Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Moulin Rouge (DVD)

Moulin Rouge (1952) starring Jose Ferrer, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Suzanne Flon. Directed by John Huston. The 19th-century French artist Toulouse-Lautrec (Ferrer) is portrayed; like so many artists, he lived a tortured life. We see his youth in a quick flashback, which reveals how his growth was stunted as a child by an accident, and how his childhood sweetheart cruelly rejected his proposal of marriage. The movie focuses on his miserable love life, his heavy drinking, his bitterness and -- eventually, a little -- on his art. Interestingly, one thing Lautrec did not lack was money. Throughout the film, he is portrayed as quite prosperous, having been born to the aristocracy. All in all, it makes for a passable evening's entertainment, although the film does seem a bit dated. The subtitles are quite adequate. Grade: B

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