"She [Marilyn] seemed to have a kind of unconscious glow about her physical self that was innocent, like a child." Elizabeth once said. Both women were at the height of their fame in the Sixties and there are only a few photographs of them together that exist (dating from 1961 at the Sands Hotel, at a Frank Sinatra concert).
 National Velvet (1944) Of all Elizabeth's early films this is the one that you will never forget. Elizabeth plays Velvet Brown, a young girl who wins a gelding in a raffle and trains him for the Grand National, aided by Mickey Rooney as Mi Taylor, a hired hand. (Interestingly, eighteen-year-old Gene Tierney was offered the role of Velvet in 1939 but as production was delayed she returned to Broadway) The film is wonderful - not only do you get to see a fresh-faced preteen Elizabeth but you see her ride the actual horse, which is refreshing considering most actors use stuntmen. The film is timeless and it is definitely worth watching whether you're an adult or a child. Still not convinced? The film received mostly positive reviews (check them out on 'Rotten Tomatoes') and won two Oscars in 1945 and was nominated for three. National Velvet made Elizabeth a film star - and for good reason!  A Place In The Sun (1951) A Place In The Sun is a chilling film noir that tells the story of George Eastman (played by Montgomery Clift), who, upon arriving in town, finds himself involved in a love triangle with factory worker Alice Tripp (Shelley Winters) and beautiful socialite Angela Vickers (Elizabeth Taylor). As George gets to know Angela, he becomes more attracted to her and starts to reject Alice with dire consequences. Elizabeth was around eighteen during filming and this was one of her first adult roles. Elizabeth delivers one of her best performances (arguably) in this film, with beautiful chemistry between her and Montgomery. She would later star alongside him in Raintree County and Suddenly Last Summer . In conclusion, A Place In The Sun is a memorable film - and if you haven't watched it already, make sure you do.  Cat On A Hot Tin Roof (1958)
Elizabeth stars alongside Paul Newman in this 1958 film adaptation of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof . This is definitely one of her best performances in her lifetime - like in Virginia Woolf her acting - and role - is unforgettable. Burl Ives, Judith Anderson and Madeleine Sherwood also contribute greatly to Cat. Beautiful Maggie shrieks 'Maggie the cat is alive! I'm alive!' in a fiery scene with Brick. Elizabeth immortalised the role of Maggie (and should've received an Oscar for it instead for Gloria in Butterfield 8) . Interestingly, fellow Hollywood star Natalie Wood would also play this role in a 1976 TV film. Yet there is only one Maggie - and Elizabeth Taylor played her. |
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