DramaHistory

Lust for Life

- 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.

Release Date : 1956-09-15

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Vincent van Gogh

Original Name : Kirk Douglas

Gender : Male

Character Name : Paul Gauguin

Original Name : Anthony Quinn

Gender : Male

Character Name : Theo van Gogh

Original Name : James Donald

Gender : Male

Character Name : Christine

Original Name : Pamela Brown

Gender : Female

Character Name : Dr. Gachet

Original Name : Everett Sloane

Gender : Male

Character Name : Roulin

Original Name : Niall MacGinnis

Gender : Male

Character Name : Anton Mauve

Original Name : Noel Purcell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Theodorus van Gogh

Original Name : Henry Daniell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Anna Cornelia van Gogh

Original Name : Madge Kennedy

Gender : Female

Character Name : Willemien

Original Name : Jill Bennett

Gender : Female

Character Name : Dr. Peyron

Original Name : Lionel Jeffries

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dr. Bosman

Original Name : Laurence Naismith

Gender : Male

Character Name : Colbert

Original Name : Eric Pohlmann

Gender : Male

Character Name : Kay

Original Name : Jeanette Sterke

Gender : Female

Character Name : Johanna

Original Name : Toni Gerry

Gender : Female

Character Name : Housekeeper

Original Name : Claire Du Brey

Gender : Female

Character Name : Elderly Customer

Original Name : Helen Van Tuyl

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mrs. Stricker

Original Name : Isobel Elsom

Gender : Female

Character Name : Rev. Peeters

Original Name : David Horne

Gender : Male

Character Name : Commissioner Van Den Berghe

Original Name : Noel Howlett

Gender : Male

Character Name : Emile Bernard

Original Name : William Phipps

Gender : Male

Character Name : Waiter

Original Name : Jay Adler

Gender : Male

Character Name : Inspector (uncredited)

Original Name : Paul Bryar

Gender : Male

Character Name : Tersteeg (uncredited)

Original Name : Anthony Eustrel

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cartoonist (uncredited)

Original Name : Len Lesser

Gender : Male

Character Name : Gendarme (uncredited)

Original Name : George J. Lewis

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sister Clothilde (uncredited)

Original Name : Marion Ross

Gender : Female

Reviews

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

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