Remembering Liz

Today one of my most favorite actresses died.  Two-time Oscar Winner Elizabeth Taylor passed away in California at the age of 79.  Over the years, we've lost so many great actors and actresses, but as sad as some of their passings have made me, I had never been moved to write a blog post about them.

As Amy in Little Women

Watching old movies as a child (in the Dark Ages before cable and VCRs) I saw many movies with Taylor in them.  For instance, I remember watching "Little Women" every Thanksgiving and laughing at the silly, stuck-up Amy.  I snickered over her romance with Clarence Jr. in "Life with Father.  I cheered as she rode to victory in "National Velvet", and I sat in awe of the spectacle that was Cleopatra entering Rome clad head to toe in gold.

I remember my mother telling me that people said Liz Taylor's eyes were actually violet.  To my child's mind that seemed confirmation of her status as the most beautiful and amazing woman in the world.

Throughout my life I have loved classic movies and watched so many of hers over and over.  "A Place in the Sun" with Montgomery Clift, "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" with Paul Newman, "Butterfield 8" with Laurence Harvey, "Taming of the Shrew" and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf" with then husband Richard Burton, "Suddenly Last Summer" with Katherine Hepburn, "Giant" with James Dean and Rock Hudson, "Elephant Walk" with Dana Andrews and "The Last Time I Saw Paris" with Van Johnson.

As Kay in Father of the Bride

But my favorite, in fact one of my most favorite movies of all time, is "Father of the Bride" with Spencer Tracy and Joan Bennet.  Elizabeth was just 18 and getting ready for her own wedding; her first to hotel heir Conrad "Nicky" Hilton Jr.  "Father of the Bride" is a wonderfully funny movie with touching moments between father and daughter.  In fact, Liz called Tracy "Pops" for the rest of his life and he always referred to her as "Kitten".  The sequel, "Father's Little Dividend" in which Taylor's character has a child is just as fun and memorable as the first installment.  I can't count how many times I've watched both of these movies and I watch them every time they're on. Even though I own the DVDs, I never miss an opportunity to watch them.

As Rebecca in Ivanhoe

Another favorite is "Ivanhoe" with Rod Taylor and Joan Fontaine.  In fact, I just watched this movie last week.  My husband and I were saying how actresses today don't have that essence that the classic actresses used to have, the ability to exude elegance and dignity.  Watching Taylor in a couple of key scenes we commented on how over-played those scenes would be by actresses of today (not just the actresses fault, but the directors as well).  Don't misunderstand that I'm saying that actresses today have no talent. That's not it.  Just that they no longer seem to require that indescribable quality that so defines actresses of the 40s and 50s and even some of the 60s.

But I guess having those inexplicable qualities combined with talent and exquisite beauty are what makes a legend.  And she was truly a legend.  An exceptional actress, a devastating beauty, a kind-hearted and generous person and, sadly, a woman troubled in marriage.  A made-to-order Hollywood Legend if ever there was one.


Rest in Peace, Liz.

Kerry
(PS - enjoy the slideshow below)

RIP Elizabeth Taylor - free slideshow maker