On Elizabeth Taylor: An Opinionated Guide

Film historian Kennedy (Roadshow!) methodically catalogs the film, stage, and TV appearances of an “ineffable” star whose 65-year career was often overshadowed by “her beauty and not-so-private life.” Beginning with a 12-year-old Taylor’s breakthrough role in 1944’s National Velvet, Kennedy embarks on a scrupulous career overview that accounts for megahits (1963’s Cleopatra), flops (1976’s Victory at Entebbe was “so badly rendered” as to “insult not just the audience but... the survivors of the highjacking”), and all manner of oddities in between, including a bewildering silent cameo in 1960’s Scent of Mystery and a 1981 spot on General Hospital. In the process, Taylor comes into view as one of the last great actors of the studio system, whose output skewed toward dramas exploring “the contours of... emotional instability.” She was capable of subtle expression changes or “full-throttle hysteria,” according to Kennedy, who also notes that Taylor’s lack of formal film training was belied by her “mesmerizing” intuitive ability to “come alive when the camera approached.” Readers seeking a comprehensive biography of Taylor should look elsewhere, but those in the mood for a deep dive into the nooks and crannies of her oeuvre will be gratified. This belongs on the bookshelves of those who can’t get enough of Hollywood’s golden age.(Apr.)