BETWEEN THE LINES: The last movie star

In an era when cinema was king, Elizabeth Taylor was the queen, according to many. CNN’s headline on her death called her the last movie star.

Those blinded by her beauty and her spectacular violet eyes often forgot she also was a very good actress, good enough to win a couple of Academy Awards for "Butterfield 8" and "Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolfe?"

Her Oscar for "Butterfield 8" followed three consecutive losing nominations in 1957, ’58 and ’59.

After reading about her death, I tried to recall from memory — without the aid of the Internet — what I remembered most about her. The first thing that came to mind were her multiple divorces, even twice to the same man (Welsh actor Richard Burton). Was it seven or eight, I thought to myself?

Although I know she starred in countless movies over the years, just three immediately came to mind. As a precocious child actress she starred in "National Velvet." Taylor was 12 at the time, and I had not been born yet, so my recollections must have come later. Her acting career actually started three years earlier.

Then I thought of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" (love that title), in which she starred opposite Paul Newman. Tennessee Williams wrote the play. I consider the film to be her best. She was nominated for Best Actress in 1958 for the role of Maggie, but lost the Oscar to Susan Hayward in her acclaimed role as Barbara Graham fighting for her life to avoid a death penalty for a crime she did not commit in "I Want to Live."

Finally, the third motion picture that popped up was the infamous "Cleopatra," in which she starred with Burton. The film was a box office disaster, but not necessarily attributed to Taylor’s performance. However, her silver screen performance netted the star the first million-dollar contract in 1963.

In fairness, I was not much of a moviegoer in the ’50s and ’60s. Although I loved cinema, my viewing was limited to our black-and-white TV set. My attraction to movies started in earnest years later.

I would not rate the British-born actress of American parents as the most beautiful on the screen, but she had a stage presence and a name everyone knew. As it is said, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and from my prospective I would place Ingrid Bergman, Grace Kelley and Kim Novak ahead of her.

Taylor, like most stars, was a complex person. Outside of her difficulties with relationships and troublesome health-related issues because of an early back injury, the star was a compassionate, vocal person who was not afraid to speak her mind. Her long-time support of AIDS is admirable.

On the political front, she was opposed to the war in Iraq and not shy about saying so.

The last thing I remember the actress for was her line of perfumes, which bailed me out of the responsibility of having to decide what present to buy my wife on several occasions. For that, I am grateful. However, I am sure my better half would have much preferred the real thing to the White Diamond fragrance I had purchased instead.

Laughlin is a Christian Libertarian. He is an economist, teacher, father, husband and most recently a grandfather. He has written a weekly column for The Tribune for 12 years. He and his wife Gina reside in Meadowlakes. To contact him, e-mail ablaughlin@nctv.com. He is an independent columnist, not a staff member, and his views do not necessarily reflect those of The Tribune or its parent company.