The newly released HBO documentary, "Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes," unveils never-before-seen interviews that highlight the personal struggles and emotional insights of the legendary actress, People reported.
On August 3, audiences were treated to a new perspective on Elizabeth Taylor's life through the documentary "Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes." Directed by Nanette Burstein, the film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, drawing attention to its intimate revelations.
The documentary centers around 40 hours of discussions that Taylor had with journalist Richard Meryman in the mid-1960s. These conversations, held at the height of Taylor's fame, were recorded just after her marriage to Richard Burton, whom she would marry and divorce twice from 1964 to 1976.
Taylor, known not just for her acting prowess but also her vibrant and tumultuous personal life, was married eight times to seven different men. Her relationship with Eddie Fisher, her fourth husband, is one of the focal points of the documentary.
Elizabeth Taylor and Eddie Fisher's marriage sparked controversy from the start. Fisher divorced Debbie Reynolds to marry Taylor in 1959, causing a media frenzy.
During their marriage, Taylor felt isolated and misunderstood, as shown in the documentary. She lacked true affection for Fisher and married him out of shared grief over the death of her third husband, Mike Todd, who was also Fisher's close friend.
Taylor's emotional turmoil peaked with a suicide attempt. She described taking sleeping pills in despair, overwhelmed by loneliness and the pressures of public life.
In the recorded interviews, Taylor candidly discusses her mindset during the suicide attempt, describing it as a moment of extreme self-indulgence that she regretted, especially considering its potential impact on her children. She had children from previous marriages to Michael Wilding and Mike Todd, and she later adopted a child with Burton.
Despite the personal challenges she faced, Taylor's career flourished. She delivered iconic performances, including in "Butterfield 8," where she starred alongside Fisher. This role won her one of two Academy Awards, cementing her status as a Hollywood legend.
Taylor summarizes her marriage to Fisher as a grave error, a sentiment that echoes through the interviews with her reflections on their time together. She shares that Fisher ensured her isolation, which partly contributed to her emotional distress.
The release of "Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes" reopens old wounds while providing new insights into the inner life of a cinematic icon. The documentary reveals Taylor's enduring emotional scars from her marriages and personal struggles, showing how she viewed these missteps as opportunities for growth. It offers a profound look at the pressures of Hollywood and Taylor's strength in facing her demons, revealing the impact of a life under intense public scrutiny.
In conclusion, "Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes" goes beyond recounting fame and its pitfalls, delving into a woman who faced life's highs and lows with both grace and frailty. The documentary, through personal anecdotes and emotional admissions, offers a vivid portrait of Taylor's complex emotions and the lasting impacts of her choices.
