As a dwarf, Toulouse-Lautrec (Jose Ferrer) believes he's too ugly to ever fall in love. So he loses himself in painting...and cognac. A fixture as Paris' infamous turn-of-the-century Moulin Rouge nightclub, Lautrec meets a girl from the street...who then breaks his heart. Luckily, newfound artistic success, copious amounts of drink, and friendship with a new woman keep him alive. Will he be able to mend his broken heart in time to recognize the true love now staring him in the face?