“Normal people do not create art.”
― Irving Stone,Lust for Life (the book)
Lust for Life Taglines:
THE MOST REVEALING LIFE-INSPIRED STORY EVER FILMED! (original print ad)
The best-seller comes to the screen…the drama of a man who lived with insatiable passion.
He had a lust for life. Sometimes he was brutal, sometimes delicate—always he lived with insatiable passion!
Over the years there have been many documentaries and several notable Films portraying Vincent Van Gogh.
I’d say this is a daunting challenge for any Actor, but at least 4 of my favorite Actors have made the attempt: Kirk Douglas (Lust for Life /1956), Willem Dafoe (At Eternity’s Gate / 2018) Benedict Cumberbatch (Van Gogh: Painted with Words / 2010) and Tim Roth (Vincent and Theo/ 1990).
Strangely – though Van Gogh was Dutch, and I’m uncertain that he spoke any English at all? the most notable Film productions are by English speaking Actors: Kirk Douglas (American), Benedict Cumberbatch (English), Willem Dafoe (American) and Tim Roth (English).
These 4 have received Critical praise for their portrayals
and I have not seen any of these films!
I’m going to change that.
But from the outside let’s have a look.
Lust for Life / 1956
Amazing! Douglas was really able to look a lot like Van Gogh. And we know what he looked like from all his self portraits.
Unsure why Douglas tackled Van Gogh, but he was surely ‘all in’ on the project.
Likely he read the book.
Everybody liked this.
Nice work Kirk.
Academy Awards
Best Actor – Kirk Douglas – Nominated
Actor in a Supporting Role – Anthony Quinn – Won
Best Screenplay – Adapted Norman Corwin – Nominated
Best Art Direction (Color) Art Direction: – Nominated
Set Decoration: – Nominated
Golden Globe Awards
Best Motion Picture – Drama – Nominated
Best Actor – Motion Picture Kirk Douglas – Won
Best Supporting Actor – Anthony Quinn – Nominated
Best Director – Vincente Minnelli – Nominated
The Book:
Republished several times.
Book and Movie available on Amazon and likely at your local Library.
Always a film favorite of mine. I’ve watched it several times.
And will again. That places it as a Film Classic for me.
The Climactic Fight (BIG spoiler!)
“How he hastens to his death.”
We all know that Kirk could handle himself, but we might not know that
Tony Curtis was also very athletic and one of the
|best sword Action fighters in filmdom.
This fight scene with Viking broadsword doesn’t really showcase his skills,
|but it’s still a brilliantly choreographed piece of Action Filming from 1958.
Enjoy.
“Why did he hesitate?”
If you’ve never seen The Vikings, don’t hesitate. Great Stars, great Action, great writing, dialogue, cinematography … everything.
My Heroes have always been Cowboys / Waylon Jennings
Kirk’s most important work:
The Douglas Foundation was founded by motion picture icon Kirk Douglas and his wife Anne in 1964, and stands as one of the entertainment industry’s largest and oldest private philanthropic institutions. The Foundation represents the charitable interests of the Douglas family and is committed to carrying on the vision of helping others who might not otherwise be able to help themselves.
The Man from Snowy River / Main Theme. Bruce Rowland composed the music for the film, and also conducted the orchestra during the recording of the album. The powerful, brilliant soundtrack drives the film
The Man from Snowy River / Jessica’s Theme
Notice anything about these posters? Kirk Douglas – among the greatest Western Film actors of all time, and who has an important and prominent role in the movie (two roles in fact!!) receives next to no Billing or on the posters. ????
Kirk Douglas … the one and onlyKirk Douglas … Role 2Tom Burlinson Sigrid ThorntonThornton and Burlinson
I count Dennis Hopper’s appearances in at least two Western Classics: Gunfight at OK Corral with Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas (1957); and True Grit (1969) with John Wayne. Even if Western movie fans didn’t count these movies as Classic, it would be recognized that Hopper had appeared with three of the Greatest Western Movie Stars of all time: Wayne, Lancaster and Douglas.
Some Western fans may also include Hang ’em High (1968) with another of the Greatest Western Actors of all time: Clint Eastwood; and The Sons of Katie Elder (1965) with John Wayne (again), Dean Martin and Earl Holliman.
Among Western TV Shows. Gunsmokeand Bonanzawould well be considered Classics. Cheyenne ? (Note: Hoppers roles in the TV Westerns were as a Guest Star – not a regular.)
Even so, not a bad legacy for one the legendary bad boys of the Entertainment industry.
“It seems as if only now I really know who I am. My strengths, my weaknesses, my jealousies – it’s as if all of it has been boiling in a pot for all these years, and as it boils, it evaporates into steam, and all that’s left in the pot in the end is your essence, the stuff you started out with in the very beginning.”
KIrk Douglas AwardsThe Bronze Wrangler
AWARDS / ACHIEVEMENTS
Inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1984.
Received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Jimmy Carter on 17th January 1981. This is the highest US honor a civilian can receive.
Received a UCLA Medal of honor 14 June 2002 from the University of California, Los Angeles, during school’s graduation ceremony for theater, film and television students.
Previous recipients include former US Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres, and actors Laurence Olivier and Carol Burnett.
AFI Life Achievement Award: 1991 Accepted AFI Life Achievement Award Academy Awards: 1996 Honorary Award for 50 years as a creative and moral force in the motion picture community 1995 nominated for Honorary Awards 1956 Lust for Life nominated for Best Actor 1952 Bad & the Beautiful nominated for Best Actor 1949 Champion nominated for Best Actor Berlin International Film Festival: 1975 Posse nominated for Competing Film New York Film Critics Circle Award: 1956 Lust for Life won for Best Actor 1951 Detective Story nominated for Best Actor
President of jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1980.
Member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1970.
He was awarded the American National Medal of Arts in 2001 from the National Endowment of the Arts.
“Unknown to many, Kirk has long been involved in humanitarian causes and has been a Goodwill Ambassador for the US State Department since 1963. His efforts were rewarded in 1981 with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and in 1983 with the Jefferson Award. Furthermore, the French honored him with the Chevalier of the Legion of Honor. More recognition followed for his work with the American Cinema Award (1987), the German Golden Kamera Award (1987), The National Board of Reviews Career Achievement Award (1989), an honorary Academy Award(1995), Recipient of the American Film Institute’s Lifetime Achievement Award (1999) and the UCLA Medal of Honor (2002).” IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000018/bio
Helped break the Hollywood blacklist by hiring Dalton Trumbo, a member of the “Hollywood Ten”, to write the screenplay.
Despite widespread criticism from many in the industry, including John Wayne and Hedda Hopper, Douglas refused to back down and Trumbo received a screen credit under his own name.
When presenting Douglas with an honorary Oscar for lifetime achievement at The 68th Annual Academy Awards (1996) (TV), Steven Spielberg thanked Douglas for his courage.
His star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is at 6263 Hollywood Blvd.
Has a street named after him near Palm Springs International Airport: Kirk Douglas Way. (2004)
Kirk Douglas / Author of books: The Ragman’s Son: An Autobiography (1988, memoir) Dance with the Devil (1990, novel) The Gift (1992, novel) Last Tango in Brooklyn (1994, novel) Climbing the Mountain: My Search for Meaning (1997, memoir) My Stroke of Luck (2002, memoir) Let’s Face It: 90 Years of Living, Loving, and Learning (2007, memoir)
1951 – with Walter Brennan and Virginia Mayo – Kirk’s first Western – he was 35 years old.1952 – Acted for free, in order to break up his contract with Warner Bros.1952 – Directed by Howard Hawkes – nominated for two Academy Awards1955 – Rotten Tomatoes says Kirk “shines in the hyper-macho role …” Jack Elam appears as a treacherous gunslinger.Rated at IMDB (Internet Movie Database) as “6.4” out of 10. I rate Elsa Martinelli as a 10 out of 10.1957 – Directed by John Sturges Considered by many to be one the top Western Classics of all time – including myself.1959 – An under-rated and worthy follow-up to Gunfight at OK Corral1959 – Written by Bernard Shaw Lawrence Olivier – Kirk Douglas – Burt Lancaster1961 – Directed by Robert Aldrich (Vera Cruz) who never knew how to make an ordinary movie.1962 – A Classic – and unusual Western Kirk was nominated for a 1963 BAFTA Award as “Best Foreign Actor”.1961 – Three great actors plus Sally Field in her first major film role– 1967 – Douglas: “Mine hit the ground first” Wayne: “Mine was taller.”1970 – Also starring Henry Fonda, Burgess Meredith, Warren Oates … Never hide your loot in a rattlesnake pit …Two men who have paid their dues …Douglas plays an ambitious politician … Dern plays himself.A comedy … what else could it be with Arnold as a cowboy?A jewel in Kirk’s crown Should have been nominated for Supporting role(s)1984 – Two great actors – Westerns or otherwise – shining in their sunset
“People are composed of many things, and in my work, what influences me is the complexity of people – the chiaroscuro of dark and light. When I play a strong guy, I try to find, where is he weak? And, conversely, when I play a weak guy, where is he strong?”
– Kirk Douglas
Kirk DouglasKirk Douglas – Lonely are the BraveKirk Douglas as Doc Holliday
I’ve been working on improving Kirk Douglas’ Bio. It’s not easy.
There’s no way to encapsulate someone like Kirk Douglas – it’s almost an insult to try. The best you can do is a poor sketch.
In the meantime, Kirk has his own Website – and like Kirk, it’s a gem. Have a boo:
http://kirkdouglas.com/
Gunfight at OK CorralDouglas Foundation
The Douglas Foundation was founded by motion picture icon Kirk Douglas and his wife Anne in 1964, and stands as one of the entertainment industry’s largest and oldest private philanthropic institutions. The Foundation represents the charitable interests of the Douglas family and is committed to carrying on the vision of helping others who might not otherwise be able to help themselves.
“People are composed of many things, and in my work, what influences me is the complexity of people – the chiaroscuro of dark and light. When I play a strong guy, I try to find, where is he weak? And, conversely, when I play a weak guy, where is he strong?”
– Kirk Douglas
Kirk DouglasKirk Douglas – Lonely are the BraveKirk Douglas as Doc Holliday
I’ve been working on improving Kirk Douglas’ Bio. It’s not easy.
There’s no way to encapsulate someone like Kirk Douglas – it’s almost an insult to try. The best you can do is a poor sketch.
In the meantime, Kirk has his own Website – and like Kirk, it’s a gem. Have a boo:
http://kirkdouglas.com/
Gunfight at OK CorralDouglas Foundation
The Douglas Foundation was founded by motion picture icon Kirk Douglas and his wife Anne in 1964, and stands as one of the entertainment industry’s largest and oldest private philanthropic institutions. The Foundation represents the charitable interests of the Douglas family and is committed to carrying on the vision of helping others who might not otherwise be able to help themselves.
Continuing to add pages to Gunfight at the OK Corral profile …
Thing is … I keep finding new stuff … and changing things. So I’m editing and adding new material as a go along.
Combined with my inexperience at Blogging, it’s taking quite a bit of work and I’m only able to add 2 or 3 sections a day.
BUT … it’s a labour of love … and I’m enjoying it. And I never want to get into a space where I’m just throwing things on there just to get it done.
So … I should have Gunfight at the OK Corral pretty well finished in about 3 days … I’m guessing.
Then it’s on to the next movie which I think will be Pekinpah’s ‘Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid’.
In any case these profiles are never finished. I rarely ever look at them when I don’t see something that needs fixing – or improving. Not to mention the fact that I keep finding new material. So if you check back here you will continually find that these profiles are changing, expanding and growing.
Everybody liked this.
