Customer Reviews

Moulin Rouge

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

The quality of the VHS is poor. There were at least 10 periods of 1 - 2 seconds where the screen goes totally black but the sound continues.

Il y a le can can bien sur,JANE AVRIL,LA GOULUE(dont on verra la déchéance)et VALENTIN LE DÉSOSSÉ.Mais il y a surtout un transfert dvd remarquable;la couleur est nette et absolument irréprochable.JOSÉ FERRER excelle a nous montrer la dualité de TOULOUSE-LAUTREC,a la fois gai dans ses oeuvres et malheureux en amour.Des fondus enchainés permettent d'admirer certaines oeuvres du peintre.Pas de bonus,ni de galeries de photos,mais on ne saurait s'en plaindre ici.A la fin,sur son lit de mort,HENRI dans un mirage,renoue avec les personnages du MOULIN-ROUGE,tandis que son père découvre trop tard le talent de son fils.Deux regrets:ne pas avoir fait figurer ARISTIDE BRUANT et YVETTE GUILBERT(un choix du scénariste)pourtant rendus célèbres par le peintre, et ne pas avoir inclus la piste sonore FRANCAISE.Qu'a cela ne tienne,qu'attendez-vous pour acheter ce film?

How nice it feels to be 100% satisfied with a MGM release! (I'm still close to tears when I think of the horrible treatment they gave Garland's "I Could Go on Singing" recently!) This is certainly one of the best three strip Technicolor transfers available on DVD. The image quality is absolutely gorgeous from start to finish! I find it hard to believe that this haunting work of art looked any better when it was initially shown in first class cinemas way back in 1952. I've seen Mr. Huston's film maybe 50 times over the years, but never in my wildest dreams could I ever imagine that it was possible to restore it into something as beautiful as this DVD. A loud BRAVO to MGM!

Moulin Rouge traces the life of artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and his paintings of the famous French nightclub. Jose Ferrer gives a strong, emotionally controlled performance as the crippled artist who is unable to accept love in his life. A large part of the film centres on his relationship with a streetwalker tiringly overplayed by Colette Marchand. Not a great deal of time is actually spent in the Moulin Rouge, which is unfortunate since it may have injected some needed life into the story. The film left me cold. Toulouse-Lautrec had a very difficult personality (at least as portrayed in this film), making him a hard character to relate to, and there wasn't enough spectacle or life in the story to at least hold on to. I wish I could add to the raves about this film, but for me it was a very unsatisfying viewing experience.

If any film can be close to history, this Moulin is one. This Moulin Rouge does require digitalization and restoration in the conversion to DVD, and all of this is possible. It would be wonderful if an accompanying DVD, "Making of Moulin Rouge" (1952) be with the DVD release. Many are not aware that in his role Ferrer demonstrates interesting things, i.e. how Lautrec produced his lithographs with the methods of the day with etched stones; how he splattered paint
springing back the hair on a paint brush, etc.
With all of the offered insights of the day, will the critics take Ferrer to task for walking on his knees, instead of surgically removing his legs ?
Consider the production, "Making of Lust for Life" which furnishes the background for the Kirk Douglas classic, and how and where it was filmed on actual locations in France.
In the "Making of Lust for Life" Kirk Douglas speaks with living people who knew Van Gogh, and what a great experience.
These four films represent a great period in art history, and artists, young and old, should be able to view these products in
the best technology available; rather than relegating them to some dark film vault to be forgotten. These films are vibrant and alive.
The contribution of these production outweighs the efforts of the "spoilers" who would very likely throw out the Mona Lisa as
some smiling insignificant lady of the night. Those who dismiss the value of these art productions reflect the poverty of their cultural background,
and anemia coursing their limited concepts. The misguided should be forgiven for their total lack of experience and deprived aesthetics.
Moulin Rouge (1952) was an Oscar winner for stunning art direction, set decorations, and costumes.
Theme song by Georges Auric, one of the members of French composers who called themselves, "The Six."

When you compare this film with the current remake you must wonder why the remake. It will be a real loss to the community of those who collect great films if this is not made available on DVD. What must one do to encourage the DVD effort?

This film is a wonderful minor classic: great atmosphere, solid production values, and certainly well-acted. The film is among the many that cause me to wonder why it is not yet available in the DVD format.

The entire movie of Moulin Rouge was excellent.
I enjoy performances of arts that depict either near authentic or authentic period clothing, which this film provided both.
The Acting by Jose Ferrer was superb especially considering he is a tall male and played a "crippled" short fellow named Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec; which from my understanding this was done completely on his knees, how they portrayed him walking down the street where you see both the front and back of him must of only been accomplished with his feet tied to his upper legs (this is my guess - I could be wrong about that part). You can see his actual height while he is playing the character of the Count (Henri's father). By all standards, this film provides what seems to be "real life" people from 1890's of Paris. It shows many facets of life from the very poor to the extremely wealthy. However, this movie does not state it is based on a true story, but on the novel "Moulin Rouge" by Pierre La Mure. It is however, a work of art. I especially enjoyed the "can-can" dancing and music. If you are into the period clothing and dancing this is a good film to watch.
If you are interested in other movies that include "can-can" dancing and music, check out Can Can with Shirley MacLaine.
Hope this review has helped you.

The 1952 version of Moulin Rouge is truly a masterpiece. It captures the struggles and the life of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec beautifully. I found the movie profoundly touching as it displayed the pain felt by Henri as he searched for love and friendship, but could not find any that did not prey on his money. It also showed how he made his famous lithographs and paintings. I encourage everyone to see this movie... and to view the art of Toulouse-Lautrec as well!!!

AS a painter myself there are many moments in the film I could relate to,like not being appreciated or understood by your peers and family. Jose ferrer gives a delicate and beautiful performance to resurrect Lautrecs aura and we have to thank him for that.