Movie Cosmos - Lust for Life

Description:

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.

Top 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

Lionel Jeffries

As Dr. Peyron

Laurence Naismith

As Dr. Bosman

Eric Pohlmann

As Colbert

Jeanette Sterke

As Kay

Toni Gerry

As Johanna

Claire Du Brey

As Housekeeper

Helen Van Tuyl

As Elderly Customer

Isobel Elsom

As Mrs. Stricker

David Horne

As Rev. Peeters

Noel Howlett

As Commissioner Van Den Berghe

William Phipps

As Emile Bernard

Jay Adler

As Waiter

Paul Bryar

As Inspector (uncredited)

Anthony Eustrel

As Tersteeg (uncredited)

Len Lesser

As Cartoonist (uncredited)

George J. Lewis

As Gendarme (uncredited)

Marion Ross

As Sister Clothilde (uncredited)

Top Crew >

Vincente Minnelli

Director

E. Preston Ames

Art Direction

Hans Peters

Art Direction

Charles K. Hagedon

Colorist

Walter Plunkett

Costume Designer

Cedric Gibbons

Art Direction

F. Keogh Gleason

Set Decoration

Wesley C. Miller

Recording Supervision

Edwin B. Willis

Set Decoration

Sydney Guilaroff

Hair Designer

Al Jennings

Assistant Director

William Tuttle

Makeup Designer

Irving Stone

Novel

Norman Corwin

Screenplay

Jud Kinberg

Associate Producer

Adrienne Fazan

Editor

Miklós Rózsa

Original Music Composer

Freddie Young

Director of Photography

John Houseman

Producer

Russell Harlan

Director of Photography

Reviews:

John Chard (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

2020-01-26