THERE'S NO 
LIZ LIKE SHOW LIZ LIKE NO LIZ
I KNOW
Tribute AT THE BIJOU By ~ Absolutely*Kate
"I call upon you to draw from the depths of your being — to prove that we are a human race, to prove that our love outweighs our need to hate, that our compassion is more compelling than our need to blame."
~ Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor, in acceptance speech on Oscar's greatest night for the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for her compassionate works in AIDS research and other world concerns. Naturally, the 1993 ovation was the longest in the Academy's 'standing' history.
Talent . . . tantalization and tender tumult tends to take a star sky-higher where ascendancy shoots wide its orbit. From "Come Home Lassie" making an official star of the little girl who once danced at a precocious age 3 before the Queen and little Princess Elizabeth, to a film oeuvre of over 50 screen gems, lady Elizabeth Taylor was It.
"Only a fool speculates
about the life of a woman!"
So true. You'll catch no speculation from this author ~ simply, (thus strongly), a string of memories worn the way Liz would play with pearls. Ahhh, the movies we watched, Mom and I, me with a guy, late nights on a remote catchin' a classic gliding by. She made the mood and the movie come all the more alive, didn't she?
Starlet, bombshell, temptress, class act of her own right, calling her shots, having her day, her sensational years, her lingering legacy. To live, love and laugh big is huge. Embracing life always is, past the problems, past the pains, past what perhaps pulls your public closer to you. Her tug had that pull, didn't it?
"I feel very adventurous. There are so many doors to be opened, and I'm not afraid to look behind them."
She opened doors. True, she slammed quite a few with Dick Burton, but her spirited heart always reopened any grudges to welcome her back on in. London born and bred from February 27, 1932 to what an American stage actress and a British art dealer (Sara Sothern and Francis Taylor) could instill through a cherished vital way of loving, Liz Taylor, along with Marilyn Monoroe of 'those times' were America's grand glam.
“I have a woman’s body and a child’s emotions.”
Scandals? Sensations? Didn't it go with the territory that celluloid glory wanted to put on parade? Liz was a genuine classic who knew her true self . . . and graciously, generously, gave that self to the world splashing around her. Extending both hands to colleagues to take them the higher was signature Liz.
“It is very strange that the years teach us patience – that the shorter our time, the greater our capacity for waiting.”
Screen presence, passionate personna and perceptions vitalized private kisses to public romance. How Hollywood could the kleigs from the heart's reach shine?
"I was rushed into womanhood
for the movies.
It caused me long moments
of unhappiness and doubt."
No doubt stardom has a price to pay, but taxing didn't fully take the toll that crushed lesser spirits, like poor Marilyn.
ElizabethTaylor endured. As we're running the RAT PACK REVUE here AT THE BIJOU, I can clearly hear Frankie sing to a fellow dame colleague he held high, "You'll reach a star because there are such things. So have a little faith and trust in what tomorrow brings." Hmm, Randisi must have left the radio cranked up while he was writing in the night. I really can hear the croon of that tune, and I'm hoping Ms Taylor can as well.
“I’m a survivor –
a living example
of what people can go through
and survive.”
Affairs of the heart and playing the part get a classy classic lady more than just by.
“I’ve been through it all.
Baby, I’m mother courage.”
Royal, shining, glitterati before there were even papparazi, taking a million for making more than millions simply because as she indicated with violet eyes a'blinkin' as to why the question was posed, "You'd be dumb not to."
No stooge on stage or life, Liz loved, Liz lived . . . fully.
"I've always admitted
that I'm ruled by my passions."
"I've only slept with men I've been married to. How many women can make that claim?"
The RAT PACK radio must still be on up in the projection room AT THE BIJOU. I hear Dean warbling a last caress to how Liz staged romance, "I've got my love to keep me warm." I hear glasses and clinking too. Probably Anthony Venutolo came in for the top shelf hootch stash that only Paul Brazill knows about (well, and me), and is doling out. Harry Sanderford is rummaging around our film library, arguing about screening "Butterfield 8" and Eric Beetner's lobbying for "Raintree County" and Montgomery Clift. That screenwriter purist. Julie Lewthwaite/Morgan is using considerable femme joie de vive, Liz-style, to wile Kevin Michaels into pulling a switcheroo of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf?", but I see Sean Patrick Reardon cagily sidling up to "Giant". Me? I'm achin' for "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof". RJ Randisi? He's being so aloof. But I figger it's "Sandpiper" he's hankering for.
We're all hankering for you Ms Taylor, sending our wishes to the celestials where you've flown to the moon to play among the stars.
Thanks for all these memories.
Lady,
You're one heaven
of a dame.
~ Absolutely*Kate
and our RAT PACK crew
here AT THE BIJOU.
"Goodnight.
Will someone turn out
the BIJOU lights?
Another star is shining."
(c) 2011 ~ Musing Author, Absolutely*Kate
All quotations from Elizabeth Taylor's spark of mind.
All cinematic photos from film archives, well flounced.
Frank and Dean were singing RAT PACK songs
because, hey Jack ~ that's what those cats do.
Join us this weekend for more RAT PACK REVUE with above-mentioned author stars of renown.
This Tribute piece is dedi'kated to my beloved mother, Frances Pilarcik, a contemporary and fan of Liz Taylor. Mom introduced me to the wonder of movies, believing in romance and classics in everything. She's in the Cleveland Clinic getting a hole in her heart fixed up to make her whole again. I figured she'd get a kick showing her friends she appeared with Liz Taylor AT THE BIJOU.
Hey, this beats a Hallmark. Get better Ma, I love ya! ~ Kate
NOW HERE'S LIZ ~
