In 1956, Kirk Douglas had his most “painful experience” on a movie. It became his finest hour
Kirk Douglas’s portrayal of Vincent van Gogh in the 1956 film *Lust for Life* was one of his most acclaimed performances, but he later described the role as a painful experience. The intensity of the part and his resemblance to the painter made it difficult for him to distance himself from the character.
Douglas said people in the French town where van Gogh died felt as if the artist had returned when they saw him in costume. He waited about six months after filming before watching the film; the role earned him a Golden Globe for Best Actor and a second Oscar nomination, while co-star Anthony Quinn won an Academy Award. Despite the acclaim, the film received mixed reviews and lost money at the box office.
In short
- Douglas found playing van Gogh emotionally painful.
- The resemblance unsettled residents of the painter’s final home.
- The role brought Douglas a Golden Globe and Oscar nomination.
Explained simply
Vincent van Gogh was a Dutch painter whose bold, expressive work became highly influential. He spent his final years in France, where he died in 1890, aged 37.
Lust for Life, directed by Vincente Minnelli, was based on Irving Stone’s novel about van Gogh’s life. Kirk Douglas played the painter, while Anthony Quinn played his friend and fellow artist Paul Gauguin; the film explored van Gogh’s art and struggles.
The film brought Douglas major awards recognition and is often associated with one of his defining roles. Its reception was not uniform: critics were divided, and it did not make money at the cinema.