Lust for Life

Pros: Excellent character study!

Cons: Terribly sad!

Review: "Lust For Life" tells the story of Vincent Van Gogh, the tormented artist who was ridiculed in his lifetime and hailed as a genius after his death. One has to wonder, watching Van Gogh's agony and total mental collapse:was he insane because he...

Pros: colorful, well-cast biography with great sets

Cons: historical inaccuracies, sometimes melodramatic

The Bottom Line: This is a big budget Hollywood biography, with excellent production values. Hammy, but entertaining.

Review: Reportedly, John Wayne was irritated that Kirk Douglas had played Vincent Van Gogh in Lust for Life. Not that Wayne had wanted the role for himself. In fact, he felt that the role was unfit for any actor associated with 'tough guy' roles. To...

Pros: Story, Color, Supporting Cast

Cons: Kirk Douglas miscast, bombastic score

The Bottom Line: A creditable effort that hasn't aged well, Lust for Life tells the unhappy story of Vincent Van Gogh, the classic example of the tortured artist

Review: Lust for Life (1956) A creditable little biopic that tells the life of Vincent Van Gogh as portrayed by Kirk Douglas, and shot by the visually astute director Vicente Minnelli. The movie suffers from a couple of deficiencies that will not alienate a ...