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A & E Biography Series: Elizabeth Taylor [VHS]

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Even in lower quality black and white film, the beauty of Elizabeth Taylor is evident on this tape. Her life was one of tragedy with several near death experiences yet she exhibited a tenacity that few ever demonstrate. Her courage in advocating for HIV positive and AIDS patients was a rare thing, for she stood up for them when there was a great deal of hysteria regarding the disease.
Elizabeth became a movie star at a very young age, largely due to her beauty. The announcers talk about how she looked much older than her teen years and that is very true, at 17 her age appeared to be in the mid twenties.
One other important point repeatedly made in the narration is how much the studios controlled the lives of their stars in those years. Even Elizabeth's high school graduation ceremony was an event staged by the studio, the guests and other "graduates" were all hired for their parts. She was sheltered from the world of boys, in response Elizabeth and her fellow young actors formed a club so that the young male and female actors and actresses could interact and date outside the prescribed studio group.
While the tabloid fodder is well covered in this tape, one glaring absence is any significant discussion of her children beyond their births. This is puzzling, although in some sense understandable because there was so much turmoil for the press to print and display.
There is much to admire about Elizabeth Taylor, the death of husband Mike Todd in a plane crash, her many illnesses that almost led to her death and the turmoil in her personal life would have destroyed most people. She was a poster girl for the term survivor and her work in advocating for HIV/AIDS patients was one of the most courageous humanitarian acts every performed by a screen star. Her life was dynamic, she was far more than just a beauty and her substance is well displayed on this tape.

The A&E Biography of the life and career of the famed actress Elizabeth Taylor is a must see!!Liz Rules!!