However I can see why the work was so popular and achieved critical success. The music, lyrics and dance is integrated to a high level. and stands the test of time. I understand there are many differences between the film and the original stage show. Unlike Moulin Rouge there was however no inclination to immediate get the DVD and look forward to replays. Why is this so.
Moulin Rouge is also based on an internationally familiar work. In this instance La Triviata where a small group of bohemian artists struggle to make ends meet sharing garret and where one falls in love with someone who becomes terminally ill. My bohemian instincts, attraction to the Montmartre district of Paris, the Parisian nightlight life given the film a good head start over West Side Story.
Ewan McGregor a writer finds becomes friends with others sharing the same tenement in Paris close to the Moulin Rouge. They are developing a play for the owner of nightclub and because of an accident to one of their number involved McGregor and persuade the owner to accept him as the writer.
The owner played by the magnificent Jim Broadbent is seeking funds from the British Duke of Roxburgh who wants to have the star of the Moulin Rouge, Satine, played by Nicole Kidman who is experienced in spending the night with those who further her career and support the establishment. By mistake she mistakes McGregor for the Duke and puts up with his poetry reading and they fall in love. Without knowing this Broadbent in effects sells Satine to the Duke and obtains the funds for a complete refurbishment of the theatre and to make the new play into a great spectacle.
McGregor creates a work based on their true life situation in which Satine chooses love rather than wealth and position an ending which the Duke understandably dislikes. He puts up with putting of from Satine and finding the two in compromising situations. The Moulin Rouge owner then discovers the truth and is horrified because in order to ensure his possession of the girl and control over the show the Duke has required the deeds of the Theatre and the final word about the contents of the work. To make the situation worse, Satine and become ill but Broadbent has until now kept the seriousness from her. He now tells her the truth the situation and that in order to save everyone she must pretend not to love him. She rejects McGregor and agrees to spend the night with the Duke and agrees to changing the ending of the play after another jealous cast member alerts the Duke to the true situation. She changes her mind and the Duke tries to rape her but is prevented by the intervention of McGregor and as in West Side Story to plan to run away together.
In desperation Broadbent tells Satine that she is dying o consumption and that the Duke will kill McGregor unless she performs in the show and stops seeing McGregor. In anger McGregor attends the opening performance intending to give money to Satine for their affair todate and in the melee both end up on stage with the Duke’s bodyguard trying to kill McGregor. At one point Broadbent stops the Duke trying to kill McGregor directly. The show is a great success and then Satine collapses and dies. McGregor is seen in his garret writing his great work of truth and love, the Bohemian ideals.
The films continues to appeal to me for two reasons. The music is great often using very known music and lyrics in a creative and amusing way, particularly the South of Music The Hills are alive, and Children of the Revolution( T Rex) and Like Virgin(Madonna). Others remakes are Nature Boy (Nat King Cole), Lady Marmalade (Labelle), Because we Can (Fatboy Slim), Material Girl (Madonna), Smells like teen spirit (Nirvana), Diamonds are a girls best friend, (Marilyn Monroe), Diamond Dogs (David Bowie), One Day (Ill Fly away) Randy Crawford, Roxanne(Police), The Show must go on (Queen) Young Song (Elton John).
The other reason is the glorious colour photography. The combination of the two and the setting make this a film to enjoy time and time again,
Moulin Rouge is also based on an internationally familiar work. In this instance La Triviata where a small group of bohemian artists struggle to make ends meet sharing garret and where one falls in love with someone who becomes terminally ill. My bohemian instincts, attraction to the Montmartre district of Paris, the Parisian nightlight life given the film a good head start over West Side Story.
Ewan McGregor a writer finds becomes friends with others sharing the same tenement in Paris close to the Moulin Rouge. They are developing a play for the owner of nightclub and because of an accident to one of their number involved McGregor and persuade the owner to accept him as the writer.
The owner played by the magnificent Jim Broadbent is seeking funds from the British Duke of Roxburgh who wants to have the star of the Moulin Rouge, Satine, played by Nicole Kidman who is experienced in spending the night with those who further her career and support the establishment. By mistake she mistakes McGregor for the Duke and puts up with his poetry reading and they fall in love. Without knowing this Broadbent in effects sells Satine to the Duke and obtains the funds for a complete refurbishment of the theatre and to make the new play into a great spectacle.
McGregor creates a work based on their true life situation in which Satine chooses love rather than wealth and position an ending which the Duke understandably dislikes. He puts up with putting of from Satine and finding the two in compromising situations. The Moulin Rouge owner then discovers the truth and is horrified because in order to ensure his possession of the girl and control over the show the Duke has required the deeds of the Theatre and the final word about the contents of the work. To make the situation worse, Satine and become ill but Broadbent has until now kept the seriousness from her. He now tells her the truth the situation and that in order to save everyone she must pretend not to love him. She rejects McGregor and agrees to spend the night with the Duke and agrees to changing the ending of the play after another jealous cast member alerts the Duke to the true situation. She changes her mind and the Duke tries to rape her but is prevented by the intervention of McGregor and as in West Side Story to plan to run away together.
In desperation Broadbent tells Satine that she is dying o consumption and that the Duke will kill McGregor unless she performs in the show and stops seeing McGregor. In anger McGregor attends the opening performance intending to give money to Satine for their affair todate and in the melee both end up on stage with the Duke’s bodyguard trying to kill McGregor. At one point Broadbent stops the Duke trying to kill McGregor directly. The show is a great success and then Satine collapses and dies. McGregor is seen in his garret writing his great work of truth and love, the Bohemian ideals.
The films continues to appeal to me for two reasons. The music is great often using very known music and lyrics in a creative and amusing way, particularly the South of Music The Hills are alive, and Children of the Revolution( T Rex) and Like Virgin(Madonna). Others remakes are Nature Boy (Nat King Cole), Lady Marmalade (Labelle), Because we Can (Fatboy Slim), Material Girl (Madonna), Smells like teen spirit (Nirvana), Diamonds are a girls best friend, (Marilyn Monroe), Diamond Dogs (David Bowie), One Day (Ill Fly away) Randy Crawford, Roxanne(Police), The Show must go on (Queen) Young Song (Elton John).
The other reason is the glorious colour photography. The combination of the two and the setting make this a film to enjoy time and time again,
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