Biography elizabeth taylor documentary

One of Hollywood's most fascinating movie stars narrates her own remarkable life story in HBO's "Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes."

It's not artificial intelligence recreating the unmistakably clear voice of British-born superstar Elizabeth Taylor. Instead, the documentary directed by Nanette Burstein relies primarily on 40 hours of "lost" interviews conducted with the 32-year-old actress throughout 1964 − a year that marked the end of Taylor's scandalous fourth marriage to Eddie Fisher and the beginning of her furious fifth marriage to Richard Burton.

Combined with rare home movies and photographs from the Elizabeth Taylor Estate, "Lost Tapes" is a spellbinding look at the movie star during the height of her fame (Taylor died 47 years later, at age 79 in 2011).

"She was just in a different moment," says Burstein. "I felt good about using these tapes because the estate wanted her story to be told from beyond the grave. At the time, Elizabeth Taylor was being overly judged, and that fear factor does not exist anymore."

Here's what to know about "The Lost Tapes" (HBO, 8 p.m. EDT/PDT Saturday, and streaming on Max).

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Why were the Elizabeth Taylor tapes lost and found?

The 40 hours of interviews were recorded by Life magazine writer Richard Meryman, who also conducted Marilyn Monroe's last interview. Meryman was ghost-writing a Taylor biography and the research tapes "were never supposed to be heard by the public," says Burstein. "They sat in his attic for decades." Meryman died in 2015, and years later, his widow unearthed the tape trove (which are used with permission of the Elizabeth Taylor estate).

There were plentiful cocktails served during the Taylor interviews, as discussed on the tapes.

"Morning interviews or late-night interviews, it didn't matter. There was always alcohol flo

2024 American film

Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes is a 2024 American documentary film, directed by Nanette Burstein. It explores the life and career of Elizabeth Taylor, told through access to Taylor's archives and newly found audio.

It had its world premiere at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival on May 16, 2024, and was released on August 3, 2024, by HBO.

Premise

Explores the life and career of Elizabeth Taylor, told through access to her archives and newly found audio.

Release and reception

The film had its world premiere at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival on May 16, 2024. It also screened at the Tribeca Festival on June 11, 2024. and the Nantucket Film Festival in June 2024. It was released on August 3, 2024, on HBO.

The film received an 80% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Accolades

References

British-American actress (1932–2011)

For other uses, see Elizabeth Taylor (disambiguation).

Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor (February 27, 1932 – March 23, 2011) was a British and American actress. She began her career as a child actress in the early 1940s and was one of the most popular stars of classical Hollywood cinema in the 1950s. She then became the world's highest-paid movie star in the 1960s, remaining a well-known public figure for the rest of her life. In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked her seventh on its greatest female screen legends list.

Born in London to socially prominent American parents, Taylor moved with her family to Los Angeles in 1939 at the age of 7. She made her acting debut with a minor role in the Universal Pictures film There's One Born Every Minute (1942), but the studio ended her contract after a year. She was then signed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and became a popular teen star after appearing in National Velvet (1944). She transitioned to mature roles in the 1950s, when she starred in the comedy Father of the Bride (1950) and received critical acclaim for her performance in the drama A Place in the Sun (1951). She starred in the historical adventure epic Ivanhoe (1952) with Robert Taylor and Joan Fontaine. Despite being one of MGM's most bankable stars, Taylor wished to end her career in the early 1950s. She resented the studio's control and disliked many of the films to which she was assigned.

She began receiving more enjoyable roles in the mid-1950s, beginning with the epic drama Giant (1956), and starred in several critically and commercially successful films in the following years. These included two film adaptations of plays by Tennessee Williams: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958), and Suddenly, Last Summer (1959); Taylor won a Golden Globe for Best Actress for the latter. Although she disliked her role as a call girl in BUtterfield 8 (1960), her last film for MGM, she won the Academ

On August 3, 2024, HBO unveils a compelling portrait of Hollywood legend and activist, Elizabeth Taylor, available to stream on Max. Directed by Nanette Burstein, Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes celebrates its world premiere at The Cannes Film Festival, offering audiences a rare glimpse into Elizabeth’s life, told in her own words. From her childhood to her enduring legacy, viewers will experience an intimate understanding of the woman behind the iconic status. 

The film allows Elizabeth’s own voice to narrate her story, accompanied by personal photos, home movies, and clips from her unforgettable roles that echo her real-life challenges and triumphs. More than a retelling of an extraordinary life, Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes is a deep dive into Elizabeth’s complexities, allowing viewers to rediscover her as she navigated lifelong fame, identity, and public scrutiny all on a global scale. What emerges is the story of a woman who refused to be defined by the limitations imposed upon her by society, from portraying strong-willed women on-screen to the vulnerability that guided her every step. 

As we eagerly await the premiere of Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes, one thing is certain: this documentary promises a fresh perspective on a Hollywood icon, inviting viewers to reevaluate her impact on film and the world at large. 

Credits: HBO Documentary Films presents a Zipper Bros film, Gerber Pictures, Sutter Road Picture Company, and Bad Robot production, in association with House of Taylor. Directed by Nanette Burstein; producers, J.J. Abrams, Sean Stuart, Glen Zipper, Bill Gerber, and Rachel Rusch Rich; executive producers, Nanette Burstein, Barbara Berkowitz, Tim Mendelson, and Quinn Tivey. For HBO: executive producers, Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller, and Sara Rodriguez.