Though Marshall is the svelte-voiced narrator of this riveting story, it is Sanders as heartless artist Charles Strickland who makes this film a standout. He is a broker who decides to discard his career to take up his passion, painting. To that end he convinces Dirk Stroeve (Geray), a
successful but mediocre painter, to aid him in developing his art and, during the process, when Stroeve takes Strickland into his home as a protege, the cad seduces Stroeve's wife. Strickland's friend Geoffrey (Marshall) later finds the rake in Tahiti, where Strickland comes to grips with his own
personality and discovers his great talent, producing masterpieces until his tragic death.
The Maugham story on which this film is based unabashedly profiles the profligate career of the great Paul Gauguin, and Sanders plays this introspective, cruel-streaked genius to the hilt. Lewin's direction is terse, swift, and often magnificent as he chronicles Strickland's meteoric career and
love life, the best part of the film being that set in the tropics toward the end. Here a sepia tone is employed to capture some of the illustrative flavor of the paintings shown and, near the finale, employs color to potent effect. Seitz's camerawork is terrific and the supporting cast,
especially Geray and Blore, as a drunkard, is excellent. leave a comment