - bring this tragic story vividly to life.

It tugs the heart strings while it also inspires, while for art lovers the use of Van Gogh's real paintings (Minnelli was trusted to film with ultimate care) is an added joy. A super piece of film making. 9/10