Back in Technicolor and teamed with Van Johnson, Taylor plays carefree Helen Ellswirth in THE LAST TIME I SAW PARIS (1954), a post-war soaper about young love on the rocks.  Although advantageously photographed, Taylor doesn't have many acting opportunities in this film and Johnson does more than his fair share of the crying.

Music Clips from other Taylor films:

"Prelude" (clip) from IVANHOE (1952) by Miklos Rozsa (a .MP3 file courtesy Rhino Records).
"Lady Rowena" (clip) from IVANHOE (1952) by Miklos Rozsa (a .MOV file courtesy Rhino Records).
"Rebecca" (clip) from IVANHOE (1952) by Miklos Rozsa (a .MOV file courtesy Rhino Records).
"The Rivals" (clip) from IVANHOE (1952) by Miklos Rozsa (a .MOV file courtesy Rhino Records).
"Finale" (clip) from IVANHOE (1952) by Miklos Rozsa (a .MOV file courtesy Rhino Records).
"Prelude" (clip) from BEAU BRUMMELL (1954) by Miklos Rozsa (a .MP2 file courtesy Rhino Records).
"Send in the Clowns" (clip) from A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC (1977) sung by Elizabeth Taylor (a .MP3 file).

(For help opening any of the multimedia files, visit the plug-ins page.)

Taylor and James Dean in a still from GIANT (1956), George Stevens' epic adaptation of Edna Ferber's novel about a young bride from Kentucky adjusting to life in Texas, also starring Rock Hudson. Nominated for ten Oscars including Best Picture, GIANT is a multi-generational romance which also takes on issues of racial prejudice, with notable supporting performances from Mercedes McCambridge, Chill Wills and screen new-comer Caroll Baker.

"Theme - Giant" (clip) by Dmitri Tiomkin (a .MP3 file).

Once again cast opposite Montgomery Clift, in RAINTREE COUNTY (1957) Taylor plays a Southern belle who marries a Yankee from Indiana just before the Civil War and is tormented, not only by the political conflicts surrounding her, but by something in her past which she cannot explain.  The print of this film which I saw was only 166 minutes (the original release print runs 182 minutes while a recently restored version runs 190 minutes), and that could be why the storyline (often called a GONE WITH THE WIND from the North's point of view) seemed so disjointed at times. 

Music Clip:

"Entr'Acte" (clip) by Johnny Green (a .MP3 file courtesy Rhino Records).

(For help opening any of the multimedia files, visit the plug-ins page.)

By 1958 Elizabeth had outgrown pretty-face young adult roles and CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF capitalized not only on her acting talents and womanly good looks, but also her impressive southern accent, first demonstrated in RAINTREE COUNTY.  Co-starring Paul Newman and also featuring Burl Ives, Jack Carson and Judith Anderson, this film adaptation of Tennessee Williams' popular stage play earned six Oscar nominations, including Elizabeth's second in the Best Actress Oscar category.

Still More Memorable Quotations:

• "Don't ever phone if you can possibly come yourself, and don't ever leave if you can stay." --as Helen Ellswirth in THE LAST TIME I SAW PARIS (1954).
• "You don't need money to have fun in Paris." --as Helen Ellswirth in THE LAST TIME I SAW PARIS (1954).
• "I'll never, never be a size 10 again." --as Helen Ellswirth in THE LAST TIME I SAW PARIS (1954).
• "Charlie, will you still worship me when you're famous?" --as Helen Ellswirth in THE LAST TIME I SAW PARIS (1954).
• "I'm a pretty fast runner myself." --as Susanna Drake in RAINTREE COUNTY.
• "I'm not living with you. We occupy the same cage, that's all." --as Maggie in CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF.
• "I don't mind making a fool of myself over you." -- as Maggie in CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF.
• "Living with someone you love can be lonelier than living alone, 'specially when the one you love doesn't love you." -- as Maggie in CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF.
• "You can be young without money, but you can't be old without it." -- as Maggie in CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF.

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