MOULIN ROUGE

by Pierre LaMure ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 3, 1950

A fictionized biography of Toulouse-Lautrec, famous artist and cartoonist of the Edwardian period in Paris. There is something infinitely pathetic in the way M. La Mure has exploited the incurable lameness and resultant morbidity and perversion of this tragic but gifted man. Scion of an ancient aristocratic family, only son of a mother and father who, though separated, doted on their child, remarkably gifted at a very early age, Toulouse-Lautrec was doomed to spend his life in Montmartre among bohemians, prostitutes and pimps, growing ever more bitter and finally drinking himself to death on absinthe. The story is told in a series of conversations that range from the mawkish and sentimental to indelible tawdriness and cheapness. It is unfortunate that his biographer did not bring to his subject more of comprehension and compassion, more regard for his real aesthetic contribution, more stress on his world relations. The result will disappoint those interested in art history and revolt many to whom the exploitation of the facts will seem false and verging on pornographic. It seems written as a bid for box office receipts.

Pub Date: Nov. 3, 1950

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Random House

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 1950

Categories: FICTION