I recently watched the 3-part docuseries, “Elizabeth Taylor: Rebel Superstar” on Fox Nation and loved it. Produced by Kim Kardashian (who surprised me with the depth of research and her skill in presenting so much information on the superstar, some of it never seen before), the series held me riveted each night.
I suspect many of you grew up during Elizabeth Taylor’s heyday like I did and were as enraptured by her stunning beauty, long list of movies, and those leading men who could just about lead ME anywhere they wanted, again like I was. 🙂
I don’t know of any woman who had seven husbands with eight marriages, do you? Her son, Chris Wilding, interviewed at length during the shows, proclaimed Elizabeth as a good mother. I was a bit amazed by that. His childhood, along with that of his three siblings, couldn’t have been easy with the tabloids proclaiming her scandalous affairs and revolving door of husbands. She didn’t give her children a stable family life, in my opinion. But he did say he was sent away to boarding school (I’m not sure about the other three), so perhaps that was Elizabeth’s way of protecting him somewhat from the repercussions of her famous, super-star, self-centered life.
When I think of her, I always remember her diamonds, red lipstick, that mole on her right cheek, and her incredible beauty. Her acting talent isn’t on my list, but the movie moguls during the last half of the 20th century would disagree with me. Universal Studios contracted her when she was ten years old, and MGM shortly thereafter, grooming her to become a major child star. She went on to make 72 films and television projects between 1942 and 2001.
Since she acted in lots of classic Hollywood dramas (remember Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?) and big historical productions like Cleopatra, out of those 72 films, only two were westerns. Interesting, since westerns were in their heyday during their time.
1. Giant (1956)
A Western drama set in Texas that spans 25 years. Rock Hudson is a wealthy cattle baron, and Elizabeth Taylor plays his wife. James Dean is a rebellious ranch hand who strikes oil and also becomes rich, and the rivalry between the two men spans the length of the film. Giant was James Dean’s last film before he died.
2. Poker Alice (1987)
Not the sprawling epic film of her previous western, this TV movie is more character-driven with Elizabeth portraying Alice Moffitt who is a traveling gambler in the Old West. George Hamilton plays her cousin. She wins a house during a poker game, and the house turns out to be a bordello. Doesn’t that sound fun? Throw in a bounty hunter cousin to George Hamilton who competes for Alice’s attention, and there’s plenty of romance and tension to keep the movie interesting.
Elizabeth Taylor died in 2011 of complications from congestive heart failure at the age of 79. At the time of her passing, she was surrounded by her children, but none of her seven husbands were at her side.
When you think of Elizabeth Taylor, what do you remember about her? Have you seen either of her western movies? Do you have a favorite?
Pam has written 30 romances, most of them historical westerns, but she's proud of her contemporary sweet romances featuring the Blackstone Ranch series published by Tule Publishing, too! Stay up on the latest at www.pamcrooks.com
Giant is one of my favorite movies.
I was once at a party held at her former stepson’s home, and I saw beautiful candid photos of her.
Really, Denise??? Wow! How cool is that? Which stepson?
John Warner IV. It was a gorgeous house. He has since moved. It was an engagement party for a relative, and the groom had been a classmate at St. Albans. The wedding never happened.
What a cool story! I remember Elizabeth was married to John Warner!
Sad about the wedding – after all that.
I think I need to watch Giant–I’ve heard it’s really well done. She always seemed untouchably glamorous to me as a kid. As an adult, I could see the sadder aspects of her life, including how she lost her true love at Mike Todd’s death and could never find that feeling again. So very tragic.
Good morning, Nan! Yes! I’ve read she truly loved Mike and was devastated by his death. She had some really scary health issues as she grew older and had a near-death experience where Mike was waiting for her at the end of the tunnel of light, and he told her to go back. She wasn’t finished yet.
Of all her husbands, it was Mike who appeared, which must mean something about their love, eh?
Yes, so very tragic.
I never saw either of those two movies. I shall have to look for them. What I remember most about her is her many marriages and her beauty.
I think most people will agree with you about her looks and marriage. It’s a shame that someone who had so much in life, she couldn’t find true happiness with one man like most women do.
It makes me wonder why. Was she too career-driven? Too selfish? Still mourning Mike Todd?
Guess we’ll never know, eh?
Good morning Pam! I’m not sure if Elizabeth Taylor is one of my favorite actresses. But, I have seen Giant a few times. Hollywood is such a tragic place it seems. But, I did grow up watching her. I can’t even imagine growing up in her shadow as a child. She was just too glamorous…is there is such a thing! LOL probably the most tragic was Marilyn Monroe. They were like night and day in many ways. But both seem to have that same kind of glamour.
I think my favorite actress was Maureen O’Hara. To me, she was beautiful. More approachable maybe? She was just a joy to watch. I have seen The Quiet Man and McKlintock many more times than any of Elizabeth Taylor’s movies.
Tracy, Hollywood was a terrible place in the 40s and 50s for actors and actresses. Once you signed a contract, the studios literally owned you and dictated everything you did, what you ate, when you took your vitamins, who you were with . . .
As a parent, I can’t imagine not giving my child a normal childhood with school, friends, etc.
Yes, Maureen O’Hara was one of the good ones!
I just can’t imagine living the life she lived
Me, either.
Money ain’t everything, for sure.
I do remember Giant, but not the other. I very much recall her many marriages and the one with Eddie Fisher, Debbie Reynolds husband, A very lively life this lady had.
Yes, indeed, Judy. Lively is a good word for it. I suppose she had so much power and adulation that she began to think she could do anything she wanted, no matter who she hurt along the way.
I remember her compassion for those with HIV-Aids and her donating her jewelry collection.
And s few of her movies and husbands.
Good for you for mentioning her HIV-AIDS work, Kate. I didn’t mention that in the blog, but she really did dedicate herself to its research and raised millions for the cause.
Perhaps you knew her dear friend and leading man, Rock Hudson, was gay. She had no idea he was until he announced he had AIDS, and it was because of him and his memory that she dedicated herself to the cause.
I remember her most for National Velvet. She broke her back during production but kept on going, even though later in life it caused her terrible pain. She also fell in love with the horse used for the movie, and she was allowed to keep him. She had him his whole life.
Thanks for this, Kim! Yes, her horse gave her great comfort. She would always ride him first thing in the morning before she had to go to work in the studio.
National Velvet is what catapulted her from a child star to a more mainstream one. Great movie.
I don’t think I saw either of the movies you mention, but I remember watching the old Lassie movies and she was in them when she was a preteen.
I remember watching National Velvet.
She was beautiful and she was a good actress. I don’t remember ever watching her and thinking she didn’t believably play the character she was portraying. She also played a wide variety of parts on TV and film. I remember being shocked to see her in a made-for-TV movie of an Agatha Christie story in the 1980s. She was already a big star by then, too.
I don’t think I’ve ever sought out to watch something primarily because she was in it, though.
Good morning, MaryEllen! Yes, you’re right about the old Lassie movies! Boy, even as a preteen she was a looker, wasn’t she? I think she was ten years old, then. Very early in her career.
Good morning, yes I have watched her Western movies, as a child I loved watching National Velvet she was Awesome in that movie. I watched Giant and actually my husband has had gigs at the Paisano where the actors stayed at. And my husband and I have actually stayed in the Elizabeth Taylor suite which is really nice. The Paisano Hotel is a really nice hotel and it is located in Marfa , Texas. Have a great day and a great weekend.
Oh, interesting, Alicia! I love that you stayed at the Paisano – in the Elizabeth Taylor suite, no less. Very cool!
Pam, you don’t mention River of No Return that she starred in as a saloon-singer trying to get away from the business. Robert Mitchum played opposite her and also a cute little boy. I’ve watched this numerous times because it comes on our western channel pretty often. It always makes me cry but I love it. Very interesting post.
Hey, Linda. Marilyn Monroe starred in River of No Return, not Elizabeth Taylor. But the films were made about the same time, and Marilyn was, of course, just as glamorous as Elizabeth!
Oops, sorry, Pam. You are absolutely correct.
When I think of her, I always think of Richard Burton and their tumultuous relationship that spanned so many years. To me, she is kind of a tragic figure in that she seemed unable to find happiness of any kind–and as you say, not providing much of a stable home life to her kids. I don’t think sending kids off to boarding school is the way to go, but that’s just me. I wouldn’t do it even if I had the money–having my kids here and interacting daily with them brought be such happiness, I can’t imagine NOT doing it. So maybe the fame and the money and the glamour were all things that she used to try to be happy, but I don’t think she ever really was.
I agree, Cheryl. Money and fame isn’t everything, is it? But she prioritized her fame and success over the things the rest of us believe are much more important. Her fame and money must have filled a part of her that needed filling.
Her relationship with Richard Burton is puzzling. She married him twice, and he said he loved her the most over the other women he was with. But evidently, the love they thought they had for one another didn’t make them suitable to live as husband and wife. Truly a shame.
Doesn’t it make you grateful to be average and ordinary, Cheryl? It sure does me! 🙂 🙂
Hi Pam – I remember her relationship with Michael Jackson. They were close. And, of course, she was an advocate for HIV treatment for those suffering from those symptoms, etc. But, her acting career was always something else. It seemed everything she touched was met with success. How sad not find much happiness in her marriages. Her perfume ads were so sexy too. Just goes to show that money can’t buy happiness.
Hope you are doing well Pam! Happy New Year!
Hi, Kathy! I’d forgotten about Michael Jackson – I always thought they were like Mutt and Jeff. So different from one another. But I never thought Michael was happy, either. Always searching for that elusive something despite having so much fame and glory.
So maybe that was the foundation of their close friendship, eh? Their lifelong quest for true happiness?
Good Thursday Afternoon Pam,
I remember GIANT, but never heard of POKER ALICE. Thank you for bringing them to our attention.
Have a great day!
Julie Bullock
Hi, Julie! I’m surprised so many of you are familiar with GIANT. The movie was made so long ago. 🙂
National Velvet was my favorite movie of hers she really did love horses!!
She did love horses, and she was a great rider, too. I think her horse was probably like a therapy animal for her.
I honestly don’t remember ever seeing either of the westerns, though Giant sounds like the one I’d prefer, to be honest. I never watched many of her movies, though, to be honest.
Hi, Trudy! She certainly has a long, long list of movies if you ever get the inclination. 🙂
I love Giant, amazing movie that I highly recommend watching! I loved the scenes with her and James Dean. She’s not a favorite of mine, but I do enjoy a few of her movies, my favorite being A Place in the Sun, where she starred alongside Montgomery Clift, so good!
Good to know, Melanie! So many fans of GIANT – I love that you recommend it.
I read that James Dean had JUST finished filming when he was killed in that car wreck. Thankfully, he was able to complete his scenes, but they had to bring in his good friend to dub his voice for the final editing. I’m sure the cast was devastated.
I also learned that I was only hours old when James Dean died. I wish my mother was alive so I could ask her about it. No doubt she was as enamored with him as so many other women her age was.
I loved Giant for its message as well as the stars, but I don’t remember Poker Alice. Another Elizabeth Taylor movie I have always liked is Cat on a Hot Tin Roof with Paul Newman. It isn’t a western but it is a small town in the south. I have always wondered if part of her relationship with Michael Jackson came about because of her understanding the challenges of being a star at such a young age and growing into an even bigger star.
Oh, no doubt, Alice. They were so different in so many ways, but they shared those challenges, however traumatic.
I also thought it was so odd Michael Jackson married Lisa Presley. Another couple who were just so different. I knew that marriage was doomed from the moment I heard about it.
My favorite movie is Taming of the Shew. She did a fantastic job in that movie. I also think of Richard Burton.
I’m not familiar with that one Karijean, but now I’m intrigued since you loved her in it!
Back in the early 1990s, my mother and I actually saw her in person. She was promoting a perfume line of hers at a department store called Broadway in a shopping mall near us. I remember she was sitting down and holding a little dog in her arms. I think the Broadway store chain went out of business in the late 1990s.
What a fun memory, Diana!
I liked her in National Velvet and I liked her movies although I don’t think I have seen only one of the westerns. She was a great actress and was very beautiful .
I may have to re-think my opinion of her as an actress, Linda. Several of you have mentioned how great and talented she was.
I never got to go to the movies many times and I really don’t think I saw her in any. I was aware of the movies, in particular Cleopatra. I remember reading somewhere that she had violet eyes which was one thing that originally helped get her noticed. About the time she made Cleopatra I became more aware of her and her relationship with Richard Burton. Later I read about the death of her first husband, the love of her life. After that, I get the impression she changed. What I remember most about her were her diamonds and one commercial she made when she but a diamond earring down, saying “Maybe this will bring you luck.” or something like that. She was a beautiful woman.
Hi, Pat! According to the docuseries, when she was filming Cleopatra, and when she came onto the screen carried high on that platform, that was when Richard Burton first saw her, and he said he instantly fell in love.
That really was a dramatic scene. 🙂