Lust for Life

Directors Vincent Minnelli and George Cukor really helmed a great production in "Lust for Life." The art direction, costume design, set decoration and cinematography are all first rate in executing this enactment of the life of Vincent Van Gogh. Norman Corwin's script beautifully utilizes the spirit of Irving Stone's novel, and Miklos Rozsa's score is among his most memorable. The breathtaking element, though, are the original paintings assembled for this production. Experiencing them in brilliant close up as the camera moves into the canvases, is downright thrilling. While the small tv screen cannot fully capture the impact of the original movie house presentation, the vividness of these original masterworks cannot be diminished. It also is a strong showcase for the Metrocolor process, and one of the great productional trophies of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The acting is uniformly strong, and the total impression of this film is a moving and memorable experience.