About This Quiz
In 2001, after his previous films "Strictly Ballroom" and "Romeo + Juliet," Australian director Baz Luhrmann released "Moulin Rouge!", a musical set in Paris in 1900. These three films formed a trilogy of sorts, referred to as the "Red Curtain Trilogy," because of their similar style and focus on theater.
"Moulin Rouge!" uses contemporary songs to bring to life a story of star-crossed lovers: Christian, a British writer from a respectable family who leaves it all behind to struggle as a writer, and Satine, a French courtesan and aspiring actress at the Moulin Rouge nightclub. When their paths cross unexpectedly, they fall head over heels in love, but their romance is not without its obstacles. The chief one is the Duke, a sleazy, mustachioed investor on whom the Moulin Rouge depends to stay afloat. Satine can't let on that she's in love with Christian because she must keep the Duke satisfied — or lose everything she knows.
With the stakes raised high, throw in some eye-popping costumes, breathtaking dances and heartfelt singing, and you have "Moulin Rouge!" Now it's time to prove your knowledge of this jukebox musical by filling in the missing lyrics. And don't forget the lesson of the film: The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return!
In "Sparkling Diamonds," Satine sings the praises of diamonds, pooh-poohing the traditional signs of romantic love. But as Christian gazes on, lovestruck, the audience knows that soon Satine will change her tune.
One of the most emotionally wrought songs of the film, "El Tango de Roxanne" focuses on Christian's angst when Satine must "entertain" the Duke. The other dancers chide him for falling in love with a woman who sells herself. Duh!
This romantic line appears in "Come What May," Christian and Satine's special love song. They sing the song together to assure each other of their undying devotion. Until one of them dies, of course!
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As soon as Christian belts out "Your Song," Satine starts to see him in a different light. While she's previously dismissed the idea of romantic love, she dares to entertain the idea with this songwriter.
"El Tango de Roxanne" samples from Sting's popular hit "Roxanne," about a man falling in love with a prostitute. The song interweaves with Christian's troubled thoughts as he imagines Satine with the Duke.
In "Like a Virgin," Zidler sings the popular Madonna song to describe Satine's "pure" feelings for the Duke. Zidler's performance, complete with servants dancing with Jell-O desserts, reaches spectacular levels.
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T-Rex's 1972 song "Children of the Revolution" is covered by Bono, Gavin Friday and Maurice Seezer for "Moulin Rouge!" The song fits because the bohemian characters consider themselves children of the revolution.
The lyrics of Queen's "The Show Must Go On" fit perfectly when Satine despairs over losing Christian. Learning that she's dying, she sees no other option to save Christian's life than to break up with him.
To reassure Satine that their love can weather any trouble, Christian sings "Come What May." The song describes how the pair only learned what love is when they met each other, and how it must last.
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No pitch is effective without an assurance that the audience will love it. To butter up the Duke, Christian, Satine, Zidler and the Bohemians insist that the show "Spectacular Spectacular" will run for 50 years!
In "The Pitch (Spectacular Spectacular)," Christian, Zidler, Satine and the Bohemians make up a story on the fly about a musical Christian will write. This is a cover, of course, to explain Christian's presence in Satine's room!
"Moulin Rouge!" contains "Lady Marmalade," sung by Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Pink and Mya. Given the meaning of the French phrase ("Do you want to sleep with me tonight?"), it's appropriate for the film!
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An anguished Christian sings about his pain and jealousy as Satine is forced to visit the Duke. A lot is riding on this visit, too. Unless the Duke remains convinced of Satine's "love," he won't finance the Moulin Rouge anymore.
"Elephant Love Medley" consists of Christian trying to convince Satine that they should be together. He sings lyrics from 10 popular songs, including "Pride (In the Name of Love)" and "Don't Leave Me This Way."
To emphasize the fact that Satine and Christian's love can withstand anything, "Come What May" invokes storms and stars colliding. The point is clear: No matter what disaster may befall them, their love will not waver.
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Considering that the Moulin Rouge is located in Paris, it makes sense that Satine would sing about French devotion. And the line foreshadows Satine's own tragic fate at the end of the film!
Throughout the film, Satine struggles with her love for Christian. Unlike Christian, she knows that falling in love in her profession is almost certainly doomed to failure. And yet she can't resist ...
The single "Lady Marmalade" reached the top of the charts and sparked interest in the new Baz Luhrmann musical. This version of the song takes place in the Moulin Rouge, not New Orleans.
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"Hindi Sad Diamonds" shows the actors on stage reenacting the stormy love triangle between Satine, Christian and the Duke. It also incorporates the catchy Hindi song "Chamma Chamma."
Beck covered this David Bowie song for the film, which seems appropriate given the flamboyance of many of the glam rocker's songs. In the Moulin Rouge, the risque dancers are also called Diamond Dogs.
For every romantic line that Christian offers (borrowed from popular contemporary love songs), Satine has a cynical, realistic comeback. But as the audience knows, she won't keep up the facade for long.
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As Christian nervously waits in Satine's room to deliver his poetry, "Meet Me in the Red Room" plays, reminding the audience of Satine's profession as a courtesan. Christian doesn't know what he's getting into!
Feeling that he's being strung along, the Duke needs some reassurance that Satine truly has feelings for him. Enter Zidler, the Moulin Rouge manager, who sings "Like a Virgin" about Satine's love.
"Rhythm of the Night," sung by Valeria, appears during a dance number at the Moulin Rouge. The dancers at the popular French nightclub stay busy every night to keep their clients entertained!
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"Sparkling Diamonds" promotes materialism and glitz over love. And in the beginning of the movie, Satine seems to hold to that belief, too. But her attitude changes when she meets Christian!
Heartbroken over her decision to break it off with Christian, Satine doesn't see how she can go on. So Zidler sings "The Show Must Go On" to remind her that the Moulin Rouge can't afford for her to fall apart.
Flaking makeup would be problematic for Moulin Rouge performers indeed, but as "The Show Must Go On" makes clear, they can't let that stop them. Their spectacular show must go on no matter what!
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"Elephant Love Medley" shows Christian changing Satine's mind and heart. She's determined not to fall in love, but Christian has every love song at his disposal to convince her otherwise.
"Come What May" is Christian and Satine's special song to remind them that they'll always love each other, er, come what may. And they'll need this song to get through some tumultuous events!
Bono lends his smooth vocals to the T. Rex song "Children of the Revolution," which plays as the Bohemians and the Moulin Rouge dancers celebrate the New Year. Time to break out the absinthe and meet the green fairy!
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David Bowie sings the haunting song "Nature Boy" at the start of the movie, perfectly describing the despondent Christian. Over the course of the movie, we'll learn why this young man is so heartbroken.
According to Satine in "One Day I'll Fly Away," she follows the night because she can't stand the light. She, along with the other Moulin Rouge performers, is part of a seamy underworld.
For "The Pitch (Spectacular Spectacular)," to convince the Duke to finance their musical, Christian and the other singers throw out every dazzling attraction they can think of. Including contortionists, naturally!
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"Meet Me in the Red Room" describes a courtesan's seductive words to her client. The song plays as Christian waits for Satine to appear in her room. She's under the mistaken belief that he's the Duke!
Christian is a young, penniless writer, which makes his singing Elton John's "Your Song" to Satine all the more appropriate. He may have no money, but he can give Satine the gift of a song.