Elizabeth Taylor on Blu-ray

[abudgell]

I decided to create an "official thread" dedicated to Elizabeth Taylor inspired by similar threads here. Elizabeth Taylor is arguably the ultimate movie star. She was the highest paid film actress of her day, received more press coverage than any of her contemporaries, and is considered to be the most photographed film star of all time. She was ranked #7 on AFI's 100 Years...100 Stars poll, and has been the top-selling deceased female celebrity on Forbes' list every year since her death in 2011.

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UK



France



Australia


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Theatrical filmography (Films titles in bold are available on Blu-ray)

• There's One Born Every Minute (1942)
• Lassie Come Home (1943)
• Jane Eyre (1943)
• The White Cliffs of Dover (1944)
• National Velvet (1944)
• Courage of Lassie (1946)
• Life with Father (1947)
• Cynthia (1947)
• A Date with Judy (1948)
• Julia Misbehaves (1948)
• Little Women (1949)
• Conspirator (1949)
• The Big Hangover (1950)
• Father of the Bride (1950)
• Father's Little Dividend (1951)
• A Place in the Sun (1951)
• Callaway Went Thataway (1951)
• Love Is Better Than Ever (1952)
• Ivanhoe (1952)
• The Girl Who Had Everything (1953)
• Rhapsody (1954)
• Elephant Walk (1954)
• Beau Brummell (1954)
• The Last Time I Saw Paris (1954)
• Giant (1956)
• Raintree County (1957)
• Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958)
• Suddenly, Last Summer (1959)
• Scent of Mystery/Holiday in Spain (1960)
• BUtterfield 8 (1960)
• Cleopatra (1963)
• The V.I.P.s (1963)
• The Sandpiper (1965)
• Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
• The Taming of the Shrew (1967)
• Doctor Faustus (1967)
• Reflections in a Golden Eye (1967)
• The Comedians (1967)
• Boom! (1968)
• Secret Ceremony (1968)
• The Only Game In Town (1970)
• X, Y and Zee (1972)
• Under Milk Wood (1972)
• Hammersmith Is Out (1972)
• Night Watch (1973)
• Ash Wednesday (1973)
• Identikit (aka The Driver's Seat) (1974)
• The Blue Bird (1976)
• A Little Night Music (1977)
• Winter Kills (1979)
• The Mirror Crack'd (1980)
• Young Toscanini (1988)
• The Flintstones (1994)

[filmmusic]

Thank you abudgell!!
I LOVE Elizabeth Taylor and I also look forward to more films of hers on Bluray!!

(by the way, the Reflections on a Golden Eye image should be under Europe. )

[abudgell]

Originally Posted by brasil

Suddenly Last Summer, please!

Maybe Twilight Time will release it on blu ray....it's a Sony film, I believe.

I've been keeping my fingers crossed that Twilight Time would release Suddenly, Last Summer and The Taming of the Shrew.

Even better, since Criterion has been releasing some Sony and Paramont films, I wonder if they'd consider two of Monty and Elizabeth's collaborations, Suddenly, Last Summer and A Place in the Sun?

Matt Bomer is starring as Clift in an upcoming HBO pic that focuses on his friendship with Elizabeth around the time A Place in the Sun was made, so hopefully releasing a Blu-ray of that film will be a priority.

[abudgell]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

Thank you abudgell!!
I LOVE Elizabeth Taylor and I also look forward to more films of hers on Bluray!!

(by the way, the Reflections on a Golden Eye image should be under Europe. )

Whoops! You're absolutely right. Thanks for pointing that out.

Here's hoping we FINALLY get Raintree County on Blu-ray this year. I'm really not expecting a Ben-Hur type restoration, but Warner Bros could give us some sort of a compromise I would be very happy. It's been in limbo for far too long.

[filmmusic]

Originally Posted by abudgell

Whoops! You're absolutely right. Thanks for pointing that out.

Here's hoping we FINALLY get Raintree County on Blu-ray this year. I'm really not expecting a Ben-Hur type restoration, but Warner Bros could give us some sort of a compromise I would be very happy. It's been in limbo for far too long.

Also, we seem to have the same taste!
My most wanted at this time is of course Raintree County, and then all those you mentioned, except Taming of the Shrew which I haven't seen yet.

[abudgell]

Yes we do!

I'm hoping that the rumours are true and WB is finally restoring it. If they can release a sub-par War and Peace, I think they can release Raintree without it looking like Ben-Hur. Even just a new HD scan would be a huge improvement and I would imagine necessary for when TCM HD is exclusively in high definition and not airing up converted films.

The Taming of the Shrew is a great adaptation of the Shakespeare play and I think you'd enjoy it. It's streaming on Amazon and iTunes in HD, so hopefully a Blu-ray is around the corner.

[Musicguy]

Is this yet another "Raintree County" thread disguised as as something else?

[abudgell]

Originally Posted by Musicguy

Is this yet another "Raintree County" thread disguised as as something else?

I think the title of this thread makes it quite clear what it's about. If you'd prefer it to go in a different direction, feel free to do that by posting your impressions of the Blu-rays of Elizabeth's films that have been released, titles you'd like to see released, etc.

[abudgell]

I watched Twilight Time's release of Jane Eyre the other night. Elizabeth only has a small part in the film and doesn't receive credit, but she makes a big impression on the viewer as Jane's sickly friend, Helen. It was a beautiful transfer and another winner from Twilight Time.

[filmmusic]

Originally Posted by abudgell

I watched Twilight Time's release of Jane Eyre the other night. Elizabeth only has a small part in the film and doesn't receive credit, but she makes a big impression on the viewer as Jane's sickly friend, Helen. It was a beautiful transfer and another winner from Twilight Time.

How long is her part too in Holiday in Spain?
I didn't know about this..

[abudgell]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

How long is her part too in Holiday in Spain?
I didn't know about this..

I have it in my collection but haven't watched it yet. Not very big, I don't think. I'll let you know!

[Scottie]

She was a great actress. Giant is one of my top films of all-time.

[abudgell]

Originally Posted by iScottie

She was a great actress. Giant is one of my top films of all-time.

Giant is one of my favourites as well!

[oildude]

Originally Posted by iScottie

She was a great actress. Giant is one of my top films of all-time.

You and me both.

I have to travel out to the Marfa and Alpine areas of West Texas every couple of months with my job. Most of the outdoor scenes were filmed in and around Marfa. The ruins of the façade of the iconic mansion "Reata" are visible from U.S. Hwy 90. It was never a complete house and remained unfinished on the inside with no rear wall (the interior scenes were shot on a sound stage). Over time the West Texas winds tore it apart; that, and the ranch family that owned the land had to tear down part of it to keep the wind damaged pieces from falling on tourists. A skeleton frame is all that is left standing. I saw it a few years ago....it isn't on my regular route, and I had to go a bit out of my way to see it.

Here is a youtube video (not mine) I found a while back of all that remains of Reata.

Reata ruins from the movie "Giant", Marfa, Texas - YouTube

[Lutz]

Most wanted = BOOM!, X, Y & Zee, The Sandpiper, Who's Afraid of Virigina Woolf, Suddenly, Last Summer, Butterfield 8.

[Scottie]

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is probably my favorite performance by Elizabeth Taylor. We desperately need it on Blu-ray soon. Hopefully the new deal that The Criterion Collection has struck up with Warner Bros. will yield the title in the future.

(I would definitely take Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, as well. Newman gave an incredible performance!)

Originally Posted by oildude

You and me both.

I have to travel out to the Marfa and Alpine areas of West Texas every couple of months with my job. Most of the outdoor scenes were filmed in and around Marfa. The ruins of the façade of the iconic mansion "Reata" are visible from U.S. Hwy 90. It was never a complete house and remained unfinished on the inside with no rear wall (the interior scenes were shot on a sound stage). Over time the West Texas winds tore it apart; that, and the ranch family that owned the land had to tear down part of it to keep the wind damaged pieces from falling on tourists. A skeleton frame is all that is left standing. I saw it a few years ago....it isn't on my regular route, and I had to go a bit out of my way to see it.

Here is a youtube video (not mine) I found a while back of all that remains of Reata.

Reata ruins from the movie "Giant", Marfa, Texas - YouTube

Wow. Thanks for sharing.

What a shame regarding all that currently remains. The cinematography in the film was incredibly beautiful and seeing all that is left is quite disheartening.

[bruceames]

I was hoping it would be yet another "Little Women" thread.

Seriously I would love to see that one come out.

[abudgell]

Originally Posted by oildude

You and me both.

I have to travel out to the Marfa and Alpine areas of West Texas every couple of months with my job. Most of the outdoor scenes were filmed in and around Marfa. The ruins of the façade of the iconic mansion "Reata" are visible from U.S. Hwy 90. It was never a complete house and remained unfinished on the inside with no rear wall (the interior scenes were shot on a sound stage). Over time the West Texas winds tore it apart; that, and the ranch family that owned the land had to tear down part of it to keep the wind damaged pieces from falling on tourists. A skeleton frame is all that is left standing. I saw it a few years ago....it isn't on my regular route, and I had to go a bit out of my way to see it.

Here is a youtube video (not mine) I found a while back of all that remains of Reata.

Reata ruins from the movie "Giant", Marfa, Texas - YouTube

Thanks for posting that. There's something very haunting about seeing the skeleton of Reata still there nearly 60 years after the film was released. I'd love to see it in person someday.

[abudgell]

Originally Posted by bruceames.

I was hoping it would be yet another "Little Women" thread.

Seriously I would love to see that one come out.

I'd love to see "Little Women" as well. I believe it's streaming in HD now, so hopefully we'll see it at some point through the Warner Archive. It was actually the first Elizabeth Taylor movie I saw, so it has a lot of sentimental value for me.

[abudgell]

Originally Posted by Lutz

Most wanted = BOOM!, X, Y & Zee, The Sandpiper, Who's Afraid of Virigina Woolf, Suddenly, Last Summer, Butterfield 8.

Mill Creek is releasing an Elizabeth Taylor set in March that includes "X, Y and Zee", but unfortunately they're only releasing the set on DVD.