Diving into Elizabeth Taylor’s Life with ‘The Lost Tapes’

There’s a new documentary out called ‘Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes,’ and it’s making waves in the entertainment world. Directed by Nanette Burstein, this film digs into the life of the legendary actress using 40 hours of recordings from interviews she did in 1964.

At that time, Elizabeth Taylor was just 32 years old, but she was already a big star. The interviews, recorded by journalist Richard Meryman for a potential biography, give us a rare glimpse into her thoughts and feelings during a pivotal time in her life.

The documentary is not just about her films like ‘Butterfield 8,’ ‘Raintree County,’ and ‘A Place in the Sun;’ it also covers her personal life, including her high-profile marriages and the intense media scrutiny she faced. Taylor’s candid voice guides the narrative, making it feel intimate and engaging.

In the film, Taylor reflects on her career and the difficulty of balancing fame with her desire to be seen as more than just a movie star. She felt insecure about her acting, especially in scenes with Method actors like Montgomery Clift and James Dean. Yet, she also had an undeniable talent that shone through in her performances.

The documentary features not just the interviews but also plenty of archival footage, like home movies and photographs from her life. It paints a picture of both the glamour and the struggles she faced, including the challenges of paparazzi culture, which gained speed during her relationships with Eddie Fisher and Richard Burton.

The footage also captures moments of her personal life, like her marriage to Michael Wilding, and how the public reacted to her relationships. Taylor recalls how she was often labeled a “homewrecker” after marrying Fisher, who was the best friend of her late husband, Mike Todd.

In her conversations, she shares moments of doubt and vulnerability, like how being in the public eye made her feel she belonged to the world, even though her heart yearned for the craft of acting itself. The documentary hasn’t shied away from the more scandalous parts of her life, showing how the media painted her relationships in a harsh light.

As the film progresses, it captures Taylor’s rising stardom and her eventual triumphs. Despite winning two Oscars, she felt limited by her public persona and the tabloid rendition of her life. The documentary concludes with looking at how the world judged her, and how she felt about that judgment, showcasing her as a human beyond the screen.