National Velvet 1944 Based on the novel by Enid Bagnold. Directed by Clarence Brown. Twelve year old Velvet Brown (Elizabeth Taylor) is besotted with horses. Winning a gelding in a raffle, she’s determined he be trained for The Grand National Steeplechase. Velvet is aided by Michael “Mi” Taylor (Mickey Rooney), a former jockey now drifter. They manage to get money enough to finance the effort, but the night before, Velvet fires the hired jockey for lack of faith she feels will affect his performance. She herself rides the horse and…(The story doesn’t end with that outcome.)
Often thought of as her first, this was, in fact, Taylor’s fifth film. Also with Donald Crisp, Angela Lansbury, Anne Revere (Best Supporting Actress Academy Award), and Arthur Treacher. Rent on Amazon Prime.
The Last Time I Saw Paris 1954 A romantic drama loosely based on the F. Scott Fitzgerald short story Babylon Revisited. Directed by Richard Brooks. On VE Day in Paris, American soldier Charles Wills (Van Johnson) is kissed by Helen Ellswirth (Elizabeth Taylor) who disappears into the crowd. Through acquaintance Claude Matine (George Dolenz), he then meets Marion Ellswirth (Donna Reed), who immediately fixes on him. (Claude is Marion’s longtime suitor.) Marion invites Charles to a party at her home where the sisters’ charming, reprobate father James (Walter Pigeon), is having a blowout.
At the party, much to Marion’s chagrin, Charles again meets Helen. Attraction is immediate and reciprocal. Charles gets a job at a newspaper and works on a novel at night. They fall in love, marry, and have a child.
Marion weds Claude, her second choice. When supposedly barren oil wells in which James invested begin to produce, everything changes. Joyfully coming out of wartime deprivation, Helen and Charles begin to live a party life. As the incipient writer’s rejections pile up, however, he becomes an alcoholic, turning away from his beloved wife. Consequences are tragic, their toll continuing for years until… A good ride even though cliché. Free with Amazon Prime.
Rhapsody 1954 Directed by Charles Vidor. A romantic melodrama. Debutante Louise Durant (Elizabeth Taylor) follows her lover, aspiring violinist, Paul Bronte (Vittorio Gassman), to Zurich with the intention of matriculating at the prestigious conservatory he attends – an excuse to be there. The couple meet American pianist James Guest (John Ericson) who’s immediately attracted to Louise. Paul tells him hands off. Louise sees and is greatly impressed with James’ audition. Meanwhile, Paul is engaged to play a professional concert and has no time for Louise. She and James become friends. To him, it’s much more.
Louise tries unsuccessfully to stay in Paul’s life. When he prioritizes career, she attempts suicide. Paul gives up his studies to take care of her. They marry, but her feelings haven’t changed. He flounders and drinks. (a habit around Taylor’s characters). In time, she again runs into Paul who also nurses a flame. Will she divorce Paul? Not quite as pat as it sounds. Full of classical music. Rent on Amazon Prime.
Giant 1956 Adapted from the novel by Edna Ferber. Directed by George Stevens (Best Director Academy Award). An epic portrayal of the Benedicts, a powerful Texas ranching family wracked by social changes and big oil. The film’s secondary storyline describes rampant racism against Mexican Americans. Complex and rip-roaring with a broad swath of difficult, often destructive relationships. Thoroughly entertaining.
In addition to Taylor as Leslie Lynnton Benedict, the saga features Rock Hudson as patriarch Jordan “Bick” Benedict Jr., James Dean, Jane Withers, Chill Wills, Mercedes McCambridge, Carol Baker, Dennis Hopper, Earl Holliman, Rod Taylor and Sal Mineo. Nominated for an Academy Award, James Dean was killed in a car crash before the film was released. Ferber’s character of Jordan Benedict II and her description of the Reata Ranch were based on Robert “Bob” J. Kleberg Jr. (1896–1974) and the King Ranch in Kingsville, Texas. Rent on Amazon Prime.
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof 1958 Based on Tennessee Williams’ Pulitzer Prize-Winning play. Directed by Richard Brooks. The family Pollitt has gathered at Big Daddy’s and Big Moma’s (Burl Ives and Judith Anderson) Mississippi mansion to celebrate his birthday. Son Brick (Paul Newman), a depressive alcoholic, arrives with a leg broken trying to relive football glory days. Relations with his wife Maggie/“the cat” (Elizabeth Taylor) have long been inexplicably distanced. Where, his parents want to know, is an heir?
Brick’s irritating brother Gooper (Jack Carson) and his cloying wife Mae (Madeleine Sherwood), having birthed a pack of rowdy kids, pursue future inheritance with single-mindedness. Big Daddy, however, only has eyes for Maggie. The family patriarch is told he’s cancer free. In fact, the old man has about a year to live. Maggie wants her husband to reconcile with his disapproving father. Confrontations abound, secrets are revealed, some rapprochement takes place. Sizzles.
Tennessee Williams was unhappy with the screenplay, which, as per the Hays Code, removed almost all homosexual themes and revised the third act. Paul Newman also stated his disappointment with the adaptation. Most critics praised what we do see. Rent on Amazon Prime.
Butterfield 8 1960 Based on the novel by John O’Hara. Directed by Daniel Mann. Taylor’s first Best Actress Academy Award. Many critics call it hackneyed, but all recognize the actress’ compelling performance. Gloria Wandrous (Elizabeth Taylor) is a model/actress and willing participant in serial one night stands. Resigned to her life, she thinks of herself as a “slut.” Gloria is offended when wealthy Weston Liggett (Laurence Harvey) leaves her money for an evening she knows was one of her choice. As he’s torn off her dress, she borrows one of his wife’s mink coats when she leaves.
Childhood friend Steve Carpenter (Eddie Fisher) is Gloria’s refuge. He disapproves of her lifestyle, but will shelter and protect her to the best of his ability. This is an issue for his girl, Norma (Susan Oliver), who sees he’s in love with the other woman. Gloria and Weston argue, make up, spend time, and fall in love giving her a first time glimpse of getting off the hamster wheel and him an opportunity to leave a loveless marriage. The past holds on tenaciously, however. Tragedy ensues. Also with Dina Merrill and Mildred Dunnock.
The film’s title derives from old telephone exchanges in New York City. In his autobiography Been There, Done That, Fisher, then her husband, claims he and Taylor actually had sex during a lovemaking scene that was cut. They both hated the film, referring to it as Butterball Four. Rent on Amazon Prime.
Cleopatra 1963 Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz. A disastrous production, the most expensive ever made to that point, Cleopatra almost bankrupted 20th Century Fox. Changes in director, cast, and film locale, sets that were constructed twice, multiple screenplays resulting in lack of a shooting script when begun, and scandal around adulterous co-stars Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton (Antony) were only some of its issues. Despite all that, Rex Harrison won Best Actor Academy Award for his role as Julius Caesar!
The cut of the film which Mankiewicz screened for the studio ran six hours long, was reduced to four for its premiere, then to barely over three for distribution. Worth the visuals. Taylor made The Guinness World Record for most costume changes in a film. Rent on Amazon Prime.
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf 1966 An adaptation of the Edward Albee play. Directed by Mike Nichols. The hugely combative relationship of married couple Martha (Elizabeth Taylor), daughter of a college president, and George (Richard Burton), an associate professor at the school. After an inebriated faculty party, Martha invites young couple Honey and Nick (Sandy Dennis and George Segal) for drinks. Past and present erupt in a blood bath of insults, accusations, and revelations from both couples. A helluva ride.
One of only two films to be nominated in every eligible category at the Academy Awards. All four main actors were nominated in their respective acting categories, the first time a film’s entire credited cast was nominated. Taylor won Best Actress, Dennis Best Supporting Actress. Groundbreaking for having a level of profanity and sexual implication unheard of at that time. Rent on Amazon Prime.
Both worthy, A Place in the Sun 1951 AND Suddenly Last Summer 1959 can be found in Stream Selected Films of Montgomery Clift
The Civil War epic Raintree County 1957 can be found in its entirety on YouTube. Good for a tuck-n day.
Top photo: Bigstock
