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| Lust for Life | 
 enlarge | Directors: George Cukor, Vincente Minnelli
Actors: Kirk Douglas, Anthony Quinn, James Donald, Pamela Brown, Everett Sloane
Studio: Warner Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $19.98
Buy New: $4.25
You Save: $15.73 (79%)
Buy New/Used from $4.25
Avg. Customer Rating:  (44 reviews)
Sales Rank: 14418
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dubbed, Dvd-video, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), French (Dubbed)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: DVD
Running Time: 122 minutes
Number Of Items: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: WARD66988D
ISBN: 0790795728
UPC: 012569698826
EAN: 9780790795720
ASIN: B000BYA4HY
Release Date: January 31, 2006
Theatrical Release Date: 1956
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Powerful movie January 12, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I purchased this DVD as a stocking stuffer for my husband. We watched it together in preparation for an upcoming trip to Amsterdam. The movie, which chronicles the life and struggles of the Dutch painter, Vincent Van Gogh, was very well done and one of Kirk Douglas' best performances. It was troubling at times due to a heart-rending depiction of Van Gogh's serious mental illness. Other strong performances by Anthony Quinn, who played the painter Paul Gauguin, and James Donald, who played Van Gogh's brother, added to the enjoyment of the movie. The film was visually stunning and one was able to see the evolution of Van Gogh's art. I look forward to my trip to see Van Gogh's art in person.
 Starry, Starry Night December 7, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Kirk Douglas is at his finest in his portrayal of Vincent van Gough, the tortured painter who wanted so much, but was held back by his continuing mental illness. In today's world, Vincent would be put on a regimine of drugs, and lived a life of obscurity. In his day, his only relief from the inner torment was through his painting. It's interesting to note that he was never recognized a great painter until long after he snuffed out his own life. At one time, one of his former landlady's used some of his paintings to cover up holes in her barn, Many of his paintings have been lost forever to time, but the ones remaining are now looked upon as some of the most heart-felt paintings ever done. With Anthony Quinn portraying Paul Gaugin, the movie unfolds to show a life of highs and lows, of a man tortured by his own mind. Perhaps that's what draws us to Vincent today; each of us can see a part of ourselves in the paintings of a man that few understood. Only now do we recognize the genius of this man. It's well acted, well directed, and being able to see the real paintings of this man bring the story to life.
Van Gogh November 12, 2007
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Movie follows life and times rather accurately with only a little deviation. Very cool to see how Vincente Minelli utilized the actual locations to portray the story. Timeless story captured!
Kirk Douglas in the role that should have won him an Oscar... September 23, 2007
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
Not only does KIRK DOUGLAS bear a remarkable resemblance to the real Vincent Van Gogh, but he gives a deeply felt, bigger than life performance in the role of a lifetime, fully deserving his Academy Award nomination.
The letterbox version on TCM doesn't do justice to the film's brilliant color photography, deliberately muted for the early coal mining scenes but crisp and clear when it comes to Van Gogh's now famous paintings. I haven't seen the DVD version, but I hope it's considerably better than the print showing on cable.
At any rate, it's tremendously well done--the entire look of the production creating the sense of time and authentic atmosphere and actually filmed on the actual location sites with an impressive cast of villagers and supporting actors, including PAMELA BROWN, NIALL MacGINNIS (as The Postman), and most of all, JAMES DONALD as brother Theo, who nurtures his brother and supports him financially but is unable to sell any of his paintings--except one.
It's a fine recreation of the Irving Stone novel and Douglas immerses himself in the character of Van Gogh, much the way ANTHONY QUINN does as Gauguin. Quinn's stormy, tempestuous relationship with Douglas provides some electric moments of conflict.
The score by Miklos Rozsa accents the drama at every turn, slashing at the drama the way Van Gogh slashed at his canvas with thick brush strokes. It's starkly dramatic without ever being overbearing.
Vincent Minnelli's direction is above reproach. A finer tribute to the tormented artist could not be imagined with so many of his canvases shown on screen in impressive close-ups.
Lust for Life 1956 August 27, 2007
2 out of 5 found this review helpful
High-Voltage acting ! Douglas'finest performance .Vibrant orange sunflowers . Rippling yellow grain . Trees bursting with bloom . "The Picture come to me as a dream" Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890) said . A dream that too often turned to life-shattering nightmare . Winner of Golden Globe and New York Film Critics Best Actor Awards, Kirk Douglas (1916 - ) gives a fierce portrayal as artist torn between the joyous inspiration of his genius and the dark desperation of his tormented mind . The Obsessed Van Gogh paited the way other men breathe , driving away family and friends , including artist Paul Gauguin( 1848 - 1903) Directed by Vincente Minnelli (1903-1986) and satured with the hues of Van Gogh's sea , fields and sky . LUST FOR LIFE captured the ectasy of art . And the agomy of one mans's life . High Quality Transfer . Highly recommended .
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