Is the movie Moulin Rouge based on a true story? Yes, really: Moulin Rouge! is totally inspired by the story of Orpheus and Eurydice. Here's a simple refresher on the sad story of Orpheus and Eurydice — there are a handful of different versions out there, but they all essentially end the same way.
What is the movie Moulin Rouge about?
Moulin Rouge! ( / ˌmuːlæ̃ ˈruːʒ /, French: [mulɛ̃ ʁuʒ]) is a 2001 jukebox musical romantic drama film directed, co-produced, and co-written by Baz Luhrmann. It follows a young Scottish poet, Christian, who falls in love with the star of the Moulin Rouge, cabaret actress and courtesan Satine.
Is Satine from Moulin Rouge based on a true story?
The character of Satine was based on the French can-can dancer Jane Avril. The character of Harold Zidler shares his last name with Charles Zidler, one of the owners of the real Moulin Rouge.
Is Harold Zidler from Moulin Rouge based on a true story?
The character of Harold Zidler shares his last name with Charles Zidler, one of the owners of the real Moulin Rouge. Satie was loosely based on the French composers Erik Satie and Maurice Ravel.
Is'Moulin Rouge'based on a true story?
While I've known for a long time that Moulin Rouge! is based on Puccini's La Boheme, I recently discovered that the story also comes from an ancient Greek legend. Yes, really: Moulin Rouge! is totally inspired by the story of Orpheus and Eurydice.
What is the story behind Moulin Rouge?
A poor Bohemian poet in 1890s Paris falls for a beautiful courtesan and nightclub star whom a jealous duke covets. The year is 1899, and Christian, a young English writer, has come to Paris to follow the Bohemian revolution taking hold of the city's drug and prostitute infested underworld.
Is Moulin Rouge historically accurate?
Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge is a rigorously accurate historical account of events that occurred during the period between 1899 and 1900 in Paris' infamous Moulin Rouge nightclub.
What happened to the real Moulin Rouge?
On 27 February 1915, a devastating fire broke out, most likely due to a short circuit. It spread through the entire building in a matter of minutes, completely destroying the auditorium and the ballroom.Oct 29, 2017
What is Satine's Secret in Moulin Rouge?
The film stars Nicole Kidman as Satine, a star dancer who has a deadly secret; she is dying of tuberculosis. This is not a secret from the audience, which learns it early on, but from Christian (Ewan McGregor), the would-be writer who loves her.Jun 1, 2001
Where is the original Moulin Rouge located?
The First French Cancan Dancers The Moulin Rouge was founded in 1889 by Joseph Oller (1839-1922) and Charles Zidler (1831-1897). Located at the bottom of a hill in the Montmartre neighborhood, it opened its doors on October 10.
Why is there a windmill on the Moulin Rouge?
Well, the conventional explanation is that Joseph Oller, the man who built the Moulin Rouge in 1889, installed the windmill as a nostalgic nod to a time when Montmartre was a small village situated in open countryside dotted with dozens of windmills– but there's another, slightly more salacious, explanation of the ...Sep 3, 2015
Does the Moulin Rouge still have an elephant?
Unfortunately, Moulin Rouge's elephant wouldn't last very long either, and it was torn down prior to the 1906 renovation of the cabaret hall and did not reappear upon its reopening.Sep 18, 2015
Is there really an elephant at the Moulin Rouge?
The Moulin Rouge swiftly became notorious for its staff of young can-can girls who performed routines that were as flexible as the rich patrons' morals. Its exotic reputation was fuelled further by the addition of a giant wooden elephant in 1900 that featured a room in its belly for intimate dances.Nov 5, 2015
Why is the elephant in Moulin Rouge?
At the Moulin Rouge, the elephant served as a luxurious opium den where for a single franc, gentlemen could enter by way of a spiral staircase inside the leg and be entertained by belly dancers.
Is Satine real?
The character of Satine was based on the French can-can dancer Jane Avril. The character of Harold Zidler shares his last name with Charles Zidler, one of the owners of the real Moulin Rouge. Satie was loosely based on the French composers Erik Satie and Maurice Ravel.
How was consumption cured?
Occurrence began to decrease with better sanitation, housing, nutrition, and understanding of how to control the spread of the disease. Then, in the 1940s, antibiotic treatment brought a cure and rapid decline of TB incidence. But it remains deadly, particularly in many parts of the developing world.Jun 5, 2001
What is consumption death?
Tuberculosis, also known as consumption, is a disease caused by bacteria that usually attacks the lungs, and at the turn of the 20th century, the leading cause of death in the United States.
Nudity in Moulin Rouge show? - Paris Forum - Tripadvisor
Our great grand parents had it better. I read recently where the Can Can line wore no panties before WW1. The claim was that in 1917 General Pershing, worried about his boys on leave, insisted on panties presumably because it would otherwise have been even harder to keep them down on the farm (or back in the trench).
What Nobody Told You about the Moulin Rouge, Paris
The Moulin Rouge Paris, is the world’s most famous cabaret, with more than 130 years of history. Located at the foot of Montmartre, in the 18th Arrondissement of Paris, the Moulin Rouge is one of the top tourist attractions of Paris at night.. Founded by the businessmen Joseph Oller et Charles Zidler, Le Bal du Moulin Rouge opened its doors on 6 October 1899.
What was the Moulin Rouge famous for?
Over the next two decades, the Moulin Rouge became the most famous of the cabarets that welcomed bohemian beliefs, raunchy shows, and a level of mingling between social classes that had never been seen before. It made performers into stars and popularized one of the most scandalous dances of its day. But the fortunes of the club would rise and fall almost as fast and almost as often as a can-can dancer's leg. Over 130 years since the very first patrons swept onto its dancefloor, the Moulin Rouge has survived fire, two World Wars, and a near riot over a kiss. This is the untold truth of the Moulin Rouge, behind the scenes and under the spotlight.
Why did people go to the Moulin Rouge?
At the turn of the century, audiences flocked to the Moulin Rouge to see the supposedly scandalous can-can and to trample on social norms by mingling across social classes. But even these supposed rebels of their day were shocked by one performance in 1907.
How much was the Moulin Rouge fined?
The group then sued on Marega's behalf, and in 2003, the Moulin Rouge was fined €6,800 ( about $10,500 in today's money) which was split between Marega and SOS-Racisme. Beuzit was also personally fined €3,000 (nearly $4,700 today), but that was later halved at an appeals court, according to the Guardian .
What was the main hall of the Moulin Rouge?
Outside was the Jardin de Paris, a garden that boasted its own dance floor for long summer nights, and entertainment including donkey rides. It was all overlooked by a giant stucco elephant that Joseph Oller bought from the 1889 Paris World's Fair. If you've seen Baz Luhrmann's 2001 musical Moulin Rouge! you may remember that Nicole Kidman's character Satine greeted clients inside a giant elephant. But in real life, it was rumored to be used as an opium den.
How many Oscars did Moulin Rouge win?
The Academy agreed: Moulin Rouge was nominated for seven Oscars and won two, for costume design and art direction. The most famous movie interpretation is 2001's Moulin Rouge!, which also featured one of the best last kisses in movies.
How many World Wars has the Moulin Rouge survived?
Over 130 years since the very first patrons swept onto its dancefloor, the Moulin Rouge has survived fire, two World Wars, and a near riot over a kiss. This is the untold truth of the Moulin Rouge, behind the scenes and under the spotlight.
How many people visit the Moulin Rouge?
Sadly for a venue that was once the shining red light in the City of Lights, the Moulin Rouge is mostly seen by Parisians as a tourist trap today. Of the 600,000 visitors the venue draws in every year, half are foreigners.
What is the Moulin Rouge movie about?
It follows a young English poet, Christian, who falls in love with the star of the Moulin Rouge, cabaret actress and courtesan Satine. The film uses the musical setting of the Montmartre Quarter of Paris and is the final part of Luhrmann's " Red Curtain Trilogy ," following Strictly Ballroom (1992) and Romeo + Juliet (1996). A co-production of Australia and the United States, it stars Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor. John Leguizamo, Jim Broadbent, and Richard Roxburgh feature in supporting roles.
Who wrote the movie Moulin Rouge?
Moulin Rouge! Moulin Rouge! ( / ˌmuːlæ̃ ˈruːʒ /, French: [mulɛ̃ ʁuʒ]) is a 2001 jukebox musical romantic drama film directed, co-produced and co-written by Baz Luhrmann. It follows a young English poet, Christian, who falls in love with the star of the Moulin Rouge, cabaret actress and courtesan, Satine.
How good is Moulin Rouge?
Moulin Rouge! received generally positive reviews from critics. Roger Ebert rated the film 3.5 stars out of 4, remarking that "the movie is all color and music, sound and motion, kinetic energy, broad strokes, operatic excess." Newsweek praised McGregor’s and Kidman’s performances, stating that "both stars hurl themselves into the movie's reckless spirit, unafraid of looking foolish, adroitly attuned to Luhrmann's abrupt swings from farce to tragedy. (And both sing well.)" The New York Times wrote that "the film is undeniably rousing, but there is not a single moment of organic excitement because Mr. Luhrmann is so busy splicing bits from other films" but conceded that "there's nothing else like it, and young audiences, especially girls, will feel as if they had found a movie that was calling them by name." All Things Considered commented the film was "not gonna be for all tastes" and that "you either surrender to this sort of flamboyance or you experience it as overkill."
How many Oscar nominations did Moulin Rouge get?
The film received eight Oscar nominations, including Best Actress in a Leading Role and Best Picture. The film was not nominated for Best Director (Luhrmann); commenting on this during the Oscar ceremony, host Whoopi Goldberg remarked, "I guess Moulin Rouge! just directed itself.".
How much did Moulin Rouge make?
The film then expanded to a national release on June 1, 2001. Moulin Rouge! has grossed $57,386,369 in the United States and Canada and another $121,813,167 internationally (including $26 million in the United Kingdom and $3,878,504 in Australia ). Moulin Rouge! received generally positive reviews from critics.
When was Moulin Rouge released?
Moulin Rouge premiered at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival and was released in theaters on 18 May 2001 in the United States and on 25 May 2001 in Australia. The film was praised for Luhrmann's direction, the performances (particularly from Kidman), its soundtrack, costume design, and production values.
When did the first Moulin Rouge soundtrack come out?
The first soundtrack, Moulin Rouge! Music from Baz Luhrmann's Film, was released on 8 May 2001, with the second, Moulin Rouge! Music from Baz Luhrmann's Film, Vol. 2, following on 26 February 2002.
When did Moulin Rouge come out?
When Moulin Rouge! came to theaters in 2001, I was a 10-year-old girl out in Iowa, confident she would wind up on Broadway and devouring anything to do with musicals.
Who is the Christian in Moulin Rouge?
If you've seen Moulin Rouge!, you can probably recognize which parts the movie borrowed. The super duper musical Christian is the Orpheus who must save Satine aka Eurydice from the seedy underbelly of the nightclub. His impatience and fervor ultimately put the relationship under fire, and the last, tragic scene begins with him trying to leave the Moulin Rouge with his back to Satine.
Is Moulin Rouge a classic?
Interesting, right? Moulin Rouge! was already a classic, but knowing that it incorporated such a fascinating mythological tale makes watching my beloved movie an even better experience.
Who wrote the book "Singing a new tune"?
On Moulin Rouge 's use of the tale, Mental Floss cited a quote from Luhrmann's co-writer, Craig Pierce, from the book Singing a New Tune: "You can see Christian's garrett, which was across from the Moulin Rouge, but the Moulin Rouge becomes a symbol for the Underworld at large. Satine getting out of the Mouline Rouge becomes symbolic ...
Is Moulin Rouge a reworking of Orpheus?
At the time of the film's release, Philip French of The Guardian wrote in his review, "Luhrmann, whose professional roots are in lyric theatre, claims that Moulin Rouge is a reworking of the legend of Orpheus and Eurydice, but the connection is tenuous.".
What is the Moulin Rouge?
The Moulin Rouge, a dance hall in late 19th-century Paris, has been depicted in more than one film. I feel compelled to add "and sensationalised". But looking at the way the nightclub's famous habitué Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec portrayed the fin-de-siècle denizens of nocturnal Montmartre, it's clear that film-makers have been sanitising the story.
Where is the painting "At the Moulin Rouge" from?
Toulouse-Lautrec's 1892-5 painting At the Moulin Rouge has been loaned from the Art Institute of Chicago. It's a masterpiece. In the foreground, a huge green face, caught in the spooky lights, menaces you. At a table beyond, a gathering of bohemians and dancers whiles away the night. In the background is the dancer La Goulue, ...
Is Toulouse-Lautrec modernist?
Second, the way Toulouse-Lautrec depicts his chosen milieu is modernist. His portraits teeter towards abstraction, even as they record violent reality in acid colours. His posters, certainly, are truly abstract. Toulouse-Lautrec's Montmartre was an intense place, but his art adds another dimension of fantasy and feeling.
Who is Jane Avril?
The exhibition concentrates on the sickly southern-aristocrat painter 's friendship with a thin, nervous dancer called Jane Avril. Hospitalised for mental illness as a teenager, Avril was mocked by some as a crazy dancer whose legs spun all over the stage while her face remained a mask of misery.
Is Avril's beauty impossible to recreate?
The scene is somehow more exotic and more exciting than any recreation in popular culture. In his portraits of Avril inside or outside this and other Montmartre haunts, her bleak beauty seems impossible for any actor to recreate. The explanation is twofold.

Overview
Moulin Rouge! is a 2001 jukebox musical romantic drama film directed, co-produced, and co-written by Baz Luhrmann. It follows a young English poet, Christian, who falls in love with the star of the Moulin Rouge, cabaret actress and courtesan Satine. The film uses the musical setting of the Montmartre Quarter of Paris and is the final part of Luhrmann's "Red Curtain Trilogy," following Strictly Ballroom (1992) and Romeo + Juliet (1996). A co-production of Australia and the United S…
Plot
In 1900 in Paris, Christian, a young writer in mourning for his deceased love, begins writing their story.
A year earlier, he arrives in Paris to join the Bohemian movement. He suddenly meets Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and his troupe of performers who are writing a play called Spectacular Spectacular. After Christian helps them complete the play, they go to the Moulin Rouge where the…
Cast
• Nicole Kidman as Satine
• Ewan McGregor as Christian
• Jim Broadbent as Harold Zidler
• Richard Roxburgh as The Duke of Monroth
Production
Moulin Rouge! was influenced by an eclectic variety of comic and melodramatic musical sources, including the Hollywood musical, "vaudeville, cabaret culture, stage musicals, and operas." Its musical elements also allude to Luhrmann's earlier film Strictly Ballroom.
Giacomo Puccini's opera La bohème, which Luhrmann directed at the Sydney Opera House in 1993, was a key source of the plot for Moulin Rouge!. Further stylistic inspiration came from Luhrman…
Release and reception
Originally set for release on Christmas 2000, 20th Century Fox eventually moved the release of Moulin Rouge! to Summer 2001 to allow Luhrmann more time in post-production. Moulin Rouge! premiered at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival on May 9, 2001, as the festival's opening title.
Moulin Rouge! opened in the United States at two theaters in New York and Los Angeles on May 18, 2001. It grossed US$167,540 on its opening weekend. The film then expanded to a national relea…
Awards and honors
The film was selected by the National Board of Review as the best film of 2001. It picked up six Golden Globe nominations including Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy (for Nicole Kidman), Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy (for Ewan McGregor), Best Original Score (for Craig Armstrong), Best Director (for Baz Luhrmann) and Best Song ("Come What May"). It won three including the coveted Best …
Soundtrack
• "Nature Boy" – Toulouse
• "Complainte de la Butte/Children of the Revolution"
• "The Sound of Music" – Toulouse, Christian, and Satie
• "Green Fairy Medley" (The Sound of Music/Children of the Revolution/Nature Boy) – Christian, The Bohemians, and the Green Fairy
Stage adaptation
As early as November 2002, Luhrmann revealed that he intended to adapt Moulin Rouge! into a stage musical. A Las Vegas casino was the reputed site of the proposed show. Luhrmann was said to have asked both Kidman and McGregor to reprise their starring roles in the potential stage version.
In 2008, a stage adaptation entitled La Belle Bizarre du Moulin Rouge ("The Bizarre Beauty of th…