Lust for Life (1956)

100% of critics liked it
(10 reviews)
77% of users liked it
(2,904 ratings)

This filmed biography of Vincent Van Gogh was adapted by Norman Corwin from the best-selling novel by Irving Stone, which was in turn inspired by the written correspondence between Van Gogh and his brother Theo. Kirk Douglas plays the tormented genius, whose obsessive devotion to his art engulfs,… More This filmed biography of Vincent Van Gogh was adapted by Norman Corwin from the best-selling novel by Irving Stone, which was in turn inspired by the written correspondence between Van Gogh and his brother Theo. Kirk Douglas plays the tormented genius, whose obsessive devotion to his art engulfs, consumes, and finally destroys him. James Donald costars as Theo Van Gogh, who provides financial and moral support to his brother from the time Vincent leaves his Holland home in 1878 to his death in Auvers in 1890. Anthony Quinn won an Oscar for his eight-minute turn as Van Gogh's fast friend and erstwhile rival Paul Gaugin. Nearly 200 of Van Gogh's original paintings were borrowed from private collections for brief display in the film: some are "recreated" before our eyes, as the artist stands before his easel, spattered with paint and with a look of white-hot intensity burned into his countenance. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 2 hr. 2 min.
Directed By: Vincente Minnelli, Anthony Quinn
Written By: Norman Corwin
Genres: Drama, Classics

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1956 Wide
On DVD: Jan 31, 2006
Studio: MGM

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
One of Minnelli's best pictures, a visually stunning portrait of Van Gogh, splendidly played by Kirk Douglas
Michael E. Grost, Classic Film and Television
Horrifying - but informative - tragic biography of Van Gogh, with a look at his painting technique and location filming of the places he lived.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
A competently made and acted biopic on the Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh (Kirk Douglas), that's nevertheless uninspiring.
Emanuel Levy, Screendaily
Minnelli's most visually evocative and most personal film--the only project he initiated during his tenure at MGM--centers on Van Gogh as a tormented, uncompromising artist, magnificently played by Kirk Douglas.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...a fairly true account of the artist's life, and as such continues to entertain and enlighten, even if it doesn't entirely uplift.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
The movie, attractive as it may be, never 'breaks through the iron wall' between what is felt and what is expressed, the very wall that van Gogh himself strove to overcome.

Read all 6 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

moon r

Pretty to look at? You betcha! Its about Dutch painter numero uno, duh. Informative? Are you kiddin'? Did you know a lot of famous artists hung out in Paris? Yep. So why's this fail to connect? Kirk is there, wringin' his hands every chance he gets. Quinn is… More
Pretty to look at? You betcha! Its about Dutch painter numero uno, duh. Informative? Are you kiddin'? Did you know a lot of famous artists hung out in Paris? Yep. So why's this fail to connect? Kirk is there, wringin' his hands every chance he gets. Quinn is there, and he's not happy about the hand wringin'. So wat happened? I think the subject matter spooked the makers ...
AJ V

Douglas plays Van Gogh, and does a great job, if only the rest of the cast were as good as him, this would be a fantastic movie. Still I really liked it, and if you like Douglas you should see his performance in this movie.
xGary X

Quality biopic of Vincent Van Gogh featuring an intense if slightly affected performance by Kirk Douglas as the tortured artist. Nice painterly cinematography and a genuine reverance for the man and his work make for a fascinating insight into the genius, and there's a great… More
Quality biopic of Vincent Van Gogh featuring an intense if slightly affected performance by Kirk Douglas as the tortured artist. Nice painterly cinematography and a genuine reverance for the man and his work make for a fascinating insight into the genius, and there's a great larger than life supporting role for Anthony Quinn as Gaugin.
Cinema F

Who hasn't heard of the (supposedly) crazy Dutchman who cut off his ear, and then shot himself in a wheat field while painting his last work? This film spans the last seven years of Vincent Van Gogh's life (c1883-90), the period of his almost unbearably intense… More
Who hasn't heard of the (supposedly) crazy Dutchman who cut off his ear, and then shot himself in a wheat field while painting his last work? This film spans the last seven years of Vincent Van Gogh's life (c1883-90), the period of his almost unbearably intense development as an artist. Much of it was filmed at the actual locations, as well as many of his original paintings are shown and the film faithfully recreates many of the scenes in some of his most famous works. The performances by Douglas and Quinn (as Gaugin) and the supporting actors reflect the level of commitment of all those who were involved in the production. Gauguin, another eccentric, was far more famous at the time than Van Gogh, and his approach to art was diametrically opposed to Van Gogh's. He painted what was in his mind, not the glories of nature that absorbed Van Gogh. Touching and tragic, this is a glorious, brilliant film that memorializes the world's greatest painter.
Leo L

Interesting

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 II as Willemien

            Lionel Jeffries as Dr. Peyron

            Laurence Naismith as Dr. Bosman

            Eric Pohlmann as Colbert

            Jeannette Sterke as Kay

            Toni Gerry as Johanna

            Wilton Graff as Rev. Stricker

            David Horne as Rev. Peeters

            Noel Howlett as Commissioner Van Den Berghe

            Ronald Adam as Commissioner De Smet

            John Ruddock as Ducrucq

            Julie Robinson as Rachel

            David Leonard as Camille Pissarro

            William Phipps as Emile Bernard

            David Bond as Seurat

            Jay Adler as Waiter

            Laurence Badie as Adeline Ravoux

            Jerry Bergen as Henri de Toulouse Lautrec

            Isobel Elsom as Mrs. Stricker

            Anthony Eustrel as Tersteeg

            Rex Evans as Durand-Ruel

            Mickey Maga as Jan

            Alec Mango as Dr. Rey

            Belle Mitchell as Mme. Tanguy

            Marion Ross as Sister Clothilde

            Anthony Sydes as Cor

            Fred Johnson as Cordan

            Ernestine Barrier as Jet
See full cast