The Narration

"GOOGLE IS YOUR FRIEND..."

Um, not always! I noticed the above a while ago. Google, Answers.com, etc., never wrote of the narration, or it being someone other than Kirk Douglas, unless I looked in the wrong place.

The question was caught in my mind and wasn't going to leave until it was solved. Especially since I thought it was Hurd Hatfield!

Finally, after reading each each "L.F.L." Message Board Subject, it was addressed, though the "Subject" did not really coincide with said topic. [See the thread regarding "MAJOR ERROR BY MINNELLI," I think.]

The extensive search basically revealed that the narration was supposed to be Van Gogh's brother, Theo, as if he was pothumously reading his letters from Vincent. Was this mentioned early on in the movie? It would have helped. I don't have the DVD.

Also, I wonder if James Donald [Theo] was truly the narrator?

I picked up that it was Theo narrating but I thought it might have been more effective if the narrator had been Vincent.

As mentioned by another poster I can confirm it was James Donald who did the narration, I did find it strange that Kirk Douglas didn't do it as the letters are from him and I haven't been able to find why they went with James Donald doing the narration, however, I do think it was the right choice. Mr Donald also gives a fantastic supporting performance that is overshadowed and forgotten because of Anthony Quinn's superb performance as Gaugin

I am a four eyed evil genius.

The 'narration' was done by Theo who was reading his brother's letters. If you notice the first time this happens in the film, Theo is actually opening and reading the letter on screen as it fades into his talking over Vincent's actions. After that it is only Theo's voice heard over the action as he reads another letter from his brother.

I thought it was obvious and not at all disrupting. It was a good theatrical theme.

James Donald has a good narrator's voice as Theo, reading Vincent's letters. But I think it would have been more helpful to the movie if Kirk Douglas's voice had been used for the narration.

The narration was done by James Donald, as Theo Van Gogh reading Vincent's letters to him.