Elizabeth Taylor passed away today at the age of 79. Her first movie I saw when I was a child was National Velvet, which is probably the first movie that many kids saw with her and is one of the great “horse” movies. One of the last movies I saw with her in it was Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, which features one of her best acting performances. In her later life, she did some of her greatest work for humanitarian causes such as Aids research, an issue she embraced before many others did.
Although she was known for her glamor and beauty, one of her greatest roles played against those strengths, as seen in this scene from Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? with Richard Burton. She gives a frightening performance that won her a second acting Oscar.
She won her other acting Oscar for Butterfield 8. Also, at the 1993 Academy Awards, she received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.
Although she will probably be more remembered for the above movies, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and Cleopatra for different reasons, one movie that should not be overlooked is Giant, where she starred with Rock Hudson, James Dean, and young Dennis Hopper. While far from a perfect movie, there is a lot to love in the messy epic.
Although a CNN anchor just tried to describe Elizabeth Taylor as her day’s “Angelina Jolie,” it is not a very good comparison. For better or worse, stars were different back then. Either way, it is great that we still have her work to enjoy. Rest in peace.
What is your favorite Elizabeth Taylor movie or scene? Leave a comment.
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