When discussing her relationships, Taylor talks about the physical and emotional abuse she suffered at the hands of her first husband, Conrad Hilton Jr. He allegedly kicked her in the stomach while she was pregnant and caused her to lose the baby. After they separated after just 8 months, she remarried, this time to actor Michael Wilding, who was 20 years her senior. Their marriage ended amicably five years later, with Taylor blaming herself for the divorce because of their incompatibility.
Elizabeth Taylor also talks about her acting and how she felt incredibly insecure when she secured her first major film role in 1951’s “A Place in the Sun.”
The documentary is based on more than 40 hours of interviews with Taylor, during which we discover many interesting information, such as how she only felt safe in the company of gay men (Montgomery Clift, Rock Hudson, Roddy McDowall), and that her grief over the death of her friend James Dean convinced her to divorce Michael Wilding.
“Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes” goes back to the 1960s, with her first Oscar for a film she repeatedly called “horrible” (“Butterflied 8”). Her second Oscar came in 1966 for Mike Nichols’ “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”
Some of the richest parts of the documentary find LGBT+ icon Taylor reflecting on two iconic but tumultuous periods. She begins filming Cat on a Hot Tin Roof shortly after the death of Mike Todd. Losing her beloved third husband at the age of 30 was incredibly difficult. But the role proved ironically cathartic, allowing her to channel her grief into anger.
Then came one of Hollywood’s biggest scandals: “Cleopatra.” Here, the actress opens up more than expected. On the set in Rome, passions flared with co-star Richard Burton, despite the fact that they were both married. The Vatican denounced the affair, but Taylor never apologized.
Off-screen, Liz Taylor’s impact grew as well. When her close friend Rock Hudson died of AIDS in 1985, she founded AmfAR to support HIV/AIDS research. This was groundbreaking—one of the first major celebrities to openly fight stigma. Taylor threw herself into fundraising with her usual enthusiasm, raising millions.
Burstein’s film is a rare treat. We hear the playful and candid recollections of a queer Hollywood legend in her own melodic voice. Whether she’s reminiscing about legendary colleagues or dissecting headline-grabbing romances, she does so with warmth and wit. Archival footage poignantly illustrates her words, from behind-the-scenes clips to intimate home videos. In this way, the documentary brings Liz’s inimitable spirit vividly to life today.
*Eduardo de Assumpção is a journalist and responsible for the blog cinematografiaqueer.blogspot.com
Source: Maxima
I am an experienced author and journalist with a passion for lifestyle journalism. I currently work for Buna Times, one of the leading news websites in the world. I specialize in writing stories about health, wellness, fashion, beauty, interior design, and more. My articles have been featured on major publications such as The Guardian and The Huffington Post.