Moulin Rouge

Intermediate English Conversation ELD IIIC Group 2 November 2006 Reporters ： Evan 、 Ruth 、 Becca 、 Jenny 、 Victor

Outline  Introduction  Part

I. The plot and characters

 Part

II. The soundtrack

 Conclusion  References

Introduction Moulin Rouge or “Red Mill”, is a traditional cabaret, built in 1889 by Joseph Oller who already owned the Paris Olympia.  "Moulin Rouge" was also the title of a book by Pierre La Mure. This book was the basis for the 1952 movie of the same name.  It is famous world-wide thanks to its French Cancan.  The painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, has always presented sumptuous shows. 

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec painted numerous posters and scenes of night life at the Moulin Rouge.

Part I. The plot and characters





The story of Moulin Rouge takes place in Paris in 1900. The courtesan Satine is the star of the famous cabaret Moulin Rouge where she bedazzles rich customers to whom she sells her body after the show. The young and naive writer Christian comes to the French capital. Although the place, Moulin Rouge, is packed with people, the impresario Zidler faces financial difficulties after he spent all his resources for the famous new invention of electric light. A rich English Duke is ready to help financially, but only if he could be the only one who has access to Satine. The courtesan is ready for this because she has always wanted to become a famous actress like her idol Sarah Bernhardt.

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The courtesan mistakes the poet for the rich English duke and tries to seduce Christian. As she realizes her error, it is already too late: the poet and the courtesan have fallen in love with each other. The duke finally finds that Satine is in love with Christian. He threatens that he will kill Christian if Satine sees Christian again. Satine promises she will never see him again. But in the end, Satine dies in consumption, no one wins her.

Part. II The soundtrack

Sparking

Diamonds-

The original singer is Marilyn Monroe for the movie Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and the director added one of Madonna’s greatest hits “Material Girl” in this version. Elephant Love Medley- This song is composed of 10 different melodies which included, “All you need is love”, “ I was made for loving you”, “One more night”, “Pride ( In the name of love)” “Don’t leave me this way”, “Silly love songs”, “Up where we belong”, “Heroes”, “I will always love you” and “Your song”.

The

Pitch (spectacular spectacular)- The music adopted

from “The Can Can” and the lyrics from “The pitch” are made by the director Baz Luhrmann.

Come

What May- This song is

the secret love song of Satine and Christian. (There are two versions for this song. )

Come What May - Video

Conclusion  Mouilin

rouge is a successful Musical with a simple story full of songs, music and pretty scenes.  The director uses many special ways to expose what he wants to show us.  Through the eye of director Baz Luhrmann, we can see the 1900’s Paris directly.  The film was nominated for four Oscars, but won only two.

References  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0203009/

IMDb Moulin Rouge  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moulin_rouge Wikipedia  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moulin_Roug Wikipedia