
DATE: Monday, November 17, 1997             TAG: 9711150072

SECTION: DAILY BREAK             PAGE: E7   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Movie review 

SOURCE: BY MAL VINCENT, MOVIE CRITIC

                                            LENGTH:   75 lines

HUSTON MOVIE PAINTS VIVID PICTURE

AS A PART of the Toulouse-Lautrec exhibit at the Chrysler Museum of Art, John Huston's 1952 film ``Moulin Rouge'' will be screened Tuesday, proving yet again the motion picture's quite unique ability to create times past.

This is a curious film - curious in both its attributes and its shortcomings. It stirred interest in Toulouse-Lautrec's life and cabaret existence, but at the same time, it failed to be truly compelling.

As a series of living tableaus, it is superb. ``Moulin Rouge'' uses color in a way that is unique. It's an amazing re-creation of Lautrec's own palette, with his sketches and drawings re-created in moving form. Take a look at Katherine Kath as La Goulue, the can-can star - it is the painting come to life.

This vision of Paris, with its imaginative cutting, evocative sets and costumes and astounding photography, is a worthy companion piece to the exhibition of Toulouse-Lautrec works at the museum.

At the same time, scriptwriter Anthony Veiller and director Huston have failed to draw an involving narrative out of Pierre La Mure's book about the painter. The film is pompous and takes itself much too seriously - complete with unnatural-sounding grand dialogue. It seems unwilling to get down into the grime of Paris, even if it does depict the painter's descent into alcoholism.

It concerns the artist's hopeless affair with a prostitute (Colette Marchand) and his platonic relationship with his model (Suzanne Flon).

Jose Ferrer played Toulouse-Lautrec by walking on his knees to simulate the dwarfish appearance. Both he and Marchand received Oscar nominations. Marchand's performance in the love-hate relationship won several critic's awards, but she was seldom heard from in film again.

Zsa Zsa Gabor, as the singing star Jane Avril, lip synchs idiotically to the George Auric theme song which became popular in both instrumental and vocal versions.

Gabor, who visited Norfolk for a Chrysler Hall appearance, had bad memories of the filming. ``I walked up and down those steps until my feet were blistered,'' she said. ``I said, `John. Have mercy. I can't do it one more time,' but he demanded more. And you say I can't act? Dahling, walking up and down those steps is what acting is all about.''

Ferrer, during a visit to his daughter in Virginia Beach, said the knee-walking experience was painful and that he felt the film was ``unrealized, in some way.'' Ferrer, in fact, has a double role. He also plays Lautrec's father, a tall, cold, aristocrat.

Technicolor officials were often on the set in Paris, giving director John Huston trouble. The contract provided that Technicolor, a registered trademark, must be re-created in vivid, true colors. Cinematographer Oswald Morris and Huston contrived to mimic the muted colors of Lautrec paintings, with an emphasis on yellows. The Technicolor people threatened to halt the production.

In the supporting cast, there are curiosities such as Peter Cushing, and Christopher Lee as Gauguin. Paul Shefiff's art direction and Marcel Vertes' costumes are the real stars.

Nominated in the ``best film'' Oscar category, as well as for actor, director, and supporting actress, ``Moulin Rouge'' won only for art direction and costume design.

This film is admirable to look at, but not moving to the heart. Still, to see Paris re-created in this period mood is an achievement unto itself. You should by all means see this film as a part of the Toulouse-Lautrec experience. ILLUSTRATION: MOVIE REVIEW

``Moulin Rouge''

Cast: Jose Ferrer, Colette Marchand, Suzanne Flon, Zsa Zsa Gabor,

Katherine Kath, Christopher Lee, Jill Bennett, Peter Cushing

Director: John Huston

Screenplay: Anthony Veiller and John Huston, based on Pierre

LaMure's book

Location: Tuesday at 7 p.m., Chrysler Museum Theater. With a tour

of the Toulouse-Lautrec exhibit and post-film discussion. $5. Call

664-6200.