The Moon and Sixpence (1942)

Plot:  A Victorian Stockbroker (Strickland)  leaves his family to paint in the South Seas. Based on the Maugham Novel, which was based on the life of Gauguin.
Stars:  Herbert Marshall, George Sanders, Molly Lamont

Title's meaning: "Like so many young men he [Philip] was so busy yearning for the moon that he never saw the sixpence at his feet."

Clocking in at just 89 minutes, this is an enjoyable, faithful, and abbreviated, film revision of the novel.  In fact, almost 3/4 of the scenes and 50 percent of the dialog comes straight from the book.  Its a good literary movie, and the acting is excellent, even though Sanders is a little too likable and sophisticated to play a brutish, "wimmen-hating'" Stockbroker turned artist.

The only real minus is the Tahiti scenes, which are completely fake and have white actors playing Tahitians.  Understandable given it was 1942, but that doesn't make it more enjoyable. Further, to avoid disappointment, I'd suggest seeing the movie BEFORE you read the novel.

However, reading the novel first, will prevent you - unlike several prominent internet critics - from misunderstanding the ending.  Our non-conformist artist gets leprosy and dies,  not due to the production code, or  a desire to "punish" Strickland, but because the film is a copy of the novel. And the novel's ending is natural and dramatic, showing Strickland facing death with courage and resolve.