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Lust for Life Overview:

Lust for Life (1956) was a Biographical - Drama Film directed by Vincente Minnelli and George Cukor (uncredited) and produced by John Houseman and Jud Kinberg.

The film was based on the novel of the same name written by Irving Stone published in 1934.

SYNOPSIS

Exhaustive research for the role earned Douglas an Academy Award nomination for his searing portrayal of Vincent van Gogh in Minnelli's biographical film of the famously talented and tormented painter. Based on the novel by Irving Stone and featuring many original van Gogh paintings from private collections, this also earned an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Quinn as Paul Gauguin.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

Academy Awards 1956 --- Ceremony Number 29 (source: AMPAS)

AwardRecipientResult
Best ActorKirk DouglasNominated
Best Supporting ActorAnthony QuinnWon
Best Art DirectionArt Direction: Cedric Gibbons, Hans Peters, Preston Ames; Set Decoration: Edwin B. Willis, F. KeoNominated
Best WritingNorman CorwinNominated
See More Oscar Winners

Lust for Life BlogHub Articles:

Lust for Life (1956)

By 4 Star Film Fan on Sep 29, 2023 From 4 Star Films

“I don’t care about being respected. I’m trying to live as a true Christian.” – Kirk Douglas as Van Gogh It seems the world over has remained transfixed by the life of Vincent Van Gogh, which is rather ironic since he failed to gain much traction in his own lifetime. Fo... Read full article

Lust for Life (1956)

By Beatrice on Apr 12, 2016 From Flickers in Time

Lust for Life Directed by Vincente Minnelli Written by Norman Corwin based on the novel by Irving Stone 1956/USA Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Repeat viewing/Netflix rental Vincent Van Gogh: You look too fast! Vincent Minnelli gives us a visual feast and Kirk Douglas and Anthony Quinn bring great painters ... Read full article

Lust for Life

By Alyson on Mar 20, 2013 From The Best Picture Project

I know it’s an old art-school cliche, but Vincent van Gogh is my favorite artist.  The Night Cafe fascinated me and helped me understand a setting for madness while The Starry Night is a painting that helps me see light and beauty in darkness and meaning to chaos.  My old poster of it I bought o... Read full article

Sede de Viver / Lust for Life (1956)

By Lê on Mar 22, 2011 From Critica Retro

Sede de Viver / Lust for Life (1956) Minha iniciação artística se deu com as pinturas de Van Gogh. E dá-lhe cópias de sua biografia e versões do quadro “O Quarto de Van Gogh em Arles”. Essas atividades ficaram em minha memória, e voltaram com força total assistindo à &#8220... Read full article

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Lust for Life Quotes:

Paul Gauguin: With all your talk of emotion, all I see when I look at your work is just that you paint too fast!
Vincent Van Gogh: You look too fast!
Paul Gauguin: If it's one thing I despise, it's emotionalism in painting.
Vincent Van Gogh: If I'm to be anything as a painter I've got to break through that iron wall between what I feel and what I express. my best chance of doing it is here, where my roots are... the people I know, the earth I know.
Vincent Van Gogh: I tried to show a place where a man can ruin himself, go mad... commit a crime.
Paul Gauguin: I like 'em fat and vicious and not too smart. Nothing spiritual either. To have to say 'I love you' would break my teeth. I don't want to be loved.
See More Quotes from Lust for Life
Lust for Life Facts
Even though many sources claim that Anthony Quinn won his Best Supporting Actor Oscar for appearing a short 8 minutes in the movie, his performance actually lasts 23 minutes and 40 seconds.
Parts of the film were shot in Auvers-sur-Oise, where Vincent van Gogh lived and died. Kirk Douglas had his hair cut specially in the style of the artist and had it dyed to a similar reddish tint. This was enough to make some of the older inhabitants of the town believe that Van Gogh had returned.
Many of the locations used for filming were the actual locations Vincent van Gogh visited in his life.
The color process used for the film (Ansco color, but labeled in the credits as Metrocolor) is supposedly unsuitable for long term color preservation. As a result, many prints have lost the extraordinary brightness of the movie's images.
Director Vincente Minnelli had a portion of a field spray-painted yellow to closer resemble Vincent van Gogh's painting.
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