Customer Reviews

Liberace - Behind The Music

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is the TV bio-pic produced in the late 80's starring Victor Garber and Maureen Stapleton. It has only previously been available on VHS in limited availability in some countries, this is its first appearance on DVD. As tv movies go it isn't too bad and the leading man gives a fairly good portrayal of Liberace. A fairly accurate bio-pic, I liked it a lot.

This 1988 TV-movie dramatizes the life of Liberace, who rose from a "shabby" background to become a world-class pianist and a human monument to glamour. In other hands this could have been a shrill, sensationalized biography, dwelling on smirking innuendos and tawdry episodes, with Liberace presented as a flamboyant, shallow caricature. Thankfully both the script and the performances are sympathetic, and viewers can sense just how sensitive and troubled Liberace was.

Victor Garber turns in a stellar performance as Liberace. The actor obviously studied Liberace's speech patterns. body language, and pianistics, and the results are dazzling: he not only looks and sounds like Liberace, he even sings like him. The film commendably traces Liberace's rise to fame and re-creates milestones in his career (including a careful facsimile of his 1950s TV show).

Unfortunately the action is sometimes choppy, with sudden stops and abrupt transitions. Several of the plot elements and characters are established without introduction or identification, and just as suddenly abandoned. What should be a finished portrait comes across as a hasty sketch. It's hard to tell if this is the screenwriter failing to develop certain situations, or the film editor being forced to cram a 50-year span into an hour and a half. Either way, the momentum of the story is frequently blunted, but Garber's riveting turn helps cover the rough spots.

Maureen Stapleton is excellent as Liberace's possessive mother, as is Saul Rubinek as his longtime manager Seymour Heller (who is credited as a technical advisor). Macha Grenon's presence is welcome as one of the young Liberace's few friends, but she is hastily written out (or edited out) as the film forges ahead.

Picture and sound quality are very good overall (there are two tiny digital glitches in the video transfer, causing momentary silences). The DVD also includes a trailer (actually an extended TV promo, using many representative clips).

Watch this one for Victor Garber. He's most of the show.

I saw this TV movie back in the 80's and loved it! I've been hoping it would be released on DVD. I'm so glad it has been made available! This is a keeper.

Actor Victor Garber portrays the legendary child prodigy Liberace, who became one of the world's greatest entertainers, while embracing a lifestyle of flamboyant excess. Liberace was a gifted classical pianist, fueled by poverty, at the age of 17 Liberace was already playing with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, but he wanted more. Through a combination of showmanship, determination and amazing talent he acheived his dream as the world's highest paid performer. Liberace had an amazing ability of combining together the popular tunes of the day with classical music always improvising on the spot live in front of a huge audience giving requests of songs for him to play. Liberace was always trying to get people to love and respect classical music as much as he did. But behind the diamonds and wealth Liberace became a prisoner of his elaborate double life. His desperate attempts to keep his gay private life and that he was dying of AIDS secret backfired in a series of scandals and front page news lawsuits. This was a very moving, sensitive movie and I've enjoyed watching it many times. Liberace was truly the greatest entertainer of all time. He had it all, humor, charisma and out of this world talent. There will never be anyone else like that. He was one of a kind. If you've watched any of Liberace's shows you know he always ended every show with playing and singing the song, "I'll be Seeing You". I found it very fitting that's how the movie ends with Liberace playing the piano and singing the lyrics:

I'll be seeing you
In all the old, familiar places
That this heart of mine embraces
All day through.
I'll be seeing you
And when the night is new
I'll be looking at the moon
But I'll be seeing you.

Unfortunately, I didn't get in on the Liberace craze when he was performing in Las Vegas. I was a very young teenager and I heard only blue-haired women saw his shows. Oh! The lies!! This movie proved I missed one of the greatest and grandest performers ever. The elegance and elaborated performances took my breath away. I would have fainted from the exuberance beauty if I had been present!!
My senses were in overdrive just watching clips on the DVD. The movie was very well done and a (hopefully) honest look into Liberace's life. I'm looking for actual footage of his shows, so if anyone can help, please contact me!!

A movie made in Canada the year after Liberace's death; I bought it because years ago I had seen a movie on TV on the same subject, and I thought this was the one; it was not, however it is really great (I would be embarrassed to say how many times I have watched this film since I got it two weeks ago) It shows Liberace's early adult life as he becomes famous. Victor Garber (from Titanic) is just great in the lead, and is so believable; the voice, the mannerisms, he even looks like him; and his manager played by Saul Rubinek is wonderful too. The music is a treat, the acting good, the story entertaining. Last but not least, the movie handles Liberace's personal life in a very sensitive way. Would recommend it highly for Liberace fans, and it only cost something like $2, so go buy it--what do you have to lose??? It is out of print so it may not be available for long.

The movie is way too short, and rather depressing. Liberace lived 67 years and had a full life. The movie does not capture Liberace's Magic of Believing. His magic on the stage was a performer which made you laugh and feel good, and this movie does not accomplish what so many loved about this man and his music.

Movies that try to re-create an entertainer, comedian, or gifted artist -- all fall short.

It is not possible to even come close to the memories I have of actually attending a Liberace show, a Red Skelton show, a Bob Hope show, because the real shows were so spontaneous.

If you ever saw the real entertainer in a live show, skip the movie as you will ALWAYS be disappointed

I remember watching this movie in the mid nineties. I decided to purchase it to give it another go. The movie was ok. I think it could have foretold much more about the life of Liberace, i.e, his struggles as a gay man and the last days of life after being diagnosed with AIDS. Overall its worth the watch.