This movie is not completely comparable with the recent carnavalesque 'version' because it isn't actually a version: it's a completely different story. 'Moulin Rouge' (1952) is less nauseating as 'Moulin Rouge!' (2001) and more convincing characterwise. Where the recent version doesn't really live up to it's award nominations, this one delivers, although some of the dialogue is awkward and forced to give the audience information about Lautrec in a way that could only be read from a paper. Also, I would have liked some more on Lautrec's friendship with Vincent van Gogh (making green with blue, pink, yellow and grey?).
The lush colors and compositions are superior to those of the recent movie. The parades of paintings are well-chosen and show how Lautrec's work evolved. The costumes in the movie are clearly inspired by the sketches and paintings, although I'm sure not everyone looked like that in those days. The American actors with a French accent and the French actors trying to speak English are somewhat laughable (intonation sucks basically), but I was charmed by the sincerity of this movie. Absolutely great casting.
This movie should be titled 'Henri' as the emphazis is almost completely on Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec with the setting profoundly being Paris. Near the complete love-life of Lautrec is worked out here. Not that it was very impressing or elaborate (which is the point), but I guess intriguing is the right word here. So far I think this stands apart from Huston's other movies (Asphalt Jungle, Wise Blood, Kremlin Letter) in several respects. Lautrec's words 'evil exists only in the eye of the beholder' portray his opinion of people who couldn't stand the controversy and sexuality in his paintings, but also characterize the different tone Huston had in mind for this movie after his more rational film-noirs (plotmovies). 7/10
The lush colors and compositions are superior to those of the recent movie. The parades of paintings are well-chosen and show how Lautrec's work evolved. The costumes in the movie are clearly inspired by the sketches and paintings, although I'm sure not everyone looked like that in those days. The American actors with a French accent and the French actors trying to speak English are somewhat laughable (intonation sucks basically), but I was charmed by the sincerity of this movie. Absolutely great casting.
This movie should be titled 'Henri' as the emphazis is almost completely on Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec with the setting profoundly being Paris. Near the complete love-life of Lautrec is worked out here. Not that it was very impressing or elaborate (which is the point), but I guess intriguing is the right word here. So far I think this stands apart from Huston's other movies (Asphalt Jungle, Wise Blood, Kremlin Letter) in several respects. Lautrec's words 'evil exists only in the eye of the beholder' portray his opinion of people who couldn't stand the controversy and sexuality in his paintings, but also characterize the different tone Huston had in mind for this movie after his more rational film-noirs (plotmovies). 7/10