Lust for Life (1956)

Cast

Kirk Douglas
as Vincent Van Gogh
Anthony Quinn
as Paul Gauguin
Marion Ross
as Sister Clothilde
Henry Daniell
as Theodorus Van Gogh

Get more information about Lust for Life (1956) on IMDb

Genres & Description

Action Biography Drama

7.4 / 10

Vincent Van Gogh is the archetypical tortured artistic genius. His obsession with painting, combined with mental illness, propels him through an unhappy life full of failures and unrewarding relationships. He fails at being a preacher to coal miners. He fails in his relationships with women. He earns some respect among his fellow painters, especially Paul Gauguin, but he does not get along with them. He only manages to sell one painting in his lifetime. The one constant good in his life is his brother Theo, who is unwavering in his moral and financial support.

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Comments on this trailer
Comments may include spoiler!

Georgia Lerangis

Thank you ! - @Sunday, March 4, 2018 12:46 AM

Terry Myers

Anthony Quinn didn't play Paul Gauguin he was Paul Gauguin - @Saturday, September 2, 2017 9:47 AM

aramanth

You can retell the story... you can use differenct actors... but nothing will ever top this film for the scope of drama and intensity. - @Saturday, September 2, 2017 12:41 AM

Uriel Guillen

Lana Del Rey brought me here! - @Friday, April 28, 2017 5:44 AM

FarCritical

Just watched this at TCM, neat gem in the rough here. - @Friday, December 9, 2016 2:28 PM

Ethan Macdonald

The extremes of passion??!! You go too far, sir! - @Thursday, September 22, 2016 7:48 AM

SjaakBonestaak

Few people know the real story of this intense strong willed man. Even fewer people pronounce his name correctly. - @Wednesday, September 7, 2016 6:23 PM

Don Scott

"Women,man...I'm talking about WOMEN! I like fat,vicious and not too smart. Nothing spiritual either." Lol Great film! Just watched this on TCM the other night. Kirk Douglas bares a striking resemblance to the brilliant,but troubled Vincent Van Gogh and plays the part flawlessly. - @Tuesday, March 29, 2016 6:28 AM

adamscott

Wonderful film - @Wednesday, September 9, 2015 9:30 PM

Nilda Lopreito

kirk douglas,es excelente vincent,vuelve a vivir y soñar... - @Wednesday, August 5, 2015 11:45 PM

Bob .Grant

Kirk Douglas was brilliant as Vincent. - @Sunday, July 26, 2015 9:18 PM

Marty McFly

I don't think we'll ever know what Vincent Van Gogh was suffering from but. personally, the theory that convinced me the most is that he had temporal lobe epilepsy. One of his doctor, Felix Rey, even diagnotised him as being epileptic after Vincent was hospitalized after the whole Vincent cutting (part of) his ear. It seems his sickness worsened with Vincent's heavy consumption of absinth during his Arles days. Anyway, great movie, loved Kirk Douglas A LOT in this. And it is the only Van Gogh movie I have watched yet where life at the end of the 19th century didn't seemed too contrived and truly realistic and believable. And, also, all the actors freakishly looked like their characters ! - @Sunday, May 10, 2015 9:59 PM

Lord Belcher IV

I still preferred the version with canned laughter. - @Saturday, August 9, 2014 6:46 AM

Legacy4412

Thanks for this ! - @Monday, March 10, 2014 9:24 PM

UncleMikeNJ

A little perspective: When this movie was made in 1956, van Gogh (who died in 1890) was as far back from it as Jackie Robinson's debut in 1947 was from the recent film "42" -- and some parts of the film were as far back as World War II now is. So there were, then, still living people who knew van Gogh and Gauguin (who lived on until 1903). - @Saturday, January 4, 2014 11:36 PM

RoLorenz

I can't breath whenever they show Van Gogh's paintings, combined with Miklos Rozsas flaming filmmusic. Masterful movie! - @Tuesday, September 3, 2013 10:54 PM

Rob Lorenz

What an artist! What an actor! What a music! What a movie! - @Tuesday, September 3, 2013 10:39 PM

TheAkelei

Yes, Kirk did a great job. But the US always tend to do things a bit too big and bombastic in my point of view. Go try the modern BBC version with Benedict Cumberbatch. Heartbreakingly amazing. - @Monday, July 15, 2013 9:27 PM

Tribble Booth

A classic film, with one of the greatest actors to appear on the big screen.Brilliant. - @Saturday, March 23, 2013 1:28 AM

AK cristo

THE BEST:1:32 -talking about women, kirk d. said ...same classy ´n dignaty..,(A.quinn)dignaty?!!?? i talking about women, men! WOMEN!!!.i like them fat, vicious ´n not to smart! ´n nothing spirituality ether, if i have got to say love y i break my teeth. - @Friday, January 11, 2013 11:55 AM

AK cristo

the worst thing about kirk douglas, is michael douglas. - @Friday, January 11, 2013 11:38 AM

alex gomez

And I'm writing a book in which Van Gogh is supporting character ... And in my French romance, which takes place at the time, century XIX, I reveal a great mystery related to my protagonist and Van Gogh! Wait! In 2013! I salute them. A.G. Sacra Search me on Facebook: [email protected] . - @Monday, October 1, 2012 9:36 AM

alex gomez

cover821- No!!! Are you crazy?! You read the wrong book!!!! The only book that tells the whole truth is the "Van Gogh Biography" written by award-winning French author and philosopher, David Haziot! This image of "crazy" that was passed by people mistaken for a century is quite controversial! Read this book and be impressed! - @Monday, October 1, 2012 9:19 AM

telecasterbear

tempermental artists - @Friday, August 10, 2012 10:26 AM

jonainwood

This was one of Kirk douglas's best performances - @Monday, June 18, 2012 1:17 PM

TungstenKid

Oscar Winner for best actor for that year (1956) was Yul Brynner in The King and I. The other nominees were- James Dean, Giant Kirk Douglas, Lust for Life Rock Hudson, Giant Sir Laurence Olivier, Richard III Oscar for Best Supporting Actor was Tony Quinn in Lust for Life - @Wednesday, May 30, 2012 2:54 AM

Paleface

Agreed. He looks awesome as Sigmund Freud is David Cronenbergs new film! - @Friday, April 27, 2012 10:34 AM

David tierney

how did Douglas not get an Oscar, is a mystery to me - @Tuesday, March 27, 2012 7:55 PM

Julien Corcoran

And Stallone as Gaunguin, just joking! infact, Viggo Mortenson could be quite good. It needs a new remake. - @Thursday, May 12, 2011 11:45 PM

freedomland11

I think Viggo Mortenson should recapture the essence of Van Gogh!! What do you ppl think? Such a great actor and looks soo much like Van Gogh with a beard - @Saturday, January 15, 2011 5:17 AM

SHINYamAHA21

'Night Cafe' by Van Gogh...I was not...and when I saw how Francis Bacon was admiring, his expression changed whole aspect of the painting. Paul Gauguin and Van Gogh was East and West. Different personality and different theme of paintings...It's exciting to see this movie. - @Tuesday, September 1, 2009 11:48 PM

SHINYamAHA21

I heard that too. Gogh had issues. 'Starry Night' reminds me JunMi(because she always keeps that big copy of Gogh). Gauguin's wrok: I was so confused by one of my Prof. her name is funny, ChunKyungJa(the most powerful famous Korean fine artist) her work is strong image just like Gauguin's wrok...I kinda got tired of hers though...Gauguin's mentality was great. fascinating personality. - @Tuesday, September 1, 2009 11:43 PM

Westonelm

Van Gogh was probably bipolar and his state of mind wasn't helped by his frequent drinking of absinthe....and I was told some time ago by an international lecturer on Van Gogh that he only cut off the lobe of his ear! Some have suggested it was Gauguin during a quarrel...l - @Tuesday, September 1, 2009 10:54 PM

SHINYamAHA21

"The moon and six pence" by William Somerset Maugham is one of my favortie book about Paul Gauguin's life. C Strickland-Gauguin-Gogh...very interesting tangled life. Somehow this film remind me to read again "Moon and Sixpence" 10 years later(the book would change the meaning to the same reader.) Thank you West. - @Tuesday, September 1, 2009 3:48 PM

SHINYamAHA21

West: Was Gogh some kinda schizo? His seperation with Gauguin made him mad to cut off his ear. How admirable~ - @Tuesday, September 1, 2009 3:40 PM

SHINYamAHA21

wow..This seems a great movie I must see...A Q and K D...jeez..their total resemblance of Gauguin and Gogh...amazing.... You do not know how paralyzing it is, that staring of a blank canvas which says to the painter...you do not know anything. -Vincent van Gogh- Go on working, freely and furiously, you will make progress.-Paul Gouguin- What a different character? right? lovit. - @Tuesday, September 1, 2009 3:14 PM

George R

I love this movie. Kirk Douglas and Anthony Quinn are brilliant. But the very best is the film score by Miklós Rózsa. He also deserved the oscar. - @Wednesday, July 8, 2009 8:53 AM