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Lust for Life

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7.2/10 • 196

1956-09-152h 2m

DramaHistory

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

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.

Directors
Vincente Minnelli
Editors
Adrienne Fazan

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Kirk Douglas

    Kirk Douglas

    Vincent van Gogh

  2. Anthony Quinn

    Anthony Quinn

    Paul Gauguin

  3. James Donald

    James Donald

    Theo van Gogh

  4. Pamela Brown

    Pamela Brown

    Christine

  5. Everett Sloane

    Everett Sloane

    Dr. Gachet

  6. Niall MacGinnis

    Niall MacGinnis

    Roulin

  7. Noel Purcell

    Noel Purcell

    Anton Mauve

  8. Henry Daniell

    Henry Daniell

    Theodorus van Gogh

  9. Madge Kennedy

    Madge Kennedy

    Anna Cornelia van Gogh

Reviews1

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John Chard Avatar

John Chard

Jan 26, 2020

9/10

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

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  • Lust for Life poster
  • Lust for Life poster
  • Lust for Life poster
  • Lust for Life poster
  • Lust for Life poster
  • Lust for Life poster
  • Lust for Life poster
  • Lust for Life poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
suicideparis, francepaintingartistearpainterbiographyhistorical figurearttormentimpressionist19th centuryvincent van gogh