Lust For Life (1956)
The tragic tale of a man striving to match on canvas the beauty of his artistic vision, while never feeling satisfied in his achievement, Lust For Life depicts posthumously celebrated painter Vincent Van Gogh as an individual haunted by disappointment and rejection, who bounces between careers, between women, and ultimately, between mental illness and death.
Based on the 1934 novel about the life of Van Gogh, by Irving Stone, Lust For Life was adapted into an Oscar-nominated screenplay by Norman Corwin (The Blue Veil), and directed by Vincente Minnelli (The Bad And The Beautiful). The role of Van Gogh is played by Kirk Douglas (Spartacus) here, who also received an Academy Award nomination, while Anthony Quinn (The Guns Of Navarone) won an Oscar for his portrayal of Van Gogh’s close friend, and fellow artist, Paul Gauguin. James Donald (The Bridge On The Rover Kwai) played the role of Van Gogh’s brother – and biggest supporter in both financial and emotional terms – Theo Van Gogh.
Published: Oct 21, 2014 10:56 pm