Lust for Life Photos

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Cast

Kirk Douglas
as Vincent Van Gogh

Anthony Quinn
as Paul Gauguin

Pamela Brown
as Christine

Everett Sloane
as Dr. Gachet

James Donald
as Theo Van Gogh

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

Jeannette Sterke
as Kay

Toni Gerry
as Johanna

Wilton Graff
as Rev. Stricker

Isobel Elsom
as Mrs. 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

Frank Perls
as Pere Tanguy

Jay Adler
as Waiter

Laurence Badie
as Adeline Ravoux

Rex Evans
as Durand-Ruel

Marion Ross
as Sister Clothilde

Mitzi Blake
as Elizabeth

Anthony Sydes
as Cor

Anthony Eustrel
as Tersteeg

Ernestine Barrier
as Jet

Jerry Bergen
as Henri de Toulouse Lautrec

Belle Mitchell
as Mme. Tanguy

Alec Mango
as Dr. Rey

Fred Johnson
as Cordan

Norman MacGowan
as Pier

Mickey Maga
as Jan

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Critic Reviews for Lust for Life

Audience Reviews for Lust for Life

• Jul 01, 2014

  Vincent Van Gogh struggles with mental illness on his path to becoming a renowned artist. Kirk Douglas could be a perfect Vincent Van Gogh, able to reach the emotional depths of the character and charismatic enough to be a believable tortured artist, but this film is poorly structured and statically directed. The film's structure doesn't give us a central conflict: what stands in Van Gogh's way? What is the nature of his mental illness, if that's what it is? What makes him a good artist but a malcontented person? Additionally, Vincente Minnelli's camera never moves. He sets the camera on a tripod in a studio with an obviously painted background behind the action. It's filmmaking stuck in the early days of Hollywood, and it doesn't give us the chance to see all that Douglas's performance could offer. Overall, there is a lot of potential in this film, but it's sadly unfulfilled.
  Jim H Super Reviewer
• Dec 11, 2013

  Kirk Douglas' vision of Van Gogh is good but not great. We never get a full picture on what makes this man tick and the full sense of his mental illnesses or inspirations. At times it has the feel of a paint by numbers job. I blame the script rather than Douglas who is a tremendous actor.
  

  John B Super Reviewer
• Aug 17, 2012

  Fantastic as classic movies get. Well acted, well scripted, shot vibrantly and as impressionable in memory as films go as van Gogh's paintings spinning a classic tale of human drama that is moving, meditative, endearing and fulfilling of the heart.
  Adriel L Super Reviewer
• Aug 10, 2011

  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 ...
  Kevin M. W Super Reviewer

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